Age of Empires 3 Installation Issues!!

Hello everyone,

I also faced this problem and I've finally managed to install AOE 3. First of all, I want to clarify that I have XP (so the problem is not with Vista as Fefy suggested): I insert the CD into my drive, the autorun starts, I follow the instructions given to me, it starts installing the game, and at one point, a window opens and displays: "error reading file: C:\program files\microsoft Game\age of empire\avi\age3.bik. Please check that this file exists and that you are allowed to access it."

So I tried another way: in the instruction manual provided in the box, it states that if the installer does not start automatically, you should proceed as follows in XP:

1. In the Start menu, click on Control Panel.
2. In the category view, under Choose a category, click on Add or Remove Programs.
3. In the task pane, click on Add New Programs.
4. In the Add or Remove Programs dialog box, click on the CD-ROM or floppy disk button and then follow the on-screen instructions to install the game.

At first, I canceled the automatic installation procedure, followed the instructions above, and had no problems during the installation.

Basically, I avoided Autorun!!!

If you can't follow the procedure above, why not try right-clicking directly on the CD-ROM icon, opening it, and launching the installation by double-clicking on the Install icon of the Setup Launcher. I haven't tried this method, it's just a suggestion.

À mon avis, c'est Windows Vista qui fait bugger l'installation.

I don't think so, everything works normally except that.

Can no one help me?

If you ever pass by here, know that I have the same problem: age3.bik is only 20MB in the programs file while it's 42MB on the CD. So I'm currently downloading age3.bik on eMule to complete the missing source!

It's not just a story about the CD; my game works on an old PC
when I tried it on a new PC, the installation got stuck on sound/sound.bar and the file won't load, so either it's a compatibility issue or the CD disintegrates over time.

It's normal that the game doesn't work for me either; it worked very well on my XP and the game also runs very well.
It's just that the game was released before Vista, so it wasn't tested for Vista. I'm currently looking for things to help people, so please be patient...
THANK YOU!

Hello, I also have a problem with AoE 3. When I install AoE, it asks me to insert CD2 about halfway through the installation. I insert it, but nothing happens (the installation doesn't progress). I have enough space on my computer and I meet all the requirements to play this game.

Can you help me?
Thank you in advance.

I just tried with two different CDs and it doesn't work any better, I'm still stuck in the same place.

Could someone help me solve the same problem because I am on Windows 7.

Thank you =)

Guys, I'm sorry to tell you that your game is screwed for good, he he he. I had the same problem, but thanks to an individual experience, I was able to tell the difference with Age of Empires 3. Actually, mine happened during the second CD part when it showed the same message as yours, so I borrowed another game, Age of Empires 3, from a friend. I resumed the installation with my CD1, code and all, and for the CD2 part, which was damaged, I took my friend's CD2, which I replaced with mine during the installation. At the end of the installation, I returned the same CD2 to my friend; I gave him back his same game.
Let me explain: you see, it's a problem with heavily damaged CDs. Let's take an example, conquer the CD2, my CD2. During the installation, you take your own CD1, and when it asks for CD2, that’s when you’re going to replace your CD2 with your friend's CD2. At the end of the installation of CD2, you continue with your own CD3, and bam, there you go, it works, and you’re happy!