Windows 98 boot problem

Hi again Mike and BillyBob:

W98 is loading fine without error messages, but I assume that the overlay interfered with a couple of programs. I have two versions of Windows Media Player (they have the same name but look different, and play somewhat different types of files) but when one tries to launch now, the system freezes and must be rebooted. I don't know how useful this Dr. Watson program is, but it generated the following:

The application or one of its DLLs used an uninitialized function pointer variable or attempted to use a DLL which has already been freed.

Module Name: <unknown>

Application Name: Mplayer2.exe
Description: Windows Media Player
Version: 6.4.07.1119
Product: DirectShow
Manufacturer: Microsoft Corporation

--------------------
Microsoft® Windows(TM) Telephony Server has altered Windows system files.

Module Name: TAPISRV.EXE
Description: Microsoft® Windows(TM) Telephony Server
Version: 4.10.1998
Product: Microsoft(R) Windows(R) Operating System
Manufacturer: Microsoft Corporation


Can this be fixed easily, or do I need to reload the Player?

Thanks,

Dave

 

In addition, twice I've gotten the following on a blue screen:

An Exception OE occured at 0028:C001539A in VxD---. Called from 0028:C1627C4A in VxD---

I can continue from there, but the web browser won't budge until reboot is done.

??

 

Dave you did an overlay install which basically corrected the moving of the HD to an new m/b.

It probably has more Dell references in the registry.

So get and run these:

Registry and System cleaners

RegCleaner http://www.vtoy.fi/jv16/shtml/regcleaner.shtml
Look in first 2 cols for programs you thought you uninstalled or removed especially DELL references, these are the dregs left by the uninstaller.

Also tag and remove any that you are POSITIVE are not supposed to be on your computer.

After removing these go to the top Tools-Registry Cleanup-Do them all. Delete all it finds.

EasyClean1.7 http://gswi.com/downloads.htm
Run only unnecessary files and registry clean delete all it finds. If you have ME or XP in the "Unnessesary Files" type the word HELP in the skip box. Do not do Duplicate files!

System Mechanic http://www.iolo.com/sm/index.htm Do not do Duplicate files!

Additionally the overlay install would not get rid of Spy/Adware so do thes also:
Spyware and adware removal

SpyBot http://security.kolla.de/index.php?lang=en&page=download
Run this twice delete all it finds, "ALWAYS" run this before AdAware.
Leave all it wants to leave after the second run.

AdAware 6.0 http://www.lavasoft.com/
Run only after SpyBot!
Make sure to configure to Max settings, all files and compressed files.Delete all it finds

BHO Demon http://www.definitivesolutions.com/bhodemon.htm
A BHO is like a autostart/startup that only runs when you run the Browser.
This program runs stand alone no install is required post me the items it finds other than the below. Normal entries here would be Acrobat Reader or Norton Anti virus.

Stay out of trouble for a while. Smile!

Mike

 

Hi Mike:

Went out of town but now am back, and still working to fix the media players.

Followed all your last instructions, but ran into some snags. In EasyClean, there was a file it wouldn't let me delete, named
Wind\temp\~DF4E27.tmp

It said it was "in use." When I clicked on it, Excel opened. I never use Excel though.

Also, Spybot hangs each time half-way through it's scan, always at this line:

Running bot-check (2957/5835:C2.lop)

I have to use C-alt-del to get out of it.

Also, Adaware is not listed any more on the Lavasoft site. I have AdAware 5.0 already though -- will that do the job?

Thanks again.

Dave

 

Hi Dave

Wondered what happened to you!

Ok! The in use is normal.

The answer is to do all these fixes in "SAFE MODE ".

The correct web address for Adaware is www.lavasoftusa.com Get it. No the 5.0 is no good now! Uninstall it before installing 6.0.

NOTE: apearently the site is down, hopefully temp!

So go with all other!

Fix all these first before the media players. Then if still a problem just uninstall the players and reinstall! The cleanups may correct some or all.

BUT FIRST THINGS FIRST! Get thru the cleanups!

mike

 

Mike:

Did all the above in Safe Mode. System Mechanic still hangs on the same file (I said it was EasyClean, but it was Sys Mech), so it can't complete it's scan.

These are what was in the BHO search:

DapBHO.dll (Download Acclerator)
NZDD.dll
ACROIEHelper.ocx

Reloaded the Players and still get the following in error:

MPLAYER2 caused an invalid page fault in
module KERNEL32.DLL at 015f:bff7a115.
Registers:
EAX=82e137b0 CS=015f EIP=bff7a115 EFLGS=00010212
EBX=82e93004 SS=0167 ESP=0056f1c8 EBP=0056f208
ECX=00100000 DS=0167 ESI=82e137b0 FS=357f
EDX=82e1200c ES=0167 EDI=0007f854 GS=0000
Bytes at CS:EIP:
8b 03 a8 01 74 25 25 fc ff ff 0f 8b 53 08 03 f8
Stack dump:
0056f208 0007f854 0000015c 82e13654 bff7a391 82e12000 82e137b0 0007f854 00000000 82e1200c 82e12000 82e13654 00000040 00000000 00082e93 00082

Thanks,

Dave

 

Hi Dave

The BHODemon report is OK normal stuff.

OK on the other stuff.

What do you mean by player(S). How many and which players? The error is coming from Windows Media player.

What you should do here is uninstall it first.

Then!

Do the following cleanups this will get the file that locks up System Mechanic for sure.

Cleanups
These are for 95 98 only!

Boot to DOS (not shutdown to DOS). While booting hit F8 to startup menu. Chose "command prompt only ".

Type these commands exactly hit enter at the end (do not type the notes that are in parenthesis like this).

del c:\*.swp (may get file not found, is ok)
del c:\windows\*.swp
deltree c:\windows\shelli*.*
deltree c:\windows\temp\*.* (answer yes to all) "ALL "
deltree c:\windows\tempor~1\*.*
deltree c:\windows\history\*.*
deltree c:\windows\spool\printers\*.*

Then boot to safe mode (do not allow full mode yet) and run only the Registry cleaners (each and every registry cleaner). This should finish removing Media player.

Now boot back to full mode go to windows update and get Windows media player 9 and install it!

Mike

 

Mike:

Did all you recommended, but I still ge this error:

<unknown> performed an invalid memory access.

Module Name: <unknown>

Application Name: Wmplayer.exe
Description: Microsoft(R) Windows Media Player
Version: 7.01.00.3055
Product: Microsoft(R) Windows Media Player
Manufacturer: Microsoft Corporation

--------------------
<unknown> has altered Windows system files.

Module Name: <unknown>


I had WMP versions 6 and 7 on this computer because they had different strengths. V7 has an uninstall feature, which I used, but V6 I had to delete from Program Files. Would that have made a difference? I reloaded V7 but still get the error. I followed all the DOS commands, scanned the registries, and reloaded. Still no luck. They worked fine before the overlay install of W98.

Dave

 

So Dave what about the other error with the temp file?

I see your only fix for Media player 7 is to reinstall clean.

Here is the link to ver 7:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/software/playerV7.aspx

Mike

 

Mike -- I have tried reloading WMP 7 fresh but still get the error message. I'm wondering if part of WMP 6 is still hanging on though and isn't being removed before reinstall, because I didn't see a way to delete it except through deleting its folder in Program Files. WMP 7 had an Uninstall feature, but WMP 6 did not. Both were on this hard drive.

Have run two times through the WMP deletion, the DOS commands, the registry cleaning and then reloading WMP 7 but still get the error message.

WMP will run fine in Safe Mode, if that's any help. Of course, the video is nearly unwatchable though.

The temp file that was stopping the registry clean was an Excel reference, and doesn't show up anymore.

The snag in Spybot has also disappeared.

???

 

Dave

See the links:

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winme_livingston.asp
http://www.litepc.com/prev_lic.html

I would reccomend getting the free 98Lite and look at its ability to remove media player.

I have not run this but I have ran their IEradicator product and it works well.

I would d/l and install, but do the remove in safe mode.

Only after it is cleaned try to reinstall MPLAY 7. Additionally this may be a DirectX issue.

Get DirectX9 here: (NOTE you may try this first, as it may be the problem)

DX9 http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...06-AE0D-4652-B9A0-EAE0AA6AE6D7&displaylang=en


Good luck.

Mike

 

Mike:

Downloading DirectX9 seems to have solved the problem completely. In fact, video seems much clearer than it did before. Thanks again.

If I could bother you for a bit more advice -- I've been looking for a book or books that really explain how Windows 98 works -- and not just expanding on "how to use" Windows. I'm looking for a real explanation of what's happening, what the error messages mean, etc. The closest I've found is the Unofficial Guide to Windows, but that still is lacking a lot of info.

Is there such a book that really explains how Windows 98 works?

Alternatively, if I'm going to try to master an OS, should I just get Windows XP and start learning that instead? I've heard some people say that W98 might be all a person really needs.

Lastly, to be reallly strong with W98, should a person learn DOS as well?

I'm going also to post these questions to the readers of the BBS to get varied opinions, unless I find it's already been discussed. I would guess there are at least a few other people at the same stage as me who want to really understand how Windows works.

Thanks again.

Dave

 

Dave

Glad it is all finally fixed.

Dave I cannot reccomend a book for you as I don't read at that level any more. Since I began in the late seventies. For me it would be like going back to 1st grade. See Spot run! Smile.

Hopefully someone that is closer to your experience has a book they liked and can reccomend.

As for study, this BBS is a treasure trove. Spend some time looking at the problems and how they are solved. Find the tweaks and tips and use them on your own computer.

Understand how to backup and how to cleanup a computer of temps spy/adware and viri. How and when to update. It is all right here on this board.

No! I don't think you should put a lot of effort into DOS, but do try to get the basics.

As for XP now, hmmmm. I think if you can easily afford it yes. But if you did stick with 98 and as you say Master it. XP will come easier when you do get it.

Call if you need me.


Good luck,

Mike