Most likely you are experiencing a compatibility issue. Over time, Microsoft has changed the installers for the Windows OS versions. Since you have a 64-bit OS, this can be worse since the OS requires signed drivers. (They didn't exist when the CreataCard 3 was written.)
Based on my research, CreataCard 3 is a 16-bit program. It won't work under the 64-bit OS in the compatibility mode.
If you want to keep using the program, your only option is to run the program on a computer with an older Windows OS. This could be a second computer, a dual boot computer (where you choose which operating system to use at start up), or a virtual computer (where the older OS runs inside your Win7 computer). If you upgrade from Home Premium to Pro or Ultimate, you can create a virtual XP computer for free. Download and install Virtual PC and XP mode from Microsoft. Install them in order. Then install the XP software from the above site in the virtual computer and it will work. (Other virtual computer programs are Parallels and VMWare.) All of the other options will require a licensed version of the older Windows OS. Please note that the virtual computer can't share files directly with the main computer. You'll need to save files to external or removable media (optical media or flash drive, for example) to share them. Similarly a printer can't be installed on the real computer and the virtual one at the same time. You will be prompted to uninstall the hardware from the other "computer" if you try.
Otherwise, you will need to upgrade to another program that creates greeting cards. Unfortunately, I do not think you will be able to open your old projects with a newer program. Even PrintMaster 18.1 only imports from CreataCard 5 and newer. (That's the only Broderbund program of this type that imports any older projects.)
I hope this helps.
Cindy Wells
Start the "Windows Compatibility Wizard", and tell it that you want to install a "Windows XP" program. Windows 7 will then read the CD, and install the program, and run it in "XP" mode.
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