"Corrupt Installation: Reinstall application from original CD." I've tried this several times on 3 different PCs. apparently the game requires the CD! what CD?!! this is GOG, not Software Ect or Babbage's at the Mall!

Hello again neosapian!

Where did you installed the game(s) to?
Avoid the Windows own standard Program Files folders due to their write-to-files restrictions.

Did you used the installation via GOG Galaxy or did you download the offline installer files and installed through them?

On my computer the offline installer files worked as intended, when installing outside the Program Files folder (e.g. C:\GOG Games\18 Wheels of Steel...) and allowing the installer setup to run with adminsitrator priviledges. During or actual right after installation the setup needs to apply some scripts to fix the dependencies for the (older) games.

Maybe the installation process could not finish apply the entries in the Windows registry. Manually launching the RegSetup.exe in the games' main directory might solve this issue. Or you could try to uninstall and do a clean reinstall with the aforementioned target directory and adminsitrator rights observations.

Good luck!

Kind regards,
foxgog

Hello once more neosapian!

It did bothered me somehow, so I did some testing and some research on your error.
I can reproduce the error message with the game "Pedal to the Metal" (which I still have installed on my computer) when I try to launch the game .exe without Administrator priviledges!

The article about "Pedal to the Metal" on pcgamingwiki confirms, that this very same error is common with the digitally distributed version from GOG.com, if no Administrator priviledges are applied.

See here under "Issues fixed" for reference

[url=https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/18_Wheels_of_Steel:_Pedal_to_the_Metal]Pedal to the Metal on pcgamingwiki[/url]

I assume the same goes for the other ones in the series including (Across America, Convoy, Haulin', and American Long Haul).

Hope this clears things up for you.

Have fun with the game(s)!

Kind regards,
foxgog

[Edit:]
Sorry, for I do not know, why the link is not working properly (not clickable).
Alternatively, copy the address or search in your preferred search engine for "Pedal to the Metal" and "pcgamingwiki" as keywords to find the article.

Short: Pedal to the Metal require admin mode, but at same time not - on Win Vista-7 or Win 8+, VirtualSotre will be used anyway. Game should start (maybe first start require admin?). Looks like require registry entries in HKLM and this is one of rarest non-portable* games (require regisrty to launch and didnt overwrite it automatically).

So it is corrupt installation. Fixed by Galaxy client verification or reinstall for offline.
--------
Not related
Hmm odd... I have installed - and uninstalled - copies of all 8 games. I run them in adminmode and probably without it (looks like without, since...).
I decide to test it from new installation. First i exctract it by innoextract. And game refuse to start with Corruption installation. Thats already mean game require be properly installed. Still i try install it normally and also make backup after. When game be normally installed it start without adminrun (i launch up to launcher first game starting with admin and relaunched it without it). After i uninstall it back wont started even in admin run.
Looks like last time i did that some required registry entries keep on my PC so backup worked (in admin or not, no sure now). Now backup refuse to work. There is installed reg file, which one probably enough. But in that case it better keep game normal way installed. If not make any experiments with the game folder, it will be worked without admin run.
-------
For GOG Galaxy version, before game verification, restart Galaxy in admin mode. Or use offline installer - Windows will detect it is setup file and force run it in admin mode automatically, asking permission for it.
For both versions do not forget to erase game folder in \My Documents\ , without that it wont be real 'validation'

Galaxy is no place to run such a game. and you canno "adimn" an installation via galaxy D:\GOG Games\
I've tired the other things several times. Windows 11 Home-non-group policy editor version, seems to be the culprit in general. I googled this [url=https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/18_Wheels_of_Steel:_Pedal_to_the_Metal]https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/18_Wheels_of_Steel:_Pedal_to_the_Metal[/url] probably similar to the link you tried and send. I don't recommend galaxy am downloading the game and will try the admin rights via exe.

yes but you must also install it on admin mode. run, install. and do not use galaxy. also I went into the game's folder and found the game's runable file(\pttm.exe) to execute it(admin). was able to call up the set up and set to bare minium.. after this you can adjust settings slowly as your PC can take them. -much like nursing the sick and injured. seems to work! thinks for the "admin" advice. I can't believe I didn't think of it! I also recommend turning off MS Defender's "Ransomware Protection" software.

For X:\Games\ folder game dont need admin mode on any* desktop\mobile Windows since it will use VirtualStore WinRegistry location. Without experiments (like i did trying to play 'portable' backups) and for offline GOG version you just install it to \Games\ and it work without admin mode.

* Admin still required for WinXP.

GOG Galaxy itself not require admin (that still like that?), but for installing games verification them and at the end of both process configuring them (links, compatibilities and Registry entries) it need admin. It is really corrupt installation as result, if Galaxy cant do that.
Offline installers is most easiest way. They have build-in verification (although it check local files _before_ copy them to new game installation folder, there is at least such local files on harddisk before start of installation). For GOG (offline) version you just install it to \Games\ and start without admin...
Probably it need first launch in admin.

Usually W.Defender will act same as UAC. Games in \Games\ folder not affect by Microsoft antivirus. But sometimes you need to launch them in admin to add temporal exception to Defender. Still first off - non-system folder installation, that fix most issues with Windows security. Rarely Defender still interfer process, and admin also temoraly add it to exceptions as temporary give admin rights to app and disable virtualstore using. Manually add exceptions is most rarest requirements for Defender.

Looks like 3rd party antivuruses even more interfer apps installed to program files and unlike Defender they absolutely ignore admin-run command for games in system folders.