Visual Basic 6 no longer works

I have Visual Basic 6 Pro, Service Pack 4 on an old, spare PC loaded with Windows XP Pro which I have happily worked with for many years. I haven’t used VB on it since February 2016 & recently wanted to update some of my archive schematic drawings but I now find that although I can still open the files, the software is in view only mode meaning I can no longer change or save the files.

It keeps asking me to load visio.msi from my installation media but neither my CD version of VB6 or service pack 4 has this file. I know MS no longer support XP but did they change something on one of the last XP updates they did that would cause this? If so why & is there a way around it? Would re-installing the XP Pro, software I have without the later MS updates before they stopped support restore the status-quo; anyone advise what’s going on?

It appears that there is a Service Pack 6 for VB6, which is still available on the Microsoft website. https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/details.aspx?id=5721. Might be worth trying this first. However, from what I can find, it appears Visio is an add-on for VB6, so you may need to do a web search (or search your software discs!) to find the installer.
HTH

Hi Astra99
Thanks for the response, the problem is now solved. Having not done any of this work for at least 2 years, I finally realised I was being a bit of a “part” & was trying to open a Visio file with VB6! To make things worse, I was also looking on the wrong disc for the visio.msi file. Both these apps had disappeared from my PC as a result of an OS re-install a while back & somehow I had managed to transpose the software discs in their cd cases. I’ve now re-installed Visio pro 2002 (where the visio.msi is indeed located) & everything is now working fine.

Just goes to show that a combination of not using something regularly & advancing years can play tricks on your brain; use it or loose it I suppose!

Hi Richard C
Glad to know you are now all sorted. I concur regarding the comment about advancing years!

Astra99 said:

I concur regarding the comment about advancing years!

Click to expand...

It's a bit frightening when you realise, that you just know it's just true!