Cannot create temporary file

We are using a Dell computer with Windows XP and running a very old DOS database. I got it working when we bought the new machine and it has run without problems for a year. All of a sudden we get the following error message:

16 BIT WINDOWS SUBSYSTEM

C:\DOCUME~1\ADMINI~1\LOCALS~1\TEMP\

A temporary file needed for initialization could not be created or could not be written to. Make sure that the directory path exists, and disk space is available. Choose "close’ to terminate the application.

There is a choice of close or ignore.

This problem happened right after something was downloaded from the web.
The computer has very little in it so there is tons of disk space available.
I tried to restore the system to a previous state but it wouldn't let me.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

My first thought is "are you logged in as adminstrator "? The temp folder referenced belongs to the adminstrators account.

My second thought is have you emptied the temp folders?

From the startbutton run line type cleanmgr.exe. This is your default "disk cleanup" tool found via the longer route Startbutton>All Programs>Accessories>System tools>disk cleanup Or...
manually empty the temp folders Or... use program:
http://www.ccleaner.com/

My third thought, as the hairs on the back of my stand up, how secure is your virus protection and habits of using such? Our virus forum is quite good http://www.windowsbbs.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=41 Read stickies posted at the top. Directions and help are self explanatory.

 

Thanks. The computer is in my husband's office and I'm not the one who usually uses it. I just got back from trying to see what I could do. I ran a Norton virus check that didn't find anything. It is set up so that all users are the administrator. I'll have them empty the temp folder tomorrow.

The problem has nothing to do with the database since I thought I'd edit the config.nt file. I typed edit config.nt from the command prompt and got the same error message as before.

I searched the web and found that this comes from spyware called winadtools that removes the autoexec.nt and the config.nt files from windows\system32. However, those files were not missing and there was no winadtools on the computer.

I'll see if emptying the temo file helps. Any other suggestions?
Thanks again.

 

Keep in mind that cleanup of temp folders may definitely fix the problem and that I am almost ignorant when it comes to networking and I may be looking for trouble where there is none but....

As I understand it each account has their own temp folder with privileges for sharing settings. When you are logged in as Administrator the Administrators temp folder is used when you are logged in as (named) user other than admin that users temp folder will be used (*:windows\temp is shared by all). Now, unsure and shaky as my assumption maybe... it may well be that (named)user with admin privileges will not stumble over using the Administrators temp folder unless somehow the privileges for that folder have been changed by the owner ie "Administrator ".

None of the above may be correct, as I fessed up to my ignorance, and my assumption....ass me u....etc. If so and another recognizes this as being a misconception, please straighten me out.

 

The temp file is now empty but the problem is not solved. A friend thought that permissions may have gotten messed up, so we created a new user with administrative privileges but that didn't help either.

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

 

Hello rusty2,

Darn it, no luck even after emptying the temp folder, huh? I'm still disturbed over the \Administrators\temp file that this program is being directed to, regardless of who is logged in, but let's check out a few of the basics things anyway....

I suppose you manually browsed to C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp and made sure the folder does exist and is using the path indicated by the error, made sure it is empty, checked the properties on the temp folder and made sure all read\system\hidden attributes were unchecked, made sure some funky sharing policy hasn't been put on it....

Have tried to log in as on the actual Administrator account and run the program that way.

Checked the variable settings for the temp folder via a right click on the "My Computer" icon on the desktop>select properties>select the advanced tab>select the "environment variables" button>and checked out what is being reflected in the names and values for temp path variables. I haven't ever changed or edited these values myself but I understand that that these can be redirected. I would have to do a study up on whether doing so would or could have any bad side effects or result in any unforeseen problems before I ever recommended this though but a look see can't hurt. Something odd may be seen and can be used to further explore this area.

The fact that you weren't able to use system restore bothers me. This would also require the need for a correct and healthy temp folder condition(combined with the 16 BIT WINDOWS SUBSYSTEM burp along with your previous statement, "This problem happened right after something was downloaded from the web "), are all signs that you may have picked up a critter of some kind. This doesn't mean you have been infected, only that you should be suspcious and extra cautious in eliminateing this possibility, If you have even the slightess doubt, even though you have ran Norton, I think I would also use other means to thoroughly check for and eliminate this as a possibility. Online virus scans are always helpful along with the extra checks as directed by our security forum http://www.windowsbbs.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=2&f=41 Stickies at the top of the forum have links and how tos.

On the off chance that these files have been altered in someway, have you opened your config.nt and autoexec.nt, in notepad, to check for default settings or look for altered settings that should not be there.

A checkdisk may or may not help, File or folder corruption is always a possibility.

Other than the above I can't really think of to much more beyond some unknown problem with the old dos program your using. I'll keep thinking on this and if I come up with something else I'll let ya' know.

 

Unfortunately, I'm not the one who usually uses the computer and I have no way of knowing what has and has not been done. I do know that after the problem occurred a spyware check was made and things were removed, but I have no idea what.

We cannot run any DOS program or command or complete a system restore.

Since the data is backing up in the office, we had a computer consultant come in yesterday. She cleaned up the registry and did a number of other things (some of which you mentioned with temp folders) but nothing worked. Then we were on the phone for several hours with Microsoft but, again, nothing worked. They faithfully back up the system weekly, but didn't have the sense to restore before the next backup so we now have a backup of the problem.

Both the consultant and Microsoft say that we need to reinstall the operating system. Of course, they don't know where the CD is. They both suspect that spyware caused the problem.

 

I finally got to the office to reinstall Windows. I first tried the upgrade option so that we would not lose all data and programs. Reinstalling Windows cleared all the problems that I mentioned to date (not being able to run DOS programs, etc.) as well as some that have popped up since my last message (not being able to print from online pages.)

During the installation process I received a few error messages. They were:

Setup cannot copy the file: netdf650.inf
Setup cannot copy the file: ipsmsnap.dll
Setup cannot copy the file: migrate.ex_
and
The file "ialmnt5.sys" on Intel(R) Extreme Graphics Windows 2000\XP Installation Disk is needed. Type the path where the file is located.

I searched the installation and driver CDs on a laptop I brought with me but could not locate any of these files. A web search shows me how to download them but not what they are used for or if I really want them. Any advice here?

Thanks again for all your help.