After reading these threads (very helpful, thanks everyone!) i tried a win98 bottle. i was at least able to finish the install.
i'm running Sabayon linux and Crossover Office, which i purchased to migrate the data from Windows 2000 to linux - i must say that every single piece of information that i harvested from Windows was successfully imported into the linux apps i selected. nice work Codeweavers!
now, back to Mapsource....
after 2 attempts, i tried a 3rd attempt with a win98 bottle and it finished (previously, Installshield bombed). when trying to run the app, i got this error message:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no" ?>
<ErrorReport xmlns="http://www.garmin.com/xmlschemas/ApplicationErrors/v1">
<Error>
<Exception>
<SourceCodeLocation>
<SourceFileName>AFX_COMBOBOXUTILS.HPP</SourceFileName>
<SourceFileLine>54</SourceFileLine>
</SourceCodeLocation>
</Exception>
<Application>
<Name>MapSource</Name>
<Build>
<Version>
<VersionMajor>6</VersionMajor>
<VersionMinor>5</VersionMinor>
<BuildMajor>0</BuildMajor>
<BuildMinor>0</BuildMinor>
</Version>
<Type>Release</Type>
<Time>Dec 27 2004, 17:40:51</Time>
<Builder>SQA</Builder>
</Build>
<LanguageID>1033</LanguageID>
<PartNumber>006-A0041-00</PartNumber>
</Application>
<Computer>
<OperatingSystem>Windows 98 SE</OperatingSystem>
<Processor>Pentium</Processor>
<RamSize>478868</RamSize>
</Computer>
<Time>2006-12-01T06:57:49Z</Time>
</Error>
</ErrorReport>
oh well. i'll keep trying to get this working because its only 1 of 2 reasons why i need windows at all!