Before I get into all this complicated codec stuff, does GOTY include whatever patches have been made for the game?
Bought FO3 GOTY at Wal-Mart.
Attempt to install: "Conflict with emulation software detected"
Ran setup.exe from disk, installation started.
During install I get: " CRC error: the file C:\.....DATA\fallout - textures.bsa doesn't match the file in the setup's .cab file. The medium from which you are running the setup may be corrupted; contact your software vendor." ABORT RETRY IGNORE. Retry doesn't solve anything so IGNORE is the way to go.
Installation finishes. NOTE: DATA1.cab and DATA2.cab will not open with WINRAR ("unknown format or corrupted"). ENGINE32.cab opens OK. This is from brand new, pristine disk.
If I try to launch the game from the last installation page I get "Conflict with emulation software detected".
If I try to launch from inserting the disk I get "Conflict with emulation software detected" I've looked at the link provided but it's very cryptic and tells me nothing I can use unless get a Degree in Computer Science. Doesn't tell you how or where to find this "emulation software or anything (and I haven't installed any 3d party emulation software). When I had my PC built it was for gaming, no fancy bells and whistles and memory hogs!
The game will launch from START - Programs menu.
The main menu has no "Start new game" as I've seen others refer to in these Forums.
There's PLAY, OPTIONS, DATA FILES, TECH SUPPORT, EXIT.
When I click PLAY, I get "Fallout 3 has encountered a problem and needs to close...."
I've uninstalled, renamed InstallShield to InstallShieldOld, deleted all%temp% files, reinstalled, same problems.
I guess right now my major question is "What can I do about possible corrupted .cab files on Disk1?" BTW, Disk2 installed with no problems.
My specs:
Time of this report: 9/10/2010, 19:39:49
Machine name: PHENOMX3
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.091208-2036)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: System manufacturer
System Model: System Product Name
BIOS: BIOS Date: 06/06/09 10:30:48 Ver: 11.01
Processor: AMD Phenom™ 8750 Triple-Core Processor, MMX, 3DNow (3 CPUs), ~2.4GHz
Memory: 3328MB RAM
Page File: 365MB used, 4846MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode

Card name: NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce GTS 250
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0615&SUBSYS_11513842&REV_A2
Display Memory: 512.0 MB
Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0011.8618 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 6/10/2009 06:03:00, 5908608 bytes

"Emulation software" is pertaining to Virtual Disc software (ie. Nero, Daemon Tools, Alcohol 120%). Unload the virtual disc software if it is disrupting SecuROM.

The software may cause issues even if it not active (ie. an ISO is mounted).

TY for the reply.
The only thing I found was "cidaemon.exe" in the system32 folder. That's a Microsoft Indexing program.
I'm also looking into an emulation software finder since I can't find any on my PC and I don't really know where to look.
This won't do me much good if I can't get past the possible corrupted .cab's BUT, I also saw a post that indicated that daemon tools caused this error msg for someone else.
What bugs me is that 2 of the .cab's on the disk won't open with Winrar.
I wouldn't be surprised if corrupted .cab's cause a "emulation detected" msg.

Guess what? I don't have any drive emulation software. This means the error msg "detected emulation software....." is incorrect.
Go figure!
What I do have is DATA1.cab and DATA2.cab that won't open.

Why are you trying to open the cab files anyway?

I didn't list all emulation software out there, if you simply searched for it. You shouldn't be able to open CAB files manually. Doing so is violation of the EULA anyways.

Because .cab's are packed files. An unpacking program can detect corrupted files. There's no EULA violation to open packed files to see what's in there.
Anyhow the only thing to do now is to try installing on another computer to see if the behavior is the same. Not going to happen. I live in the mountains, no neighbors, no air TV, radio or cell phone towers. I have my own bulldozer so I can break out to civilization once in a while. It's 30 miles to the nearest town where I can buy software.
So it looks like I just wasted $40 on crap software, not the first time but gee, I don't even get to enjoy all the game freezes and crashes!

Please don't think that the .cab files are corrupt because they won't open. As stated by the previous poster, they aren't meant to be opened. Let it go, and try to find a solution to your " detected emulation software" problem.

The .cab files won't open; they are not corrupt, and if you look for other .cab files on your computer and try to open them, they won't open either. Because they aren't meant to be opened. You don't have corrupt .cab files, otherwise you wouldn't even have made it to the error message you got. Right?

Also, are you sure that "cidaemon.exe" is an indexing file? You might move it off of your PC and see if that changes anything. "Daemon" is a pretty distinctive spelling. Just wondering.

I doubt you have "crap software" - it seems as though the problem is somewhere within your PC.

Of course, there is always the possibility that I could be completely wrong...

I hope you get your problem(s) solved.

centime

What? Thats blasphemy. It is never the computers fault. Everyone knows that one's computer is a perfect running machine that never falters, even with the worst of infections...

OP: In all seriousness, look to your computer before you blast the software.