Help with runtime errors

Glad I found this community. I will be spending alot of time here from now on learning. I have a problem, I hope someone can help.

I have a Dell computer with Windows XP. Everything has been working fine til yesterday. I have 5 users set up. If I log on, use the net, and switch user to my wife or one of the kids, I get a runtime error. The error reads

Microsoft visual C++ Runtime library

Runtime error!

Program: c:\Program files\Internet explorer\iexplore.exe

This application has required the runtime to terminate it in an unusual way. Please contact the application support team for more info.



I also get similar errors when I attempt to use any other applications like my computer or control panel. The only difference is

Microsoft visual C++ Runtime library

Runtime error!

Program:C\Windows\explorer.exe

Blah, Blah, Blah


Does anyone know how I can fix this problem?? Now If I completely log off, and log into another user, everything is OK. Just when I switch users do I get these errors. Please, be detailed in how to fix this, as I am still learning how to do alot of things with XP. Thank You in advance.

 

what's in startup?

i'd suspect something here is the problem but ... just a guess really.

best bet to diag startup issues is:

1) boot safe mode (w/ networking to test w/ inet) - hit F8 at boot time for menu

2) disable all that is not required to run the system from startup groups/keys w/ a prog like mike lin's startup control panel. google 'mike lin' and u'll find it.

if both above work w/o issue, then use mike's panel to start adding stuff back 1 x 1 w/ reboot & test vs u'r condition. once u find the culprit, u can either patch, delete or replace /w like kind if need be.

other things = update everything ... sorta vague ... i know but ... check w/ u'r PC maker and MS' update as well as any progs in startup

 

Nothing new in startup, if thats what you mean. Can you be more specific in your instructions on what to do. I am new to this diagnostic thing.

FWIW, I ran virus scan and spyware scan with no problems found.

 

ok ... click start, then run and type in MSCONFIG. then hit enter. once u do that, see the 'startup' tab. then list everything there here

my guess = something in this list is old or needs updates or just doesn't belong there mostly. once we know what's there, let the troubleshooting begin more or less.

 

This is everything listed under startup.



igfxtray C:\\WINDOWS\system HKLM\SOFTWARE\microsoft\windows\currentv

hkcmd C:\\WINDOWS\system HKLM\SOFTWARE\microsoft\windows\currentv


jusched C:\\Programfiles\Java HKLM\SOFTWARE\microsoft\windows\currentv

INTELmem C:\Programfiles\intel SAME AS ABOVE

CTSysvol C:\Programfiles\crea SAME AS ABOVE

Rundll32P17 Rundll32P17.dll,P17H " " " " "" " "

UpdReg C:\WINDOWS\UpdRe " " " "

DvDLAuncher "C:\Programfiles\cyb " " "

RealPlay C:\Programfiles\Real\ " " " " "

qttask "C:\Programfiles\Quick " " " " " "

tfswctrl C:\WINDOWS\system " " " " "

ISUSPM C:\PROGRA~1\COMM " " " " "

issch "C:\Programfiles\COM " " " " "

mcagent c:\PROGRA~1\mcaffee " " " " " "

mcupdate c:\PROGRA~1\mcaffee " " " " "

MSKagent C:\PROGRA~1\McAffee " " " " "

MSKdetect C:\PROGRA~1\McAffee " " " " "

mscifapp c:\PROGRA~1\mcaffee " " " " "

dlbtmgr "C:\Programfiles\DELL

WkUfind C:\Programfiles\ com

Mpftray C:\PROGRA~1\McAffee

mcmnhdlr C:\PROGRA~1\McAffee

mcvsshld C:\Programfiles\McAf

oasclnt C:\Programfiles\McAf

DSAgnt "C:\Programfiles|Dell

MSKAgent C:\PROGRA~1\McAffee

Kodak Easyshare C:\PROGRA~1\Kodak\ Common startup

Kodak software up C:\PROGRA~1\Kodak\ " " "

Microsoft office C:\PROGRA~1\MI193 " " "

Microsoft Works C:\PROGRA~1\COMM " " "

Quickbooks quick update C:\PROGRA~1\COMM

 

Anybody know what to do now??

 

The great thing about XP - there are so many ways to do almost everything.

One of the bad thing about XP - there are so many ways to approach diagnosing a problem. I left it to skeet6961 since we are both pretty good but usually attack things from very different directions.

- XP-home or XP-pro?
- what service pack?
- are you using 'fast user switching' or logging off and back on as a different user when the problem surfaces?
- I can't keep track of how the various makers do things so did Dell provide you with a normal XP Install CD or did they inflict some sort of 'recovery cd' on you that is only able to reset the OS back to the way it was when you bought it?
.. if the latter, do you find a folder on your PC on the OS drive named I386 located directly under the drive letter (c:\i386, e:\i386, similar)? If not, can you locate a folder by that name on any of the CDs they provided you?

 

XP Home edition
Service pack 2
fast user switching
Dell never provided the XP CD when they shipped the computer. I neglected to notice until now.

 

Thanks for the information.

The repair I'd like you to try first (easy, safe, etc.) requires access to the I386 folder where all the system files are available to the repair utility.

If you didn't get CDs, Dell probably put the folder on the PC somewhere but may have hidden it.

In Windows Explorer, click on tools, on folder options, on view. Then make your settings match the picture. You may not have all the settings available since the picture is from XP-pro and the home version doesn't always offer the same options but you should have the important ones.

After that, try to locate an I386 folder somewhere on your hard drive. Post back with your results.

 

\



I set folder options as you directed.

OK found a few I386 files. Some for system 32, one for driver cache, couple for program files/java, couple titled lib, and one for quickbooks. The first one listed is titled C:\ Where do I go from here??

 

Anyone know what I'm supposed to be looking for??

 

Oops. Sorry but missed your earlier reply.

You will need to make a registry change so your system knows where to look for system files to replace any the system file checker utility (specifics later) decides need replacing.

Assuming you do have C:\I386 as a folder (and ignore any others, you gotta have one at the root level of your system drive), the registry needs editing a little.

Click on start, on run, key in regedit and OK.

Navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup

You will see various entries here on the right hand side. The one you want is called SourcePath

Not sure where it is pointing now but you need it pointing to C:\

Simply double click the SourcePatch setting and a new box will pop up allowing you to make the change. Make sure the value reads C:\

Make the same change to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup\SourcePath

Note that you want the SourcePath set to c:\ and nothing more. You must have the c:\I386 folder located exactly there.

Reboot and when the machine is sane again, click on start, on run, key in sfc /scannow and OK. Note the space after sfc. The system file checker will now run. May take 30 minutes to over an hour so just leave it until it is done. You won't see any results on screen but if interested, you can check your event logs and get details of what was done.

 

I cannot locate sourcepath. I have the following.

Apploglevels
Basewinoptions
Exception componets
Migration DLLS
Oc Manager
OOBE
Optional components
Windows features

 

FWIW, I also ran registry fixer and spybot.

 

Those are keys. You should also have some values but if you don't have SourcePath (and the upper/lower case is critical), simply add a value with that name, a type of REG_SZ, and a value of C:\

Below is a picture of my work system which looks to a URL link for the SourcePath but yours needs to look at C:\

 

OK, I ran the scannow. What next??

 

Did it help with your original problem?

note: I'm off until tomorrow evening after this post but will see your reply then

 

No, still getting run time errors after I switch user and attempt to launch internet, my computer, and control panel.

 

Dont know if this helps, but I checked my event log and found two errors. The first error is the more common one, and has occured many times.

Windows
Version 5.0
Service Control Manager
Event_Service_Exit_Failed


Second error:

Windows
DCOM
5.0
Event_RPCSS_Server_Start_Timeout