Regarding Mech Warrior 4 No Cd patch version 2

[Meched]

Game installed etc
then Patched up to latest point release (ver 2) UK/US
D/L and applied the NO CD/backupdisc patch for the point release and try running game and get:
mw4.exe is not a valid win32 application

tried the compatibility modes and no joy


Using Win 2k could this be the problem (have tried on friends system and came up with same problem on win 98)
had no problems with previous patches just the latest no CD

any help/advice would be welcome
thx