Knowledge Base

Links LS Classic: "Invalid String ID" Error Message When You Install or Start Links LS Classic

Article ID: 318337

Article Last Modified on 6/29/2007

APPLIES TO

Microsoft Links LS Classic

This article was previously published under Q318337

SYMPTOMS

When you try to install Links LS Classic, you may receive the following error message:

Invalid string ID

You may also receive this error message after you successfully install the program and then try to start the program for the first time.

When you click OK, the installation program or Links LS Classic closes.

CAUSE

This issue can occur under one or more of the following conditions:

You have a program running that causes a conflict with the installation of Links LS Classic.
Your video adapter is not compatible with Links LS Classic.
Your video driver is not compatible with Links LS Classic.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, use one of the following methods, as appropriate to your situation:

If you received the error message when you tried to install Links, start with "Method 1: Install Links LS Classic with a Clean Boot."

-or-

If the Links LS Classic installation completed successfully and you received the error message the first time you tried to start Links, skip to "Method 2: Troubleshoot Video Adapter Compatibility."

Method 1: Install Links LS Classic with a Clean Boot

Use a clean boot to restart your computer.

NOTE: A clean boot is a way to create a clean environment. When you start your computer with a clean boot, Microsoft Windows starts and loads only basic devices and services. For information about how to use a clean boot, see the "More Information" section later in this article.
Install Links LS Classic.
Do one of the following:
- If the installation is not successful, skip to "Method 2: Troubleshoot Video Adapter Compatibility" later in this article. Follow the steps to update your driver, and if that is successful, return to this procedure and start with step 1.
  
  -or-
- If the installation is successful, restart your computer with a normal startup. To do this, follow these steps.
  
  NOTE: Because there are several versions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your computer. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.
  1. Click Start, and then click Run.
  2. In the Open box, type msconfig, and then click OK.
  3. On the General tab, click Normal Startup - load all device drivers and services, and then click OK.
  4. When you are prompted to restart your computer, click Restart.
- Start Links LS Classic.
  
  If you receive the error message, you may have to update your video adapter driver. To do this, use the "Method 2: Troubleshoot Video Adapter Compatibility" procedure that follows.

Method 2: Troubleshoot Video Adapter Compatibility

NOTE: Because there are several versions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your computer. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.

Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type dxdiag, and then click OK.

The DirectX Diagnostic Tool dialog box opens.
Click the Sound tab.
Drag the Hardware Sound Acceleration Level bar to Basic acceleration.
Click Exit.
Start Links LS Classic.
Do one of the following:
- If you receive the error message, your video adapter may be incompatible with Links LS Classic. To run Links LS Classic, you must replace your video adapter.
  
  -or-
- If Links LS Classic starts successfully and you do not receive the error message, update your video driver to the latest driver that is available for your video adapter. Contact your video adapter manufacturer for more information about how to do this. For a list of driver databases, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
  
  Microsoft Tech Net Driver Resources http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/updatemanagement/bb245829.aspx
Reset your video adapter sound acceleration level setting to the original setting. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type dxdiag, and then click OK.
  
  The DirectX Diagnostic Tool dialog box opens.
3. Click the Sound tab.
4. Drag the Hardware Sound Acceleration Level bar to Full acceleration.
5. Click Exit.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about how to perform a clean boot, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

310353 How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows XP

267288 How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows Millennium Edition

281770 How to Perform Clean-Boot Troubleshooting for Windows 2000

192926 How to Perform Clean-Boot Troubleshooting for Windows 98

Additional query words: msgame

Keywords: kberrmsg kbprb KB318337

Microsoft KB Archive/318337

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