Expert: Lorry - 3/15/2005

Question
----Hi Lorry,

<Check out the following forum: http://www.d-a-l.com/help/archive/index.php/t-13441.html >

I already did so last weekend when trying to get rid of the problem. Most of the forums address the problems of missing dll files after Yahoo instant messenger was installed. My problem started after uninstalling it not while it was installed.

Lorry could you pass the question I had about making the columns in programs narrower so that I can see them all to an associate that may know the answer? I've tried everything that I could think of to no avail.

Thanks,

John

For your convenience following is the excerpt from my previous reply re the aforementioned problem:

Following is a slight non-error problem I discovered on the Compaq while looking for Norton's SystemWorks in programs after clicking start. I uninstalled and reinstalled SystemWorks trying to remedy the error problems but it disappeared from programs, so I thought. Today when I was using ‘programs' to open system tools I noticed two partial icons way to the right of the monitor screen. I clicked on them and there was SystemWorks and Ad Ware. There are two columns of programs showing each about 4 inches wide on a 15 monitor. Unlike the other computers running on Windows 98 SE and XP there are no arrows at the bottom of the columns indicating that additional programs are listed in the column. Is there any way that I can make these 'program columns' narrower than 4 inches so that all the columns can be seen in there entirety? If I remember correctly the columns used to be narrower at one time. Why I remember this is that when I clicked on SystemWorks the sub-menu use to appear on the right now it displays to the left over one of the columns.


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Followup To
Question -
--Hi Lorry,

I used the “clean” boot method rather than the second option, which was the ‘safe mode'. After using the “clean” boot I did try to use the safe mode but couldn't get computer to boot in safe mode using the ‘control' key method described in the instructions. The problem I encountered when trying to use the CTRL key is that I have no clue as to when the Compaq completes the Power On Self Test (POST) and there is no indication on the monitor that it is even doing a ‘POST'. I guess I was pressing and holding down the CTRL key at the wrong time in the boot.

Notes:
(1) Clean boot--#3 states to “click to clear the following check boxes”. I assumed that meant to uncheck the boxes, which is what I did. Further none of the three (if available) boxes were present on the ‘Selective Startup' menu. The only two items left checked on the menu when I clicked OK were “load static VxDs” and “load environment variables”. Also I clicked ‘apply' button before clicking OK. I don't think you have to click 'apply' because the second time I ran ‘clean boot' I skipped clicking on ‘apply' and got the same results.

After the Compaq clean booted I ran the ‘Disk Defragmenter tool'. This time it only took about 10 minutes to complete vs. the two hours and 41 minutes it took when I did it in the normal boot the other day. When I rebooted I received two consecutive error messages (the same two I've been getting all along 06:4F4C:0005058 & em_exec has caused an error in kernel.32.DLL). However, this time when I hit any key the computer continued to boot unlike the other times that it froze when the 06: 4F4C error message appeared. Next I reset the computer to “Normal Startup” and it rebooted and this time I got a completely different error message: OE:0028:C0030012.

At this point I went back for a second time and started computer in a ‘clean boot' again. I did the defrag again (took only 8 minutes) and then did a complete “Scan Disk” and checked “fix errors automatically. The Scan Disk took five hours to complete but it was the first time in a couple of years that I was able to complete the Scan Disk. Other times I tried I got a very small percent of c-disk scanned even after running it 8/10 hours using normal boot.


After running the Defrag and Scan Disk I reset the Compaq to ‘Normal Startup” and rebooted it twice this morning and did not receive any error messages. I'm keeping my fingers crossed hoping I won't get any error messages in the future.

Re: Logitech mouse

I used the link you provided and read about the error listed there. I am using a Logitech optical mouse on this computer and its MouseWare software could be causing the em_exec error message.

The site suggested to remove the Logitech MouseWare and replace it with IntelPoint. I didn't attempt this for two reason; first the warning in step 3 about using the Registry editor and second I don't have or know where to get IntePoint software.

What I did do was to search the site for the latest MouseWare version. I found a later version than what I have installed so I downloaded it to replace the version I had. My reasoning for doing this was that Logitech must be aware of the em_exec error message and probably corrected what was causing the error in a later version of their MouseWare. Hopefully, this is true. Again I booted the Compaq twice this morning without receiving any error messages.

Following is a slight non-error problem I discovered on the Compaq while looking for Norton's SystemWorks in programs after clicking start. I uninstalled and reinstalled SystemWorks trying to remedy the error problems but it disappeared from programs, so I thought. Today when I was using ‘programs' to open system tools I noticed two partial icons way to the right of the monitor screen.  I clicked on them and there was SystemWorks and Ad Ware.  There are two columns of programs showing each about 4 inches wide on a 15 monitor. Unlike the other computers running on Windows 98 SE and XP there are no arrows at the bottom of the columns indicating that additional programs are listed in the column. Is there any way that I can make these 'program columns' narrower than 4 inches so that all the columns can be seen in there entirety?  If I remember correctly the columns used to be narrower at one time. Why I remember this is that when I clicked on SystemWorks the sub-menu use to appear on the right now it displays to the left over one of the columns.


Note:
I did all of the things you suggested to remove the error messages on the Compaq on my HP Pavilion 6573Z which uses Windows 98 SE OS. About a week ago I hooked the HP up to my Home Network to update the virus protection and download critical updates from Microsoft. For years I have been getting the same message when I boot it; “CoCreateInatance for my Yahoo DLL failed”. I just clicked OK and it never bothers the operation of the computer. I always suspected that the error was cause because I uninstalled Yahoo instant messenger so I reinstalled Yahoo instant messenger and the error message never appeared again at boot up. Since I didn't want instant messenger installed on the computer I uninstalled it once again. And now instead of getting the CoCreateinstance error message I get this one “A required DLL file, MSVCR71.DLL was not found” each time I boot the computer. Again I just click OK and the computer appears to work fine. I easier to just click OK on this error message than to make all the clicks after startup to shut off Yahoo instant messenger. Is the missing MSVCR71.DLL going to cause a problem with any other program?

I thought I downloaded the missing msvcr71 from www.dll-files.com/dll-files.shtmlmsvcr71 but I sill get the error message but now says file may be corrupt try to reinstall. It seems like the more things I try to correct an error the worse I make it.

Thanks,

John
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Followup To
Question -
Hi Lorry,

I followed all your instructions as best as I was able to and following are the results:

<I'm not sure but if it were my computer, I would uninstall Norton SystemWorks(NSW), defrag, reboot and reinstall NSW making sure I get all LiveUpdates and run a virus scan.>

I did all of the above without any apparent problems except with the defrag program in system tools. The defrag program took 2 hours and 41 minutes to complete. If I remember correctly it only took a few minutes when I ran it previously. I kept getting a message “drives content changed restarting”. Did I do something wrong?


<After that, I would run Ad-aware SE. Download Ad-Aware® SE Personal Edition, a free program that you can download at:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/
Check for updates before running program. Then follow the directions here to do a full scan:
The following explains how to set Ad-aware's settings to perform a "Full Scan." >


I downloaded Ad-Aware SE personal Edition, checked for updates, and followed your directions for full scan as best as I could. However each time I tried to run the custom scan it froze and the program stopped responding at about the 70,000 to 72,000 objects scanned point. I had to use alt-control-delete keys to end the task that was not responding. Next I tried the smart system scan and it came up with 500+ items. Please note that when I ran “smart scan” only about 52,000 'objects scanned' showed at completion of the scan. On the first try I removed 306 items and the second time I ran it I think I removed 217 items.  Hopefully I don't need any of the stuff I removed. It was very time consuming having to check each of the 500+ items before they could be removed.

Further previous to downloading Ad-Aware I used Skybot Search and Destroy to remove spy ware. The most I remember removing at one time was 10 or 15 items when running Skybot.  Skybot is still loaded on the Compaq.

After deleting the last batch (217 items) using Ad-ware I rebooted the computer and to my dismay I receive the following error message: “em_exec has caused an error in kernel.32.DLL”. At this point I just threw my hands up and turned the computer off. About an hour later I turned it back on and there were no error messages. At times in the past I have intermittently gotten the error message “em_exec has caused an error in kernel.32.DLL” but after I clicked OK the messaged disappeared and the computer seemed to function properly even though I didn't reboot. Is getting the aforementioned error message another problem that I have on this computer? It was very discouraging getting this message after spending most of today trying to get rid of the other error message.

Is there anything else I should try?

John

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Followup To
Question -
Starting on or about 3/10/05
when booting my Compaq Presario running on windows Me OS I get the following error message:

Error 06: 4F4C: 00005058

I looked all over the Internet including Microsoft's site but can't find what this error means and how to fix it.

I used “system Restore” to try and fix the problem but got bigger problems when I did so. System wouldn't boot at all so I undid the restore. When I did the restore I received a red message something about not being able to initiate the virus protection. I think it might have had something to do with not uninstalling SymstemWorks before using system restore and then reinstalling SystemWorks after the restore.

Thanks for any help you can give,

John

Answer -
Hi John,

Here's what I found:

06: Invalid Opcode Fault

This error is returned if any one of the following conditions exists:

•The processor tries to decode a bit pattern that does not correspond to any legal computer instruction.

•The processor attempts to execute an instruction that contains invalid operands.

•The processor attempts to execute a protected-mode instruction while running in virtual 8086 mode.

•The processor tries to execute a LOCK prefix with an instruction that cannot be locked.

From: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=150314

I'm not sure but if it were my computer, I would uninstall Norton SystemWorks(NSW), defrag, reboot and reinstall NSW making sure I get all LiveUpdates and run a virus scan.

After that, I would run Ad-aware SE. Download Ad-Aware® SE Personal Edition, a free program that you can download at:

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/

Check for updates before running program. Then follow the directions here to do a full scan:

The following explains how to set Ad-aware's settings to perform a "Full Scan."

In Ad-aware click the Gear to go to the Settings area.

The following items should be on a green check, not on a red X.

Under the Scanning button:

Scan within archives

Under Memory & Registry, Check EVERYTHING

In Check Drives & Folders, make sure all of your hard drives are selected

Under the Advanced button, check ALL under Log detail level (this makes it easier for visitors to the Lavasoft Support Forums to see what options you have selected should you require assistance.)

Under the Tweak button...

Some of these may not be an available option, depending on your version of Ad-aware and your version of Windows.  Do not be concerned if you cannot select a certain item.

In Scanning Engine:

Unload recognized processes during scanning

Include info about ignored objects in logfile, if detected in scan

Include basic Ad-aware settings in logfile

Include additional Ad-aware settings in logfile

Include used command line parameters in logfile

In Cleaning Engine:

XP/2000: Allow unloading explorer to unload shell extensions prior to deletion

Let Windows remove files in use at next reboot

UNCHECK: Automatically try to unregister objects prior to deletion

Click Proceed to save these settings.  When you would like to perform a "Full Scan," switch the scan mode from SmartScan to Custom.

After running Ad-aware, you must reboot your computer. It may be necessary to run Ad-aware two or three times if you have a lot of spyware, rebooting each time in between.

Where it says,"In Ad-aware click the Gear to go to the Settings area", on the top of the Ad-aware window, there are 5 symbols, click on the one that looks like a gear.

Let me know if this works,
Lorry


Answer -
Hi John,

"I kept getting a message “drives content changed
restarting”. Did I do something wrong?"

No, please read the following from Microsoft:

RESOLUTION
To work around this issue, use one of the following methods.
Clean Boot the Computer

A "clean" boot is a method of reducing problems that may occur because of your computer's environment. Many problems that may occur when you run Windows or other programs can occur because there are conflicting drivers, terminate-and-stay-resident programs (TSRs), or other settings that load when you start your computer. Windows Millennium Edition (Me) and Windows 98 include a System Configuration Utility tool (Msconfig.exe) to make performing a clean boot easier. To clean boot your computer:

1.Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Information
.
2.On the Tools menu, click System Configuration Utility.

3.On the General tab, click Selective Startup, and then click to clear the following check boxes:

•Process Config.sys File (if available)
•Process Autoexec.bat File (if available)
•Process Winstart.bat File (if available)
•Process System.ini File
•Process Win.ini File
•Load Startup Group Items

4.Click OK, and then restart your computer when you are prompted.

After your computer starts, run the Disk Defragmenter tool. After Disk Defragmenter finishes, start the System Configuration Utility tool again by repeating the above steps. In step 3, click Normal Startup on the General tab, and then click OK. Restart your computer when you are prompted to do so.

Use Safe Mode

Instead of performing a clean boot, you may want to restart your computer in Safe mode, and then start the Disk Defragmenter tool. After you run Disk Defragmenter, restart your computer. To use Safe mode, restart your computer, press and hold down the CTRL key after your computer completes the Power On Self Test (POST), and then choose Safe Mode from the Startup menu.

From: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/186978/

Try running Speed Disk in Safe Mode.

" Hopefully I don't need
any of the stuff I removed. It was very time consuming having to check each of the 500+ items before they could be removed."

Try running Ad-aware SE in Safe Mode. Instead of checking each bow, right click one and choose Select all items, lots faster. I never thought there would be so much sppyware on the computer. The odds are you do NOT need anything that Ad-aware removed but if you do, it is in the Quarantine files.

Check out the following from Microsoft regarding the  Logitech Mouse:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315116/EN-US/

Hope this helps!
Lorry


Answer -
Hi John,

Check out the following forum:

http://www.d-a-l.com/help/archive/index.php/t-13441.html

It seems like Yahoo is behind this problem.

Good luck and have a great day!
Lorry

Answer
Hi John,

Sometimes you have to reinstall a program and then uninstall it to make everything "right" again. Regarding the columns in Programs, I don't what to suggest - sorry.

Am wondering if it would be worth it to backup everything and then use the Recovery/Restore CD.

Later,
Lorry