File mdata.dat not found

I'm running Win XP Home Edition. I get the error message "File mdata.dat not found" How do i get rid of this error message, what is mdata.dat, and how do I go about restoring the file so this message doesn't show up again. PC works fine otherwise. No recovery disks came with the pc (HP 533). Recovery is on partioned D:. Thanks in advance for any and all help. This is starting to aggravate me.

 

I read the 2 links you provided Major Attitude, but, sorry, they were gobbledy gook to me. I'm not that pc savvy. I checked and it not's running at start up. Do you have any easier suggestions please?
Thanks again.

 

Nope, Major, it's not in the Add/Remove Programs list. I should tell you that this is a friend's pc and I'm new to XP, so bear with me.
I uninstalled Norton yesterday and installed AVG (downloaded latest update files too), scanned entire disk--virus free--thank god. I did use a prog called Stinger and it found 41 W32 viruses in 466 instances and it deleted all those before installing AVG. The pc is not online (it's on the kitchen table) so I'm running back and forth between here and there.

 

When exactly do you get this error message, are you attempting to open a program or something

Check your event viewer for any possible application errors
Start-Run-Type eventvwr.msc--ok

Post back with any relevant information from the log, and details of when you get the error

 

Wow! This is great. I've got a General and a Major trying to help me with this prob. General, I get this error box when Win boots up and as the Desktop appears. PC seems to be working fine, other than this darn error message popping on the screen when Win loads.

eventvwr.msc shows in apps:
Types--Information and Error
Sources--PerfNet=1 instance
MsInstaller--4 instances
EAPOL--numerous instances
Application Hang--a few instances

Hope this helps. As I told Major, the pc is on the kitchen table, so I'm giving the wheel bearings a good work out on my wheelchair today.

Thanks again.

 

Ok this could possibly be a leftover from a virus or something trying to initialise on boot

Do you get that error message if you boot into safe mode

To access safe mode reboot and keep pressing the f8 key before the loading windows xp screen appears

 

OK, General, I'm still in safe mode and I didn't get the message this time.

 

Well thats a good place for us to start can you go to Msconfig
Start-Run-type msconfig-ok
go to the start up tab and then post here all the processes with a tick next to them and well take it from there

 

Sorry it took so long to get back w/you--had company. I've already done msconfig and am happy with running process--ran down all the ones I didn't know about, so I'm pretty content with that, but here they are:

hpqcmon--not sure about this one. couldn't find any info about it
KBD
mouse32a
avgcc32
RECGUARD--system recovery guard
ps2--not sure about this either
hpztsb05

 

Hi again
dont worry im in and out myself but were making progress i think

Those two entries are HP related so not a problem there unless some of the preloaded software is corrupted

Might be a pain but you may have to disable all start-ups in msconfig, and enable one at a time to find which one is causing the problem

could also In Msconfig click on the services tab, check the box hide Microsoft services and post a list of whatever is left

 

Yee haw, General. mouse32a is the culprit. I'll do some more searching to find out exactly what this entry is supposed to be accomplishing, and, if it's not that important to me--that baby's going to the sh*t can. Thanks so much. You're a gentleman and a scholar

 

Glad its sorted out m8

AFAIK those are the drivers for your mouse to enable special features etc, you could try reinstalling the drivers

 

Have you installed something called 'Browser Mouse'? - mouse32a appears to be a related file. You might look in Control Panel > Add/Remove and uninstall if there and if it turns out you need it then reinstall.

[Edit] oops, didn't see you there General