A cure at last!!!

[3rdtryguy]

After several months of fighting with my computer over an error that kept me from playing Fallout 3, today I finally found the fix.

 

If you can't run fallout at all because it won't start due to an annoying error that says "...wouldn't start because the application configuration is incorrect. Reinstalling may correct this..."

 

Well, reinstalling WON'T help, I assure you.

 

This error is usually blamed on a visual C++ redistributable problem, but downloading and replacing that usually doesn't help, either.

Instead, download installer 3.1 first, and after the restart it needs, download something called .net framework 3.5.

 

This is for windows XP, by the way.

 

Pay attention--- when you find the download page on Microsoft.com that handles this file, the file you want is in a gray box with a download button at it's top. The correct file is some 2.5 megs or so and has the word setup in it's name right before the number 35. If you look too low, you'll see a link to download the whole 3.5 package. Don't click that, since it's 197 megs!!

Now, click on the correct download button, and it will do it's thing. When done, it will then download the main file of 60 megs. After that, it will tell you to disconnect from the internet and to close out all other windows. Then it will install the .net 3.5. After that, you'll have to restart again.

 

After that, pop in your fallout disc and watch in awe as it actually works!

Huzzah!

..and the ewoks danced.

 

That worked for me, anyway, and apparently has worked for many others as well. Good luck!