mim.exe help

I have been trying to file and burn pictures (.jpg) using Kodak Easyshare software. However, while accessing the program and viewing the pictures an error page pops up saying that the "mim" needs to close.

What is the "mim"? The error report sent to Microsoft had the following information:
mim.exe
AppVer: 10.0.4.33
ModName: ntdll.dll
ModVer: 5.1.2600.2180
Offset: 00018fea

Do I need to get some kind of update for this?
Additionally, while organizing the .jpg files some of the information in the files was incorrect, like the file name and "date picture taken" information (but, apparently, only for a few files). When I attempted to change the file name on one or two of the files, they were replaced by completely different pictures! Does anyone know what may be happening? (This is quite irritating - I'm trying to help out my wife with the pictures so that we can burn them to CDs - and these problems keep coming up.)

Also, I only have a Dell 4700 P4 HT (Media Center 2005) with 256 memory and 128MB PCI Express ATI Radeon X300 SE (if this is important).
(I probably need a serious upgrade with ram! Is is possible to also upgrade the "video ram"?)
Thank you,
Rick

 

From what I can tell, mim.exe is a utility used by MusicMatch jukebox, and it uses a lot of resources.

Couple that with the fact that you're using EasyShare software, which also consumes a lot of resources, and the amount of RAM you have, I'd suspect that your programs are having difficulty freeing the memory they use.

A RAM upgrade would definitely help you out. 256 MB is a pretty small amount for Windows XP. (Although XP can be configured to run pretty well on that with a few sacrifices - post back if you're interested). The folks in the hardware forum can help you out there.

Upgrading video ram isn't very easy. You have a half-decent amount anyway, so I wouldn't sweat that.

Some things I would do to help this problem:

1. Update Windows. There might be a newer version of ntdll.dll that would handle these program crashes better.

2. Uninstall MusicMatch, if possible. If not, configure it NOT to run at startup.

3. Tweak Windows for performance. (Post back for some recommendations if the above doesn't help)

 

Thank you for the help! I have ordered more RAM (!GB).
How do I configure MusicMatch to not run at startup?
I will go to the Microsoft page and look for an upgrade of
the ntdll.dll file.
I am interested in those XP tweaks you said may help.
Thank you, again.
Rick

 

Here's what I do to configure an XP machine for speed. (Configuring startup items is included, so you should know how to handle Music Match) The ultimate goal here is to lower the load on your system, so the tasks you DO assign to the computer are completed quickly.

1. Stay Malware Free: This is an absolute must! Malware usually impacts performance severely! To this end:

- Following the instructions in the malware removal thread will ensure there are no nasties on your system.
- Following the instructions in the how to protect yourself from malware and using the internet safely threads will teach you methods to KEEP your system clean.

2. Disable Visual Effects: This makes XP look more like Windows 2000, but saves quite a bit of memory and CPU time.

- Hit windows key + break (or right-click 'My Computer' and select 'Properties')
- On the 'System Properties' dialog, select the 'Advanced' tab
- Under 'Performance', press the 'Settings' button
- On the 'Performance Options' dialog, select the radio button next to 'Adjust For Best Performance'
- Apply your settings

Also note that this is fairly customizable. You don't HAVE to disable everything, but the more you do, the better your computer should run.

3. Manage Startup Programs: Many programs run once Windows starts. This ties up a lot of resources unnecessarily when you aren't using these programs. It is better to launch them only when needed. Here's my recommendations:

- Download and install CCleaner
- Launch CCleaner
- Hit alt + t (or click the 'Tools' section)
- Press the startup button

Here, you will see a list of all user-defined programs that are set to run at startup. Delete everything you can without compromising your security. Antivirus, anti-spyware, and firewall applications should be running at all times. (This should be where you can stop Music Match from running)

4. Manage Services: Apart from the user-defined startup programs as mentioned in step 3, there are also programs that Windows itself loads at startup. Not all are necessary. They can be configured not to run and tie up memory and the CPU.

I recommend that you follow the instructions in the disable unneeded services in Windows XP thread. Depending on your ability with a computer, you may need help here. Post back with any questions you might have on specific services, and which ones you can disable. I'll be glad to help however I can.

5. Routine Maintenance: All the normal maintenance stuff helps. Cleaning temp files, cleaning the registry, and defragging your hard drive all contribute to a better running machine. However, it can be laborious. I prefer to automate as much as possible. Here's how I do it:

Code:

"c:\program files\ccleaner\ccleaner.exe /auto"
defrag c:
shutdown -s -t 10 -c "Maintenance Complete!" -f

Copying the above into notepad and saving as filename.bat will create a program for you that will clean temp files with CCleaner (if installed), defrag the hard drive, and then shutdown the machine. I just double-click this file when I am finished with the computer, and walk away. The program does all the work for me.

 

I apologize for not getting back to you sooner - I just went to my
email and saw your reply! ( (Had a few very busy weeks with work
and family!)
Thanks a lot for your help. I will follow your advice - and if any more
needs, I'll post them, too.
Again, thanks for all your help!
Rick