I have a few questions/suggestions to see if we can get the program running for you. First of all, per the ReadMe, it is highly recommended for Windows 8 users to set the User Access Controls (UAC) to the lowest setting. In addition the InRoads Group V8.11 folder will need to be open for write access. I am not sure if this is applicable if you have been running in the program successfully prior to this issue, but it would be good to makesure these recommendations are followed.
1. Are you having any trouble getting only MicroStation V8i SS3 to launch or do you receive this same error message?
2. Can you check the shortcut icon for MicroStation and see if you have the command line switch set up for InRoads? The following is set up for users accessing InRoads Suite: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Bentley\MicroStation V8i (SELECTseries)\MicroStation\ustation.exe" -wsLoad_InRoads_SS3=1 -wsINROADS_APP=Suite
3. If you are not able to load MicroStation by itself witout receiving the error message, you may want to delete the comand line switch to test if MicroStation can be loaded without InRoads. So the target would say: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Bentley\MicroStation V8i (SELECTseries)\MicroStation\ustation.exe"
If you are able to load MicroStation without InRoads, there could be a corruption in the configurations used to launch InRoads. I would try a clean removal of MicroStation and InRoads by not only uninstalling them through the Add/Remove Programs, but clearing the folders that contain the MicroStation and InRoads data. I have attached the instructions for a clean removal of the InRoads SS3 civil products for Windows 7. I do not have instructions to accomplish this on Windows 8, so the process may differ slightly but it give a good direction of the location to searchfor data to delete before reinstalling.
Then when you reinstall the program, make sure you install MicroStation 08.11.09.459 and complete that installation before you install InRoads 08.11.09.493.