|
I recently found myself in a predicament where my machine, running WinXP SP2, froze during a compile. Not an altogether unique event. I did what I usually do in situations like this; I took a long overdue coffee break hoping that things would work out by the time I returned. After returning 20 minutes later found that the probability of the compile ever completing on its own was approaching zero so I did what I am loath to do; I pressed the reset button. What distinguished this occasion from numerous other similar experiences is that this time when Windows tried to start it informed me that the disk appeared damaged and that I should run chkdsk /f to try to correct the problem.
Fair enough, I did interrupt the operating system midstream and had probably caused corruption which hopefully chkdsk could resolve. Then I became aware of my dilemma, how can I run chkdsk when the operating system will not run. Not to worry, I can take a disk from another machine, boot and execute chkdsk /f on the corrupt disk. To test the theory I installed, actually just put the disk on a bench next to the machine and connected the cables to it, the other disk with operating system installed on it. The machine booted and my hopes were buoyed until I shutdown and connected the corrupt disk as a slave drive. When I tried to boot again I ended up with the “blue screen of death” again recommending that a disk (it didn’t specify which) was corrupt and instructing me to run chkdsk /f to try to recover.
Does anyone know how I can approach this problem?
Is there anything I could have done differently, with the exception of taking a longer coffee break?
Looking to the future I would like to set up a second disk on my development machine and, as part of the shutdown process, backup whatever I have modified to the other disk. That way I will only loose the current session’s modifications if something like this happens again.
I know that if I put an entry in HKLM/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Run the application will run when the user logs on. Is there any registry entry I can make to run a utility when I shutdown the machine?
I'm on-line therefore I am.
JimmyRopes
|
|
|
|
|
You can run apps BEFORE you pick Shutdown. There is no registry key for this though. DURING a shutdown, Windows won't start a new application.
Before you start swapping hard drivers around, I would suggest starting the machine on the Windows XP setup disk and running the Recovery Console. You can run CHKDSK from there.
RageInTheMachine9532
"...a pungent, ghastly, stinky piece of cheese!" -- The Roaming Gnome
|
|
|
|
|
Unfortunately, there is no floppy drive on that machine, nor a lot of my lab machines, so there is no recovery diskette to insert when promped to do so.
Can I make up a recovery diskette on another machine, plug in a diskette drive and then run the recovery console to run chkdsk using the diskette generated from the other machine, since I won't be actually recovering from it?
I'm on-line therefore I am.
JimmyRopes
|
|
|
|
|
All you need is to create the Setup floppies. And that'll work. You don't need to create an Emergency Repair Disk, as it used to be called.
But, you can also do the same thing by booting from the XP installation CD.
RageInTheMachine9532
"...a pungent, ghastly, stinky piece of cheese!" -- The Roaming Gnome
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks, I'll try the floppies in the morning.
I must be missing something about how to use the installation CD. When I tried it started to load the files, but I don't know where since the disk is bad, and then proceeded to start windows when it choaked and I got the "blue screen" telling me to run chkdsk.
As far as I know there are only two chances to interrupt the processing from when it asks "do you want to boot from the CD".
F6 to load SCSI or IDE drivers.
F2 to go into the restore which asks to mount the floppy.
It never completed the startup of windows so there doesn't seem to be a place to run the chkdsk before it tries to start windows.
Anyway, I think the floppies will work. My wife's machine has WinXP and a floppy drive so I can make them there and then I will have something to mount when going to the automated recovery [F2 near the start of the process]
I'm on-line therefore I am.
JimmyRopes
|
|
|
|
|
Did you try to logon to safe mode?
|
|
|
|
|
Yes, I tried safe mode and safemode with command prompt, as well as boot to the last known good configuration.
All of these produce the "blue screen" saying to run chkdsk.
I'm on-line therefore I am.
JimmyRopes
|
|
|
|
|
Yesterday, i also have an experience with the blue screen error. It said that the there is insufficient disk space. So I try to start up as safe mode and clean my disk space. Then when i restart as normal it is working fine.
So in case of your problem, i think there are two solution that might fix it:
1. Try to locate the file dump memory and send it to Microsoft. The file dump memory record an information that has error in your computer and wait for the solution from Microsoft expert. The dump memory could be locate from %SystemRoot%\MEMORY.DMP.
2. Try to create a windows boot able disk by using Bart PD[^]. I also use this method to rescue my personal file when windows become unstable and could not start in a normal/safe mode. But i never run chkdsk command from it. Try to discover it for more detail.
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks for the link to Bart PD. I have been looking for a CD distribution like this. I don't even have a floppy drive mounted on the machine so a CD like that will be very handy.
I'm on-line therefore I am.
JimmyRopes
|
|
|
|
|
Hi, I have pruchase D-LINK wirless router DI-624+[^]. The problem that i face is the signal always disconnect after i used an internet around 10 minute. That really make me annouys. I have check this product FAQ[^] and found one point that i think match to my problem is:
5. Keep your product away (at least 3-6 feet) from electrical devices that generate RF noise, like microwaves, Monitors, electric motors, UPS units, etc.
My router place around 0.5 meter from the computer which have the moniture. But this PC usually turn off. So is this problem came from the monitore that turn off or by other mistake. Please give me some advice because i need to access an internet stability with my wireless networking.
|
|
|
|
|
Could this be because of your ISP? I was on SBC DSL for about 6 months. Couldn't keep a connection going for more than 5 minutes before it tries to reconnect. Went back to a Comcast cablemodem...
RageInTheMachine9532
"...a pungent, ghastly, stinky piece of cheese!" -- The Roaming Gnome
|
|
|
|
|
Dave Kreskowiak wrote: Could this be because of your ISP?
No it could not. Because this router also has 4 port to share to a PC wich use RJ-45 connection. I already test it, while the connection of wireless disconnect the connection on RJ-45 port is working well at the same time. I will try move my router to far away from the monitor whether the monitor is turn off.
Thank you very much for your comment.
|
|
|
|
|
Hi, now i also find the solution. I have check its website and found the solution in FAQ. There many people that have the problem like i describe above. The reason is because of i enable WEP security setting. When i enable this security it make the signal is heavy and easy to disconnect around 10mn. So in order to solve the problem, the company ask to disable WEP security and use the filtering option in the router which allow only computer which as the specific of MAC address to access the connection to the router.
Thank you very much for your support before.
|
|
|
|
|
Hi - I am trying to run a batch file from the web, which worked well in windows 2000, iis5.
We migrated to Windows 2003, IIS6 - and now the same web page comes back with a 404 error message - page cannot be found.
These are more like cmd or exe files.
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks!
|
|
|
|
|
This article helped me solve the problem - only the cmd files. Still issue with .exe files.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/WindowsServer2003/Library/IIS/848968f3-baa0-46f9-b1e6-ef81dd09b015.mspx
|
|
|
|
|
Hi,
Can anyone tell me how Windows Update works? I mean how does it update the operating system, what type of files does it download and how the updates are seen in the Add-Remove programs dialog?
Anyone -- Help 
Bikash Rai
|
|
|
|
|
As far as I know the update files themselves are just Windows installer MSI files or exe files. They are downloaded to the machine and then run silently to install the update.
If the autoupdate wizard is activated the files are downloaded using BITS and then installed when you shut down and restart the system. If you have autoupdate activated you will see a new option on the shutdown screen that says 'install updates and shut down'.
I don't think there is very much magic here aside form the BITS implementation.
George Carlin wrote:
"Don't sweat the petty things, and don't pet the sweaty things."
Jörgen Sigvardsson wrote:
If the physicists find a universal theory describing the laws of universe, I'm sure the a**hole constant will be an integral part of that theory.
My Blog[^]
|
|
|
|
|
Yes I admit, read about the BITS implementation and its truly great, but the sad part, it doesn't work with winME and lower. Any free implemention similar to BITS but for WinME and lower?
Also, It does download MSIs, I think, but how the heck does it update the OS with MSIs. I want this in my own application but have no clue how to go about doing it.
Can you help? 
Bikash Rai
|
|
|
|
|
The problem there is that none of Windows desktop versions (95, 98, ME, SE) supported the concept of background services at all. All you had here were things that would run in the system tray.
The server OSes (Windows NT, 2000, 2003) and XP do support them.
I don't think there would be anything from stopping you from writing an app that does what BITS does and setting it up to run in the system tray. Well, nothing aside form the fact that some of the older OSes do not support the .NET run time an way.
Updating the OS is nothing new. The MSI file (or EXE file) gets run in a silent mode (no UI) and then you are prompted to reboot when you need to.
What is it that you are exactly trying to do here?
George Carlin wrote:
"Don't sweat the petty things, and don't pet the sweaty things."
Jörgen Sigvardsson wrote:
If the physicists find a universal theory describing the laws of universe, I'm sure the a**hole constant will be an integral part of that theory.
My Blog[^]
|
|
|
|
|
Thank you for the prompt reply. Its people like you, willing to help others, which makes the programming world a better place to code in. 
Well, I do know that the MSIs can be run in Silent mode using the /q option but how do you create an update for an application using MSIs? I googled and found out that patches for applications can be made (.msp) but to use an MSI means to reinstall everthing. Now how do I use an MSI to reinstall everthing with the applciation running? Also, I would not want to package the whole application in the MSI, just the updates or patches. Of course, I could just download the changed files and update the application, but I would like to do this through a MSI file or an installation file.
Can you help?
Bikash Rai
|
|
|
|
|
Aw shucks
If you are creating the installer for your application part of that will have to be knowing how to handle cases where you try to copy a file over where one exists already and get an error showing that it is already in use. This is why installers tell people that they need to reboot after installing an update, to allow the files to be copied upon reboot before the application has been started up again.
This is typically done by the installer writing a small batch file on the fly that shows where files need to be copied (and from where - like a temp area) then placing a reference to the batch file into the Windows registry in the RunOnce key. The idea behind this key is that any executable file listed here is run on the next reboot, but Windows knows that (because it is called the RunOnce key) that once this file is run the reference to it is removed (so it is not run again, and again, and again...)
Doing all this is something that you need to manage in what ever tool you use to write your installations. Usually tools like Installshield and such handle this for you.
You could also have the installer look to see if the application is it trying to update is running and then either warn the user to close it first and retry the install or just close it yourself and restart it when your installer is done.
Until Windows Vista arrives, no matter what you do you will always have to deal with files that are in use and figure out what to do. Vista will have some things in place to handle this a bit better so you should not have to reboot as much as you do now, but until then you are on your own as to what to do. Depending on what you are updating (user level application or a system service or device driver) you will need to deal with files that are in use.
Personally, if you are updating something like a system service you can always just tell the user that you have to stop the service to do the update, then use the SCM APIS to stop the service, install the new files and then restart the service. Just keep in mind things like user security levels (The person running the update might not have the same security access as the person that installed the service in the first place so you might not be able to do this.
When I do updates, if I am just updating one file I only write that one file to keep the installer small. I know other people that install an entire new version of the application and only change one file. Again, it is up to you.
Good luck...
George Carlin wrote:
"Don't sweat the petty things, and don't pet the sweaty things."
Jörgen Sigvardsson wrote:
If the physicists find a universal theory describing the laws of universe, I'm sure the a**hole constant will be an integral part of that theory.
My Blog[^]
|
|
|
|
|
Hi Ray,
Thanks a mil. Just one small question though. Supposing I update the application using the method you told me, and it replaces the file in question, will the update be visible in the Add-REmove programs list. Supposing I add a new dll file to the update which was not there during the original installation, will the original uninstaller be able to detect the addition of the new dll file and do a clean uninstall? I want the original installer to detect the changes made by the updates. Also is it possible to make the updates visible in the Add-Remove programs so that the updates can be removed by the user if he/she wants?
Lastly, I am using VS.NET 2003 and the installer I use is the one that comes with VS.NET 2003.
Sorry for the volley of questions and thanks for helping.
Bikash Rai
|
|
|
|
|
The installer engine should be taking care of listing things in the add-remove programs list for you. That is what the installer engine in there for. Also, managing what happens upon un-install should be managed by that as well.
To be honest I have never looked into how the engine does it though so I am not sure how it knows what files to put back if you un-install an update that had replaced files.
I have seen some installers explicitly ask you where you want the originals backed up and then they create that folder and copy the original files there but I am not sure if that is just the fault of their installer engine or not.
If you make the updates visible on the add remove list then why worry about if the original installer will remove files that you added ad updates. Typically installers will NOT touch files, folders or registry entries that they did not put there. They do this to make sure that they do not inadvertently remove a file that they are not supposed to (like a users data file). This is how systems can get cluttered with 'stuff' after an application is un-installed. This is what system cleaners take care of.
George Carlin wrote:
"Don't sweat the petty things, and don't pet the sweaty things."
Jörgen Sigvardsson wrote:
If the physicists find a universal theory describing the laws of universe, I'm sure the a**hole constant will be an integral part of that theory.
My Blog[^]
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks Ray.
Any idea about the AVG Antivirus and where it stores it scheduled update information.
Bikash Rai
|
|
|
|
|
Nope, but I bet using Filemon from Sysinternals.com[^]and a few trys watching the update run I could find out.
Applications like that typically have their own custom updating schemes though. My quick guess is that they do one of the following:
1) Create a folder in user isolated storage, download the updates there and then put the files (uncompressing where needed) into the proper spots, then stop and restart their service...
2) Download the updated signatures and stuff into a temp folder in the temp directory and deal with them form there.
George Carlin wrote:
"Don't sweat the petty things, and don't pet the sweaty things."
Jörgen Sigvardsson wrote:
If the physicists find a universal theory describing the laws of universe, I'm sure the a**hole constant will be an integral part of that theory.
My Blog[^]
|
|
|
|
General 
News 
Suggestion 
Question 
Bug 
Answer 
Joke 
Praise 
Rant 
Admin 
Submit an article or tip
