Type To Learn 3 on Windows Vista

While setting up a new PC for my kid's school, I discovered that Type to Learn 3 would not work on Microsoft Vista Home Premium.

The error I was getting was: Fatal Error : Failed to open DAT file "Splash"

I tried the various compatibility modes and Vista, but always got the same error immediately upon launching the program. A Google search for this error revealed some reviews from people getting the same error, but nothing helpful.

I called the Sunburst tech support number and they explained that the version I was installing (marked 1.0h on the CD) was not compatible for Vista. They did manufacture a version of Type to Learn 3 that was compatible with Vista, but it had been discontinued since Type to Learn 4 was their current release.

I decided to see if I could debug the issue myself and found a folder on the installation CD named "Res" that did not get copied to the program folder at the time of installation. It had a subdirectory named "DAT", which contained a file named "SPLASH.DAT". Aha! I then copied the entire contents of the "Res" folder to the TTL3Home program folder on the PC (See note below), tried the program again, and it worked fine. Problem solved.

Note that I initially tried to copy the "Res" folder while logged in as a non-administrator. As expected, Vista prompted me for the administrator password, but then it only pretended to copy the files. Nothing actually copied and there were no errors indicated. I had to logout of the user account and login as an administrator before I could copy the files. Probably something obvious, but the reason doesn't come to mind immediately. In any case, the problem is fixed so all is good.