Missing files..

[Markoman01027]

Just got done working with a Sony Vaio..However you spell it..anyways..The problem was minor..you know deleted program files and it would ask for those files at startup..

So what I did was put in the Sony Recover Disc, and recover all of the files..Not sure if it would work because I didn't know the CD would have those files..anyways..it did..recovered every file and system works nice and clean.

Question here.. When you get a message saying strike any key to continue and before, it says missing this file... What are the steps to take? I know most of the time you can just reinstall the program and the file will be replaced..What if it's a system file? any other file? what are the steps to take? boot up into DOS and transfer the files from the win 9.x cd into the hd? if so how?

Anyways..the clients system works 100% now

[GaryRouth]

Actually, using the Recovery Disk seems to have worked OK for you.

The extent of effort that you need to spend on errors like this one usually depends on how many files are missing, and how many programs are reporting trouble. It also depends on what story you're hearing from your customer (was he careless while "cleaning"? deleting program folders instead of uninstalling? using KaZaa and was riddled with viruses?...)

The easiest with a WinME system is having a usable restore point from before the trouble started. That takes very little time. And with Win98, you can run the System File Checker - which will find missing, corrupted, or changed (perhaps to much older versions) files for you and offer to restore them for you.

Usually don't have to go to DOS to solve these. You could do it that way, too, though - it's just a bit more work. [the method you mention would be fine]. If Windows is able to boot at all, SFC or System Restore are much easier.

. . . Gary

[Markoman01027]

Thanks for the reply Gary,
The user was a beginner with computers..So it was probably careless removal of program directories instead of using ADD/REMOVE programs..luckly they weren't system files(I think) but just removed program files that the program needed for startup.

But if it were program files that were missing..why would windows as for them at startup?


They have Windows 95..So I don't think they have system restore..but I told them..whatever you delete..you have to delete in add/remove in control panal and write down whatever you delete.


At startup.. Windows asked for A LOT of files.. I was just going to reformat the whole Hard drive(since it hasn't been reformatted in years) but I guess using the recovery CD did the job.)..

But I am just wondering..question again..if they were program files that were refering to the SYSTEM.INI file..why did Windows ask for it at startup?

Here is what I mean Gary...Something like this

"The SYSTEM.INI file refers to this"
file name.
Press any key to continue

How could I use the SYSTEM.INI file to check for missing files?

Thanks Gary!

[Markoman01027]

I remember one thing Gary.. One file that it asked for ended with a .386 file extension that recided in "C:/REALTIME" . Could be real player? anything like that? I noticed that she has REAL DOWNLOAD, and REAL PLAYER installed on her system.

But just go on with my question.

"If it were program files missing..why would Windows ask for it at startup?"

""The SYSTEM.INI file refers to this"
file name.
Press any key to continue.. How can I use the SYSTEM.INI file to refer to for the missing files?"

Again...thanks for the reply Gary

[reboot]

Go to Start > Run > and type in: SFC
The System File Checker will go through the system, and replace any corrupt or missing system files (Win98 only).
Not sure if ME has this or not.
In ME at least you can do a system restore instead, although that may not be what you want.
I would try and convince the person to dump Realplayer and Realjukebox for ANYTHING else that will play the files she wants.
Realdownload is just an adviertisement, and doesn't even work that well.
For substitutes, Winamp, IrFanView, and a host of others for music and video, and for a download assistant, I prefer Star Downloader.

[galaxian]

If, after an uninstall (or delete), you get a missing file, the reference to it could be in the registry or System.ini.

Use Regedit to find it in the registry, and just open system.ini in Notepad to find the reference.

If you do not use SFC on a regular basis, randomly running it (and restoring files) can cause more damage than you originally had. SFC is notorious for finding corrupt files, when they are not. And, restoring files (especially DLLs) from the Windows CD will most likely lead to old (&incorrect) versions being restored.

[GaryRouth]

Hi again

galaxian brought up a good point. Windows 98 1st ed. had a bug in system file checker that sometimes restored the "mini" version of a system file (such files are usually only used during Setup, then the regular version is installed and used thereafter). There are workarounds for this, such as pointing to the regular file in its .cab folder on the installation cd and extracting from there.

That bug was fixed in Win98 2nd Ed. I use System File Checker with both versions of Windows & have never had any trouble. It can be handy.

Win95, alas, doesn't have the SFC. It was a very nice addition when it arrived with Win98.

Typical entries that would be missing early in the boot sequence would be sound drivers, especially for DOS game play, and programs that load background processes - again, sound cards often load something, especially low-cost cards or onboard sound chips like the C-Media and Avance Logic, and software "Winmodems" usually need a background process running from startup.

It's great that your customer kept their Recovery Disks. If you get the same trouble for a Win95 era machine, and there are no such disks around, SFC and System Restore aren't available (since they didn't exist in the Win95 days) -- in these cases, you're stuck either re-installing from scratch, or going through the System.ini, win.ini, config.sys, and autoexec.bat files manually and checking the files one at a time. No fun at all.

So, the short answer is that the programs calling for missing parts were probably driver-and-device-related.

. . . Gary

[. . . reboot - clever new sig! . . . ]

[galaxian]

Gary:
That is a bug that will reload the wrong file.

What I was talking about is SFC indicating that files are corrupted, when they really aren't. AND, if you took it's advice and reloaded the (OLD) files from the Windows CD, your PC would be knackered even worse.

http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;q264865

The program is ONLY useful if you run it before and after every install or major change that you do on the system. Otherwise it is fraut with error, and is the reason why it was not carried on to subsequent systems.

Sorry, the only good use for it, is if you need to reload a file from the Windows CD.

[GaryRouth]

[galaxian - actually, that is how I do recommend SFC be used - before and after major installs - especially on PCs with lots of older software for kid's - "edutainment" and the like. Never had any trouble with it, really. I've almost never come across "corrupted" files, just "changed". I have SFC configured to show all files changed or deleted - that way you can compare the versions & see if you've suddenly been thrown back in time to 1996 or whatnot. That error for Ie5 was pretty well known, and all it took was a simple "update verification info" click & all was well again. My read on it is that Microsoft changed SFC to the very similiar, but mostly hidden, "Windows File Protection" built into Win2000 and WinXP (along with adding the System Restore features) - after all, you can still type sfc/scannow at a command prompt when necessary in WinXP - It's still there, just hidden away. - - - At any rate, there are many paths to successful system maintenance, and many tools. One of the reasons I've always liked SFC is that it's builtin to Windows (don't have to pay Symantec anything) - and I've always liked a bargain. There may well be better ways to keeping the file versions happy, but SFC is like an old favorite sweater: comfy & gets the job done ]

Now I've got to get off my soapbox and into some pjs for a night's sleep! (& don't worry galaxian, I don't mind being corrected if I'm wrong . . . been wrong plenty of times!)
Good night & best of luck
. . . Gary

[galaxian]

Gary:

Very true, and you run SFC the only way that will allow it to report things correctly.

Many times there are posts that recommend SFC be run. Well, if the poster has never, ever done this and has upgraded IE, then SFC is going to report all of those files as being corrupted, the poster will restore them and, poof, and even deader PC. And, if you do not understand the mechanics, you could start reloading files that SFC says have been deleted. This latter exercise will cause no problems, but it is just a complete waste of time, since files get deleted all the time as part of installs/uninstalls.

The other thing you have to be careful with are DLLs. Reloading the correct version is extremely important. If you use the WinCD to reload a DLL, odds are extremely good that it is an old, archaic version number.

(also gets down off of soapbox)

[GaryRouth]

Hi again

galaxian - I'd say we're in pretty good agreement. We've got a pretty good team here at Pc Mechanic.

Matt - since you're our student in this thread: did we help clear up any questions you had? Let us know if you need any more details, or have any more questions.

One more cup of coffee and I've got to change back into Taxi Dad - it's Parent-Teacher conferences week - kids home early all week.
. . . Gary

[snakeyes]

anyone,

I tried to do a search in this forum for a fix of my problem, but to no avail.

Problem
*This is on a WinME system.*
Anytime I try and open: Printer Control Panel, try and explorer in "My Network Places," or even explorer in My conputer I get the following msg. "Explorer has caused an error in BMEB.DLL " If problem persists reboot the OS.
I've searched Microsofts knowledge base with that criteria and it didn't come up with any solution.

What I am wondering is, what is the best way to get back a missing or corrupted ".dll" file. The person who has the system doesn't know where their ME OS cd is or even the Sys restore if it had any. It is an Emachine(POS IMHO). Is there a way for me to get the file back from somewhere on the web or should I look for the Win ME OS CD somewhere?

TIA

~Snakeyes

[GaryRouth]

snakeyes -
Are you sure of the spelling of that .dll? I don't see anything at all on that, using half a dozen search engines.

There are a couple of quick fixes you can try. WinMe has System Restore "built-in" [the customer would have had to manually disable it] - so that should be an option, if the problem hasn't been around for ages. Look in on the Help and Support menus for the details. You'll choose a restore date from prior to the current trouble.

Sometimes blind luck works, too - For strange behavior in either Explorer or Internet Explorer, I sometimes just download and install the latest version of IE, since it updates so many system files.

And of course, you have the option (discussed a lot here this past week) of an "over-the-top" reinstall, if nothing else cures the pc. (of course for that, the customer would need to find their installation CD!)

You'll want to scan that PC pretty thoroughly for viruses, too, since they can corrupt system files.

Hope it turns out OK -
. . . Gary

[snakeyes]

Yeah Gary, I agree with you. I couldn't find anything anywhere on the web on the .dll that I mentioned. I double and triple checked to make sure that it is in fact what the error said.

I do have a copy of Win Me, but the owner of the computer doesn't have an idea of where the software that came with the computer is??!! man some people, i tell ya!. I will try the least damaging methods first, then go from there. I will report back with a detailed solution of what I came up with.

Thanks for all the advice.

~Snakeyes

[GaryRouth]

Hi again

I believe an "over-the-top" install works the same in Win95,98, & Me: and the customer won't lose any programs or data. Here's the instructions I posted in another thread, brought here to you by the magic of cut-and-paste:
_______________

You can also try an "over the top" reinstall, which if successful won't destroy all your data. To do this, boot with a bootable floppy or CD - "with CD-rom support", and from DOS rename the win.com file to win.bak. Like this

C:
cd \Windows
rename win.com win.bak

Then switch to the drive letter of your CD drive [often drive D:], and start setup (by simply type the command: setup) When Windows asks if you want to use the directory C:\Windows.000, instead type in C:\Windows [without the .000 following]. You'll need your CD-key handy.

If you've lost your CD-key: before you start the reinstall look for it by starting regedit from the Start/Run box, then navigate to the key (you navigate in regedit like you do in Windows Explorer) HKEY_Local_Machine/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion . . . if you click on "Current Version", you should see a list of keys and values in the box displaying on your right. One of these will read "ProductKey" and will consist of 5 sets of 5 alphanumeric characters = your CD key. Be careful when in regedit just to look at things and not make accidental changes.

The nice thing about these "over-the-top" reinstalls is that they usually don't take much time, you might be OK in as little as 45 minutes.
_______________
Best of luck
. . . Gary

[snakeyes]

Thanks for the additional info Gary. I will be working on the issue tonight. I will post my results in the morning.

Thanks again,
~Snakeyes

[snakeyes]

I ended up doing the over the top install. It was quicker than the 1hr & 15 minute estimate from microsoft update on a dial up connection to upgrade to IE 6. Rebuilding the windows directory must of fixed the issue. I was then able to access the areas I needed to configure the file & Print sharing.

Thanks,
~Snakeyes

[GaryRouth]

Good work.