Combat Flight Simulator?

For some reason my computer will not load the Microsoft Flight Simulator 3, Battle for Europe, from a CD-ROM. As far as I can see my computer (XP Pro SP3) has the necessary requirements. I've tried the following to install it: D\:install.exe; D\:setup.exe, all to no avail. (It won't load automatically, either.) When I try to 'explore' it all I get is a blank page; it's as though the CD-ROM contains nothing at all. I've tried the compatibility application but it tells me to type in the 'path' oe something and I just have no idea what it means