And I was doing so well...

[Juliana]

Sort of.

Anyway, since it's been almost a whole month of me not having a stupid tech question, I deleted some stuff on my computer for the fun of it, so I'd have some major problems to ask about.

No, no, okay, really, I don't know what happened. I was on FreeOnlineDiary.com reading somebody's diary, and apparently I missed one of the Xs on a pop up, and unknowingly added some STC program. I tried to delete it, and that's when the fun began. I deleted it (I think), and then it told me to reboot, so I did, and when I get back, a wonderful window pops up saying

"Rundll32 has caused error in kernel32.dll. Rundll32 will now close"

Then this window came up:
"Rundll32 has caused an error in <unknown>
Rundll32 will now close"

Then the computer froze up, and I restarted it frantically, and
"Rundll32 has caused error in kernel32.dll. Rundll32 will now close"

came up again, then this came up

"error loading 2ndsrch.dll"

Um, so is this bad, or REALLY bad?

This one time (no, not at bandcamp), I had to reset my computer to a previous day's settings because somethign weird happened to it. Am I looking at having to do that again, and if so, can anybody tell me how?

Seriously, I've been awesome lately, I got Gator accidentally, and I got rid of it myself, I had this memorymeter somehow, and I got rid of it, then this comes up and I'm like "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.....AHHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhh"

[jccalhoun]

you probably did mess things up. it is possible you have that new blaster worm that is going around http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.blaster.worm.html will tell you how to determine if you have it or not.
if you don't think you do, you could try system restore here is a link that has pictures and stuff to show you how http://www.theeldergeek.com/system_restore.htm

as a last resort, reinstall windows on top of your old windows. don't reformat or erase anything, just reinstall in place and it should fix it.

[RichmondVA]

NOOO!!! Please don't do reinstall Windows. Maybe Windows XP is better, but a great general rule is NEVER install Windows on top of itself. You'll just end up with a crazy registry, duplicate programs, and two half-working OS's. If it comes to that, save everything, reformat and start all over from scratch.

The reinstall is tempting because theortically you can keep all your programs, but it almost never works. Starting from scratch will save you a lot of headaches.

I doubt its the Blaster virus. What happens was the program changed your registry. Deleting the program didn't fix whatever changes it made. Run32.dll errors are the worst because so many things can cause them and it hangs your computer.

See if you can boot up in safe mode. Then try the system restore procedure jccalhoun recommended. That will get you to where you started from, but you might end up with the spyware back on your system. Then download Adware and Spybot and let them take the program off your computer. They'll get at the registry and dll's, not just the program. You wouldn't happen to have Norton Utilities would you?

See if this gets you anywhere: http://www.all-windows.com/kernel32.html

[Juliana]

I don't know. I hate this.

From what I understand, that Blasterworm isn't an issue because it doesn't affect ME based systems....though obviously my understanding of all things computer is limited, to say the least.

I just did the 'resetting to a previous setting' thing once, and once I did what you said RichmondVA, and basically cleaned out the entire computer. Both times with Compaq support help. I'm still under my BestBuy warranty, but thus far, I've had little luck with them.

I'll attempt to do the system restore thingy

*crosses fingers*

[Juliana]

The System Restore didn't work for the last 2 dates that I'm supposedly able to restore it to. Should I keep going back?

I'm sorry I'm such a moron, and thanks for helping (you can stop at any time)

Would it be possible to use my windows start up disc to figure out what's apparently missing now?

[RichmondVA]

So the error comes up on startup, but you can still run Windows? Or does the error only come up when you run a certain application?

I have something to try. If the problem came from you deleting the program, then go the the recycling bin, and restore the program or folder you deleted. Actually, go ahead and restore every file you've erased in the last few days before the problem. See if that does anything. It's worth a shot. . .

As long as you can still run Windows, you aren't too bad. Save all your data, bite the bullet and reformat. You'll lose a few days getting everything back to the way it was, but it's better than trying to troubleshoot for days on end and still not solving the problem.

[samanafay]

there is a pop up window (it may be the exact same one even) that comes up on my brother's comp every time you log on. it doesn't seem to cause any of the other problems that you were describing though. but it's annoying as all hell!
juliana, if you figure out what it was that caused it on your pc or how to get rid of the gd thing, i'd be much interested to know how to rid my bro's pc of it too!

[Juliana]

Yeah, so far, everything's running fine. The pop up/pop ups only come when I'm staring up.

And I already had 2 pop up errors that came up. Now I've got 4...5 if the seemingly random "error loading 2ndsrch.dll" one comes up too. They're not a big deal, at least the older two weren't.

I'll try restoring everything from the recycle bin, but I don't know if that'll work, since I have been having to go into the add/remove programs feature to get rid of the Gator stuff that I've had problems with.

[RichmondVA]

Samanafay and Juliana:

Two free programs everyone should have:

Spybot (http://spybot.eon.net.au/index.php?lang=en&page=start)

Adaware (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/)

Go ahead and restore everything. Don't worry about Gator. In fact, I would go back to the website and purposely download the same program that started this mess. Whatever it was, your computer is now geared up to run it.

If that gets rid of the .dll errors, then run Spybot and/or Adaware and get rid of the program again that way.

[Juliana]

Restoring everything didn't help, so I apparently did something more drastic.

I'm going to let this sit until Saturday, when I'll either call up BestBuy (ugh), or get out ye olde startup disc and go that whole route.

I love you guys for helping

Oh yeah, on the plus side, since I undeleted the windows office taskbar thing, I don't have that pop up error to deal with, just the stupid task bar, which is I guess better than said error...maybe.

[RichmondVA]

I did a search on 2ndsearch.dll and it is an ad program that Spybot can remove.

Get Spybot and run it, and it should hopefully remove the program and undo whatever 2ndsearch did to your system.

On the taskbar thing-- did you try the right click and uncheck "Run Office Taskbar on startup" trick?

[RichmondVA]

Also, do you guys know the easy way to get rid of the majority of pop-up ads without having to buy or download anything?

Do a search for a file called hosts. You might want to make this a shortcut. Open it in notepad. You should see something like this:

# Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host

127.0.0.1 localhost


If you want to block a pop-up, right click the window when it comes on and copy the url. Then open up your hosts file in note pad and just add a line to your hosts file like this:

127.0.0.1 <paste url, lose the http://www part>

So for example, here's part of what my hosts file looks like:

127.0.0.1 123banners.com
127.0.0.1 ad.adsmart.net
127.0.0.1 ad.ca.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ad.de.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ad.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ad.es.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ad.fr.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ad.free6.com
127.0.0.1 ad.it.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ad.iwin.com
127.0.0.1 ad.jp.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ad.kr.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ad.linkexchange.com
127.0.0.1 ad.linksynergy.com
127.0.0.1 ad.nl.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ad.no.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ad.preferences.com
127.0.0.1 ad.se.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ad.sma.punto.net
127.0.0.1 ad.trafficmp.com
127.0.0.1 ad.uk.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ad.webprovider.com
127.0.0.1 ad08.focalink.com
127.0.0.1 ad1.adcept.net
127.0.0.1 ad1.icorp.net
127.0.0.1 ad1.looksmart.com
127.0.0.1 ad1.peel.com
127.0.0.1 ad2.adcept.net
127.0.0.1 ad2.looksmart.com
127.0.0.1 ad2.peel.com
127.0.0.1 ad3.adcept.net
127.0.0.1 ad3.peel.com
127.0.0.1 ad4.peel.com
127.0.0.1 ad-adex3.flycast.com
127.0.0.1 adcontroller.unicast.com
127.0.0.1 adcreatives.imaginemedia.com
127.0.0.1 addb.looksmart.com
127.0.0.1 adevents.msn.com
127.0.0.1 adex3.flycast.com
127.0.0.1 adfarm.mediaplex.com
127.0.0.1 adforce.ads.imgis.com
127.0.0.1 adforce.imgis.com
127.0.0.1 adfu.blockstackers.com
127.0.0.1 adimage.blm.net
127.0.0.1 adimages.earthweb.com
127.0.0.1 adimages.go.com
127.0.0.1 adimages.imaginemedia.com
127.0.0.1 adimg.egroups.com
127.0.0.1 admedia.xoom.com
127.0.0.1 admonitor.net
127.0.0.1 adpick.switchboard.com
127.0.0.1 adproject.net
127.0.0.1 adremote.pathfinder.com
127.0.0.1 adres.internet.com
127.0.0.1 ads.adflight.com
127.0.0.1 ads.ad-flow.com
127.0.0.1 ads.admaximize.com
127.0.0.1 ads.admonitor.net
127.0.0.1 ads.adroar.com
127.0.0.1 ads.astalavista.us
127.0.0.1 ads.bfast.com
127.0.0.1 ads.box.sk

There's places you can download host files that already have 100's of the most ubiquitous ad sites contained. If one of the blocked sites is one you actually want, then just delete the line from the hosts file or put a # in front of it.

[DudeMan]

Originally posted by RichmondVA

Two free programs everyone should have:

Spybot (http://spybot.eon.net.au/index.php?lang=en&page=start)

Adaware (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/)

Holy Schnikees. I had ad-aware, but not Spybot. It uncovered almost 40 cookies and various things that were lurking in my PC.

I feel so... dirty and violated.

Thanks for the info.

[samanafay]

yes, thanks so much for the tips RichmondVA.
Down with the bloody pop ups!

[Juliana]

Okay, I dl'd Spybot, and that helped with a lot of stuff. I had more than 200 "problems' it took care of for me, including all but the 2ndsrch.dll error message at the start up.

I did a search on my computer for it, and I found it in my 'windows/systems' folder. It says it was created on the 14th, and that it's a "Application Extension" and that it opens with an "Unknown application"

I deleted it, but when I restarted, the same error message came up at the start up.




On the task bar thing- yeah, I tried that before, and it didn't work. I deleted it, but then it started coming up as an error at start up. Now it's back (since I took everything out of the recycle bin), so I guess I can just deal with going to it and 'exiting' when i run the computer.

[RichmondVA]

Are you still getting the rundll/Kernal32.dll errors? Those are bad.

If it's just a 2ndsrch.dll error that's less troublesome. There is a program that is trying to utilize that dynamic link library and it either can't find it or the dll isn't configured right.

If you want to lose the 2ndsrch.dll error and fix your taskbar at the same time, get Norton Utilities or similar program. It will tell you all the programs that are being run upon start up. You can then tell the computer not to run those programs. Norton will also clean up your registry for you, which will also help you get rid of your dll issues.

Yeah, you have to pay for Norton, but it's worth it. It monitors installs for you so you won't get this problem again. It helps clean out your cache and registry. It lets you backup and restore. For 30.00, it's worth it.

[DogStarMan]

Here are two excellent programs that I use often. They are free and work great for some of the stuff you guys are discussing...

Startup Cop (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,2173,00.asp) helps you identify what's running on windows startup, disable it or get rid of it completely.

FreeSurfer (http://www.kolumbus.fi/eero.muhonen/FS/Download.htm) is an excellent popup stopper.

[Bronzetree]

Originally posted by DogStarMan
FreeSurfer (http://www.kolumbus.fi/eero.muhonen/FS/Download.htm) is an excellent popup stopper.

I use Free Surfer and agree it's a great tool. The only drawback is occasionally it won't allow me to click a link that opens in a separate window (ala a java pop-up window), but that's a minor annoyance compared to pop-ups. It doesn't happen every time, though. Just seems certain sites are affected. I just disable the program, then restart it once the window I want opens.

I've been meaning to download Spy-Bot forever now and finally did today. I had 238 problems, including Gator and Alexa, but mostly ad pop-up stuff. Got rid of every single one since they all had red flags. Don't know if this is supposed to happen, but my machine seems to be moving just a touch faster now.

[RichmondVA]

Originally posted by DogStarMan
Here are two excellent programs that I use often. They are free and work great for some of the stuff you guys are discussing...

Startup Cop (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,2173,00.asp) helps you identify what's running on windows startup, disable it or get rid of it completely.

Yeah. Startup Cop works great. I used to use it before I got Norton Utilities. The nice thing about Startup Cop is it doesn't just list what's in programs/startup but also the programs that get called from your registry.

J, try Startup Cop. It'll definitely get rid of the office taskbar. And see if there is some weird program you don't know about that is running on startup. Disable the program, and if that stops the dll error you might want to think about deleting it.

[Juliana]

Do you have to be a member of PCMagazine to get the Startup Cop download? It keeps giving me subscription options when I try to get it.

[DogStarMan]

Well, when I first got it, it was free and PCMagazine didn't charge to have access to their library. Now it seems that they are charging for access to their downloads. I did find this (http://www.windows-startup-cop.com/). It's not the same program, but it seems like it offers the same functionality and it has a free trial.

[Bronzetree]

Here's a weird one.

Whenever I start up Outlook Express, an MSN Messenger icon pop up in my task bar. It never actually starts Messenger because I haven't gone through the setup process. Yet it appears every single time. Is there a way to get rid of it? I know it's a minor quibble, but it bugs the shit out of me to have icons in my task bar that I'll never use.

[DogStarMan]

If you are running XP Service Pack 1, you can go into Control Panel-Add / Remove Programs-Add / Remove Windows Components. I used this to uncheck the MSN Explorer, Windows Messenger and Outlook Express, since I use none of these. You might want to keep Outlook checked and get rid of the other two.

[RichmondVA]

As an alternative, if don't want to delete Messenger on your system, there's a tab in Outlook Express for it.

Tools--->Options then uncheck "Automatically Log in to MSN Messenger"

You'll still have Messenger installed, but it won't start up when you go into Outlook Express.

[Bronzetree]

Running ME.

And it doesn't actually log me into MSN Messenger. I've never set it up. It just drops an icon onto my task bar every time I start up Outlook Express. The box is unchecked in the Tools/Options menu. This only came about after I set up a new profile about two months ago. My other Outlook Express profiles don't do this. It's just annoying is all.

[RichmondVA]

Unfortunately (or fortunately for me) I've never run Windows ME.

But I would guess that DogStarMan's advice should still work.

Get to control panel and hit add/remove programs. Messenger should be listed in there somewhere.

[Bronzetree]

Oh, yeah, forgot to tell you: already tried that. It's not in the list of things I can get rid of. I guess because I've never actually gone through the install process. Interesting and frustrating, no?

[RichmondVA]

I just checked with someone in my office that runs Windows ME.
It's not under the usual programs list in Control Panel.

I think it's Control Panel--> Add/Remove Programs --> Windows Setup --> Communications --> Details

[Juliana]

I found this (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;138835) when I was looking around the Windows help page. Do you think that could help, and if it could, how would one, theoretically, run the resolution answer they give.

Keep in mind that Kwyjibo is pretty much as close as I can get to having somebody HERE to help me

[DogStarMan]

Originally posted by Juliana
Keep in mind that Kwyjibo is pretty much as close as I can get to having somebody HERE to help me
God help you. :D

Do a search for your system.ini file.

Copy it and save the copy as system.old in case you mess something up. You can always go back and delete the new file and rename system.old back to system.ini.

Open it with the notepad. You should see a text file with different parts with a header like:

[Boot]

Add the line

drivers=mmsystem.dll

under the [Boot] header and save the file.

It will now look like this:

[Boot]
drivers=mmsystem.dll

of course, there's gonna be a bunch of other stuff in there too.

Good luck.

[Kwyjibo]

Originally posted by Juliana
Keep in mind that Kwyjibo is pretty much as close as I can get to having somebody HERE to help me

Originally posted by DogStarThinksHe'sAFunnyMan
God help you. :D

Oh, you guys are a riot. I'm pretty good with this stuff for not getting to keep up with it constantly.

I'm not totally ignorant, I wouldn't do something stupid like, say, hook up some speakers to my stereo that are a country mile away using a cheap, thin gauge wire, plus run the wire across aluminum siding with jagged edges.

I'm not an imbicile.

[DogStarMan]

DAYYYYYYYUM! :(

[Bronzetree]

BURN!

[Bronzetree]

Originally posted by RichmondVA
I just checked with someone in my office that runs Windows ME.
It's not under the usual programs list in Control Panel.

I think it's Control Panel--> Add/Remove Programs --> Windows Setup --> Communications --> Details

Y'know, I somehow missed this.

I ended up somehow figuring out how to delete the program and the icon doesn't pop up anymore (can't tell you how, as I don't recall). But I just did what you described above and it was still checked. It's unchecked now, so I don't expect to see it anymore. Thanks, man.

[Kwyjibo]

Originally posted by DogStarMan
DAYYYYYYYUM! :(

Just playin' home fry...

You gotta admit, it was the perfect opportunity for the kill.

[DogStarMan]

Yup, you gotta' take those cheap shots when you can. ;)

[Juliana]

Okay, I was dl'ing a driver update for my sound card today, and after the hour and a half of dl'ing the damn thing, and restarting, I got this message:

the file "smwdm.sys" was not found

so I clicked on the 'details' button and got this:


the following error occured "the file was not found (error #2)"

setup could not finish opening a file on the source disk

source file C:\windows\options\cabs\smwdm.sys

destination file C:\windows\system32\drivers\smwdm.sys=smwdm.sys

I had to tell it to "skip file" in order to continue


So far, the sound seems to be running better than before (no weird unexplained skips/sound going out in songs).

Any wisdom?

And I do totally appareciate you guys helping me. I really owe all of you.

[DogStarMan]

Originally posted by Juliana
setup could not finish opening a file on the source disk

source file C:\windows\options\cabs\smwdm.sys

destination file C:\windows\system32\drivers\smwdm.sys=smwdm.sys
This usually pops up when the system is trying to install a file and is not looking in the right place for it. The system wats to find the file smwdm.sys in the directory C:\windows\options\cabs\. It probably isn't there. You would need to redirect the system to the directory this file resides in. If you're unsure where it's at, then do a search for it.

As for you "owing all of us", I'm not opposed to a six pack of something nice materializing on my front porch.
;)

[Juliana]

Is there a way to know what process/batch etc. is looking for this
file?

Better yet, if I can find that file, can I just copy it to that
directory and forget about it?

[RichmondVA]

Originally posted by Juliana
Better yet, if I can find that file, can I just copy it to that
directory and forget about it?

Is this message coming up every time you reboot? If not, I'd just leave it alone. Your setup program was trying to copy a file to your C:\windows\system32\drivers\ but it couldn't find the file.

Chances are that smwdm.sys is already in your C:\windows\system32\drivers\ folder so even though it tried to overwrite that with another copy, there's no adverse effect on your system.

If you are getting the message everytime you boot, you can fix it exactly the way you said. Find your smwdm.sys and copy to the C:\windows\options\cabs\smwdm.sys directory and the message will go away.