Troubleshooting a failed Virtual Earth 3D installation

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The Virtual Earth 3D setup program is a small executable that downloads and installs pre-requisites if they're not already installed and then the correct MSI for your OS flavor (32 or 64 bit). The pre-requisites are Windows Imaging Components and .NET Framework 2.0. WIC comes with Vista and XP sp3 and doesn't need to be downloaded on those platforms. The setup program logs its status to a file named VirtualEarth3DInstallLog.txt in the Temp folder. On a default Windows XP installation the Temp folder is located at C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Local Settings\Temp.

After the pre-requisites have been validated VirtualEarth3D.msi or VirtualEarth3D64.msi are downloaded and installed.  The 64 bit MSI contains both 32 and 64 bit modules so you can run internet explorer in 32 or 64 bit mode. The MSI log is stored in MsiInstall.log, also in the Temp folder.

So what errors go to what log?

  • If the error happens in the Setup program, for example a failure to download a prerequisite or the MSI, VirtualEarth3DInstallLog.txt will have an error message with the details.
  • If the error happens once Setup starts running the Virtual Earth 3D MSI MsiInstall.log will contain the details.

If you still have problems installing Virtual Earth 3D, Live Maps support is only a click away.