How can I install Active Perl on my computer?

Question

When I tried to install Active Perl ActivePerl-5.6.1.635-MSWin32-x86.msi, the Windows Installer said it could not be opened and that I should contact my product vendor to verify if it is a valid window installer. the same thing went for Active Perl ActivePerl-5.12.1.1201-MSWin32-x86-292674.msi.
As for Active perl ActivePerl-5.12.1.1201-MSWin32-x64-292674.msi, it said the package could not be supported by my processor type. Am I using the wrong versions. When I tried to install it via DOS, I couldn't get the command line correct.
Please, tell me the version that I need for my Windows XP SP 2, Pentium III; and the command lines for installation. Thanks.

Answer 1

If you want to run perl on a computer that old, then obviously (I hope it's obvious) you should just install Linux, and use perl "natively". Perl on windows was an afterthought; Unix (and, by extension, Linux) is where perl feels most at $HOME.

Answer 2

msi files are Windows files, but I doubt that Active Perl will run on a PIII. It's not a matter of the correct version, it's a matter of running a Model T at Indy. (If someone has an OLD version of Perl, maybe they'll put it somewhere for you to download, but it won't be 5, and you won't be able to run anything you find on the web.)

Answer 3

Of course it affects you computer - everything you download does. At the very least, it will use up some disk space. It isn't any form of malware though.

Answer 4

There must be a problem with the downloaded .msi file... Are you sure there were no errors during download?