WINE\\ can't change setup.exe properties to EXECUTABLE

You should not use outlook 98. This program is almost 13 years old, and has been long discontinued by Microsoft. The program was extremely poorly designed from a security standpoint, and was a significant attack vector for PCs at the time due to external resource handling, and faulty image loaders.

Please use newer email clients, like thunderbird or evolution. Both of these are available in your ubuntu install, and evolution is installed by default. (Personally I prefer thunderbird).

The reason for me trying to install it, and I couldn't complete installation in XP which I share on my HDD with Meerkat (cannot get components through the net using explorer 8, it insists on using its own explorer 4, which of course won't install, over the newer version etc etc) just so that I can access old OUTLOOK mail, which I had archived on changing machines now a couple of years ago.

I tried unsuccessfully to use Thunderbird to red the files and countless other email clients, yet the old OUTLOOK files are just unreadable. You may know the file type I mean, well they can be read in the odd program but that's no good when I have an archive of hundreds, that I need to search through still.

I'm still hoping I might use this software I just purchased off eBay. Thank you for your advice though mycae

ok, if you know what you are doing.

You can alter the wine call, as per here (post #6):
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1500627

gksu gedit /usr/share/applications/wine.desktop

and change the exec line:
Exec=wine start /unix %f

Thank you, I followed the instruction on the link, which seemed simple enough and also changed my exec line.
However mid-way through the installation it stopped and I had run into a program error.

'The program acmsetup.exe has encountered a serious problem and needs to close. We are sorry etc.
This can be caused by a problem in the program or a deficiency in Wine. You may want to check http://appdb.winehq.org for tips about running this application
If this problem is not present under Windows and has not been reported yet, you can report it at http://bugs.winehq.org"

I did check wine for answers but found nothing specific to acmsetup.exe
I also followed the Wine c:Drive view to the acmsetup.exe file and checked it's properties, it's not on the set up CD, I located it here:- media/WindowsXP/Program Files/Microsoft Office/Office/Setup/Outlook
I was not able to click executable in permissions over it, and using the open with other method to select wine it made no difference. When i tried to run it with wine form its position I saw a MS like grey screen with the messages a) unable to open data file Z: \etc\\ acmsetup.stf then the next message, setup error 723 unable to read configuration info from the 1st sector of the setup file.

Also by trying to open Outlook which is shown in my wine programs, it brings up the basic inbox picture, but cannot proceed and there is the yellow message "An OLE registration error occured. The program is not correctly installed. Run Setup again for the program." Running again, I still have the same problem thereafter.

Is there a way to proceed still? You help is much appreciated.

If it doesn't work, you are a bit on your own. OLE is the Object Linking and Embedding code, which is also a bit oldschool

However -- all is not lost -- you might be able to covert your PST to MBOX using this:
http://www.five-ten-sg.com/libpst/
http://www.five-ten-sg.com/libpst/rn01re01.html

Thank you - I am a beginner, so will have to pass on this. Although I wish to thank you for your help, and suggestions above. Perhaps I need to find a more reason Outlook edition, and hope that it reads those old emails, and can be set up easily.. Would you suggest anything particularly?

I would encorage trying readpst, it should be quite easy

place a single PST file in your home folder, then press Ctrl+Alt+T.

cut and paste the following commands

sudo apt-get install readpst
readpst *pst

that should be it.

I have not used outlook in years, so I can't tell you much about it I am afraid.