Not a valid win32 app error message

I have download and tried to install ‘pencil2d-win32-2017-09-23’. However I get the following error message “pencil2D.exe is not a valid win32 application”. I am running Windows XP Sp3 operating system and I was looking forward to using an animation program that will work on my basic setup. Any help will be most appreciated. Thank you.

@noobless Hi, thanks for writing. Hmm I’m afraid that QT framework, which is the under structure developers use to create the program, doesn’t support anything lower than Windows 7 as confirmed by the following link:

http://doc.qt.io/qt-5/supported-platforms.html

I used to have Windows XP Sp3 as well, To me it was the best windows I had for a long time, but after many incompatibilities with several key apps I use, I had to switch to Windows 7…and even nowadays it is already old.

HOWEVER, Note though that I’m not suggesting you to change OS. I have two solutions for you.

First, on Windows XP install VirtualBox and run a Linux OS solution like linux mint or ubuntu. Then download Pencil2D’s “appimage” which is basically a self-packed portable version for Debian based Linux OS’s, That way you’ll be able to use the software under Windows XP.

Here’s a guide that can help you with that: https://www.lifewire.com/run-ubuntu-within-windows-virtualbox-2202098

Both Virtualbox and Linux are free and don’t have restrictive licenses, so you don’t have to worry about anything “illegal”.

Second option is a bit of a long shot, but I’ve heard it works.

You would have to get a program called “portable ubuntu remix” which it’s been said to allow you to “run ubuntu on windows, seamlessly”

Here’s a guideI foun https://lifehacker.com/5195999/portable-ubuntu-runs-ubuntu-inside-windows

And here’s the sourceforge link (always check with your antivirus and use MD5 checksum checker just in case)

https://sourceforge.net/projects/portableubuntu/

As a last note, a fair warning. Since you are using a 32bit architecture, remember that you can only use up to 4 gigabytes of RAM, which in reality translates to 3 gigs in practice.

Pencil2D is a bit needy in the memory department, so you have to be careful not to make a lengthy animation inside a single Pencil2D file. Try to animate shots on different files, and make sure to backup with a file numbering system. (e.g. my_file_001, my_file002)

I tell you this because there’s been many reports of Pencil2D crashing with low memory specs and wiping off the work of a single file.

Anyway hope this helps, let us know if anything worked :slight_smile:

Hi Jose,
Thank you for your in depth, thorough reply. Your comment about XP only allowing 4GHZ RAM has made me finally realise that it may be time for me to leave the comfort and familiar surroundings of XP and upgrade. I shall check out the intriguing links you have provided (I hadn’t thought seriously about Linux until now)and hopefully get creating content. Many thanks again.