sims 1 problems - error after installing

i've played the sims for ages on this computer. i had random crashes and stuff but, after changing the disk drive as the first one broke, i can't play the sims. i've installed it many times after but then have uninstalled it because it won't work. i tried tonight and it said that microsoft had encountered a problem. i looked on the sims website and read something about searching the cd for the file SETUP.EXE and making sure the compatability is switched off, but i can't even find the file. please help, i really want to play the sims.