Hello, I'm Johnny Crash - but seriously, folks...

Hello, group I'm sorry my reason for joining with you today isn't to share my technical knowledge or expertise (I don't really have any - digital aerial photography, yes - computers, not so much), but rather I'm here to ask for your kind consideration of my plight. I'm an artist, you see, and not a computer wizard by any stretch.

I've had this old "spud box" (Micron Millennium PC) since, well, it's going on nearly ten years now and I've made lots of improvements to it over those years (all by myself, I'm proud to say) but lately I've been needing external storage capability and none of the hardware I could find would work with the W98SE system. So, I started searching the net, you know, and came across a few good prospects that required adding this or that (drivers, etc.) and thought maybe I could teach this old dog some new tricks, after all.

But in my search I also came across what seemed like might be a good first step, a tune-up of sorts - I downloaded and installed the WINDOWS 98SE 2.1a SERVICE PACK from this website and installed it. But now as a result of that (the horror) instead of any measurable improvement, my system has since been in the tank. I can no longer open my programs that I rely on to perform my work.

Everything is very nearly helter skelter. I'm lucky at least that I can still use my Firefox browser, although there are weird issues with it as well and the appearance has changed (not good). My upgraded sound system has disappeared from the start up and can't use it to play anything (icons don't work). Simple PC sounds do still work, though not the start-up sound - I think what sound there is is coming from the old Vortex system I used to run. MS Word is working but not Photoshop or any of the other add on programs. I keep getting error boxes or alerts to missing EXE, DLL, or "personalization" files.

When starting the PC, I'll get an ominous black screen with white letters: CANNOT FIND A DEVICE FILE THAT MAYBE NEEDED TO RUN WINDOWS (yadda yadda yadda - it mentions replacing a missing INI file but doesn't say which one) and ends with: CMMON VXD. - PRESS ANY KEY TO CONTINUE.
Now, I did go to add/remove programs and deleted the offending "WIN98SE 2.1a Service Pack" but that hasn't changed anything, everything is still weird.

OK, so now I'm about as low as I can be. I'm also experiencing all sorts other problems (Oiy - If I could afford a new PC right now I'd get one, you know) so all I'm asking for here is just some technical advice on what I should do or might try at this point - if there's a reasonable fix of any kind I might employ to at least get the machine back running the way it was. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys

 

Yes, that's the one.

Back-up? No, I guess I was flying by the seat of my pants again.

 

If you have your original OS disc, you could try running the System File Checker. This link will take you through step by step.
http://www.helpwithwindows.com/windows98/start-142.html

SFC will restore corrupt and missing files in the Windows OS, without affecting your personal files.

 

What I have is the original OPERATING SYSTEM RECOVERY CD from Micron if that's the same thing. Thanks for the suggestion and the accompanying linked resource - I'm on it. Hooah! :major

 

Whoa. Thanks for the heads-up!

I don't think I ever got one of those. I purchased through Micron's outlet store in Boise (mail order). I could try giving them a call I suppose (Monday) or try un-installing and re-installing the programs individually to see if that works and meanwhile back up all the essays written and stored in Mozilla T-Bird and so on. I did already backup all the photo files at least.

If only I knew how that service pack worked, I might be able to determine whether or not the original settings (before the all this happened) still existed or not and perhaps there exists some commercially available fix-it in a box for a modest price... :tired

Cheers,
TC

 

If you use the disc to run RECOVERY, it WILL set your system to factory state, but if you insert the disc, close the auto play and run SFC, it WILL only replace missing and corrupt OS files, It WILL NOT affect your programs or personal data.
Read the link I posted. SFC will find the OS files on the Recovery disc to compare to the OS files in your PC.

 

Hello again!

Here's the progress report:

Over the weekend, before running the procedure musksnipe had outlined, I had a hunch I should run Spybot (had to re-install it for some reason - accomplished this through the desktop and updated it's library at the same time) and found a couple of bad guys:

Smithfraud - C.generic (SBI$4AA65B9D)
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\TCP Service2.exe

Admess (SB$E82C6975)
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\Wstart.dll

The descriptions provided by Spybot mentioning that the Smithfraud included a Trojan horse type virus.

We Rubbed them out & Immunized all other files. :major

RTB

Next, I managed to remedy the browser problems I was having (mostly security issues) by following the procedures outlined at the Firefox support location - also upgraded themes while I was there. Happy to say these programs (also T-Bird) are back although it looks like I'll have to reinstall most if not all add-ons - including javas.

Photoshop still won't open although an older version I still had on the hard drive is working.

My WINDVD player won't open - the files for these programs are all there but they just won't open.

I should mention that the biggest cure for the browser problems was downloading and installing the latest MS EXPLORER suite.

I later also updated DIRECT-X to - version 8 something, I think it was.

Readjusted all my windows preferences and things are "looking" almost normal
again but still getting the vexing VXD (Virtual Device Driver) black screen memo I have to wade through before getting to the desktop on start up.

So then I ran the windows program as musksnipe had suggested - followed all the easily worded instructions - and fixed 3 files there.

But on start-up, still got the black VXD window.

I manged to get my printer running again - I did something... I may have run the Canon printer CD but on start up again, I was prompted to install the driver - i pointed to the file on the hard drive but it kept stopping - so intuitively I kept F'in with it, pressing the go and skip buttons alternately (and the box would jump around back and forth) until it finally reached 100% and then start up continued on to the desktop. Printer working again. Bravo.

So now the biggest problem is getting my Audigy 2 sound blaster back and running. All the files are there but can't open the programs and files indicate default sound programs even though I have SB2 selected to play sound through the multi-media systems folder.

I ran the SB2 CD several times - every which way - but no cigar.

Finally I got the opening melody to play as the desktop opens at start up, but still can't get the program to come out and play.

I deleted the Windows media program that was tagged onto the MP3 files but that only switched them over to realplayer7 as the default player.

Now, I did come across short pamphlet in with the SB2 literature that describes replacing the windows98 WDM driver with a VXD driver (accomplished using a section of the SB2 installation CD) - first uninstalling the windows driver and then installing the VXD. Supposedly this driver better supports certain gaming functions. I pretty sure I chose not to install the VXD when I first installed the entire program and hardware since I'm not a gamer.

But there it is. I'm a little worried about messing with those drivers and I would appreciate your thoughts at this point, before proceeding any further.

Peace out.


PS: Thanks again to musksnipe for the windows tip, I also checked out the other helpful features in that area, including the sound files and found a list of the missing dll files (verification) - but now after replacing them the program still doesn't work as I've already mentioned. TC

 

Let's see if we can deal with that error first. The error message you get says a system.ini file is missing and then mentions cmmon.vxd. If that's correct, then this should solve your problem:

Back up your registry!
Goto Start>Run and type Regedit and press Enter.
Goto HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\VxD
Click on the plus sign in front of 'VXD'
There will be a list of VXD's.
Find cmmon.
If it's there, highlight it, and press the DELETE key.
Close Regedit, and restart your computer.

Hopefully, that will solve your error problem.

 

Mission accomplished, musksnipe. :major It was a thing of beauty. One less problem. However, there's still the problems with the Audigy blaster not working - the intro sounds on start-up when the desktop appears, but the dog still won't hunt.

I examined the files and discovered problems with "certification" - error messages:

"Invalid Public Key Security Object File" & This is an invalid Certificate Revocation List File"

I tried searching for clues using the phrases but came up empty but for some complicated (for me) IBM & MS mumbo jumbo in reference to late model OS's.

Then I tried REG CURE - a registry program that identified nearly a thousand registry problems but then they hit me up for $30 for the actual fix -
at which point I googled "Reg Cure" in another window and found all these people complaining that the program crashed their PC's or couldn't get their money back and so on. They said they would keep run the program in sequence and it would continually find errors - even after it had supposed fixed them. Curious. So I quit the "free" check up and disposed of it.

Did some other checking on reg fix programs but still not convinced it's going to solve my problems.

(although REG CURE did find (1) problem in the start up and maybe that was indeed that VXD file that you rubbed out!)

I'm glad that VXD problem is solved though. Thank you very much!

Next, I think I'll try a full Uninstall of SB2 and re-install and see if that works.
And if not, then I will have deduced that I need to somehow correct registry errors that were corrupted by the Trojan horse and/or service pack. Or unless you or anyone else has any other ideas.



Also, I'd better go ahead and back up my registry files...

Cheers,
TC

 

OK!!! I don't like suggesting too many reg fixes. The wrong move and things don't work anymore.
Your post about malware explains a possibility of why your sound isn't working. Some malware attack files such as drivers, and the removal will also affect drivers at times.

When you do your uninstall of SB, remove it through Add/Remove Programs. Then go into your program files and make sure there isn't a SB folder left over. If there is, delete it.
Then use CCleaner.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/CCleaner_S...ish_d4191.html
It will clean junk files and there is also a very safe reg cleaner. Use both the Cleaner and Registry tools. (Many regulars here use it, without problems.)


Then try a reinstall of SB.

 

I'm back, baby, I'm back! And it only took, what? Five days. Not too bad, even managed to get some other work done in between the PC tweakings.
Many thanks to musksnipe (I can't hardly pronounce that name - but won't soon forget the guiding light therein).

Followed the yellow brick road of uninstall and re-install. I used CCleaner with confidence and I think I'll hang on to that one. The Audigy blaster is back (the 5.1 surround sound is so sweet) and right now I'm chillin' to some Susan Tedeschi and Johnny Lang I discovered with the Pie, which is also back - thank God for THAT. :cool

Re-installed the newer PS using the same procedures. No problems.

The only real loss now (besides all the time and sanity) seems to be the WINDVD4 program. I spent a lot of time trying to recover that (incl Corel's website - no support for oldies). Finally I just dumped it and downloaded VLC 8.6 which is alright, but doesn't seem to offer picture adjustments.

Any suggestions for DVD player software that will run on WIN98SE?


Cheers!

 

Hey, if I had known that was the type of music you were listening to, I would have sat here 24/7 waiting to give you an answer for your audio problem.
I love Susan Tedeschi and Johnny Lang's earlier stuff was really good. I'm hoping he hasn't burnt himself out already.
http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/signs088.gif

Anyhow, I'm glad most of your problems are now gone.
I don't really have any suggestions for DVD player software. I use GOM Player but I don't believe it is compatible with Win98. That would probably be a good question to post in a new thread.