Skip to main content
5-Regular Member
January 25, 2019
Question

Unable to Install Mathcad Prime 4.0 after installing Mathcad Prime 5.0

  • January 25, 2019
  • 4 replies
  • 7136 views

Our technology people accidentally installed Mathcad Prime 5.0 on a classroom computer instead of 4.0.  

When they addressed their mistake they found they could not install 4.0 and a cryptic error message with no detail was given.  (See screenshot attached).

 

They were able to uninstall Mathcad 5 (though I have both on my laptop with this.  

 

Please advise.. I need that console working with Prime 4 in class.

 

Cheers and Thanks Much!

Bill Capehart

SD School of Mines

4 replies

23-Emerald I
January 25, 2019

One of the newer better features of Windows computers (remember, I started in DOS) was  the creation of restore points; if you really screwed up your computer you could call up a previous version and restore the computer to that configuration.  (You lose any files you created since.)  Most computers now create these restore points automatically.

 

You might be able to restore to just before the installation of 5.0, then do the installations in correct order.. .

24-Ruby III
January 25, 2019

Hi,

 

try following

  • uninstall PTC Mathcad Viewable Support item
  • remove the contents of C:\Program Files\PTC directory
  • install Mathcad and use different installation directory, eg. C:\Program Files\mathcad

 

23-Emerald IV
January 25, 2019

I'm afraid Fred's suggestion, or a completely new, clean install of windows is what you need.

I've recently tried to install Prime 3.1 where 4 was already installed. Uninstalling all PTC stuff, wiping PTC directories AND clearing all possible Prime and PTC related keys from the registry did not allow me to install Prime 3.1.

 

Success!
Luc

24-Ruby III
January 27, 2019

Just info ... see attached document.

25-Diamond I
January 27, 2019

So the point seems to be that you have to keep and reuse the license file you got at the very first installation of Prime, right?

Probably because they won't send you a second one for the same machine?

 

5-Regular Member
January 28, 2019

1. Go to Control Panel -> Program and Features and check that Mathcad Prime 5.0.0.0 and 4.0 are not installed. If they are - uninstall them. The natural order is to first uninstall 5.0.0.0 and 4.0 after that.

2. If you want to be on the safe side you may delete, or rename the installation directories that by default are under c:\Program Files\PTC.

3. Now you should be able to install Mathcad Prime 4.0.

If it does not solve the problem - contact technical support.

 

"Viewable support" is unrelated. No need to uninstall it.

Keeping license file is a good idea, but it is not needed to install the application. Installer does not check license and allows to install even if you do not have license at all.

 

It is possible to install several versions of Mathcad Prime on one computer, but it should be done in ascending order. (For example - 4 and after that - 5).

 

 

23-Emerald IV
January 28, 2019

Does this also apply to Prime Express?

That is: If I uninstall Prime 4 Express, should I be able to install Prime 3.1 Express?

 

Luc

5-Regular Member
January 29, 2019

Yes, it should work.

Certainly the latest version is recommended.