I just picked up a "Collector's Edition" (whatever that means, got the code insert but haven't tried it yet) of GalCiv2 at Wal*Mart. It looks like everything I've ever wanted in a game... but I can't install it.

When I try to install with the CD's, I get this: Link
I've been having a lot of trouble with auto-install programs of games on CD lately, all of them along these lines, so I tried downloading it from Stardock Central (a very cool feature). At the end of the first download, I got this: Link. I also got a message telling me that "activation has failed" and that I should seek help. The next download (Tutorials) went off without a hitch, but the "Movies" download spent 6 hours repeatedly going through the same pairs of .bik and .bik_ files before I cancelled it. (I would have come here to seek help while it was trying to download, but my browsers kept crashing ). I didn't try "Multimedia" due to time considerations.

The point is, I can't get the darn game onto my computer through the obvious automated means. I don't really know anything about computers, but I do know that simply copying files from a CD does NOT "install" most games. Is there any *correct* way to manually install a game, or do I have to rely on my nonfunctional Install Wizard-esque programs to do it?

Bah, I so want to play this game!

(Unrelated note, but in the posting instructions: "This will help to decrease errors, such as spelling and grammer" ...
Edit: Also, why no "Ignore and continue" option on that first error message?!? All my other games let me ignore corrupted files and replace them later, but this one just goes tits-up at the first hint of trouble! Gyaaaah!