Render Problem on ver 14

[rgathje]

  I have gone back and reread this thread from the beginning again. It sounds like the encyclopedia worked at one time and does not work anymore. And now it is corrupted in both V14 and v15 on the laptop that is running Vista. I am guessing the programmers at IMSI used part of Windows Access to read the database in TFP. If they did, it may be a .dll or .xml file dealing with Access that was used in both versions of TFP. Are you have a problem with any other .db files on the laptop? Did you install another program about the time the encyclopedia became corrupted that may have updated or corrupted the .dll or .xml file? You might try uninstalling V14 and V15 but I don't think that will fix the problem because an uninstall won't necessarily replace the Windows file. You might try a recover point before the corruption started which could put the correct file back. I tried to install Roxio on my HP laptop and ended up losing my DVD play. The only way I got it back was to do a restore point before I installed Roxio. There is always the Windows repair or you could see if there is a Vista update to install which could correct the problem. The main thing is get a good back up before you do anything.

Robert

[Allan Chesney]

Hi Robert, 

Thanks for your thoughts on this problem and for going to the trouble to read back through it all.

I use Access 2007 constantly on the laptop without any problems but, while it was pre-installed on the laptop it was probably 'activated' about the time the Garden.db problem surfaced.

However I would suspect this if I was not also having problems with the automatic Windows updater - nearly every file update fails. Whether this is related or not I do not know - all I know is it is very frustrating!

I will try getting Admin access tonight, run the Check Disk and just hope it resolves both issues!

Allan

[Allan Chesney]

Hi Pat,

Restore point--> Start--> All programs--> Accessories--> System Tools--> System restore--> restore system
Let me know about the results

Haven't got to this point yet.  I finally found via Google how to get Admin access on Vista so I have that now but still run into issues with check disk and autochk. I managed to start the PC with a Command Prompt and do a chkdsk only, which reported corrupt segment but is read only mode (first image).

The second image is some other things I tried but all to no effect.

Allan

[Draft Patrick]

Hi Allan,

Try this--> Use the command "chkdsk /f" --> this command will check and fix

Pat

[Allan Chesney]

Hi Pat,

That was one of the things I tried including chkdsk /f/r but as you can see in the second image, it would not do it as the drive was 'write protected'. this lead to the attempts to take ownership. I did this too so that I could rename and hence replace the autochk.exe but all attempts failed withsome other complaint, so I seem to be going round and round in circles.

Seems like Vista is fine while things are working OK but if something like this happens, it does everything it can to stop you fixing it.

Allan

[rgathje]

 Hi Allen,

  Did you run across these options in your search for a chkdsk solution:

1.  Check your hard disk for errors

You can help solve some computer problems and improve the performance of
your computer by making sure that your hard disk has no errors.

Click to open Computer.

Right-click the hard disk drive that you want to check, and then click
Properties.

Click the Tools tab, and then, under Error-checking, click Check Now. If
you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the
password or provide confirmation.

To automatically repair problems with files and folders that the scan
detects, select Automatically fix file system errors. Otherwise, the disk
check will simply report problems but not fix them.

To perform a thorough disk check, select Scan for and attempt recovery of
bad sectors. This scan attempts to find and repair physical errors on the
hard disk itself, and it can take much longer to complete.

To check for both file errors and physical errors, select both Automatically
fix file system errors and Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors.

Click Start.

Depending upon the size of your hard disk, this may take several minutes.
For best results, don't use your computer for any other tasks while it's
checking for errors.

Note
If you select Automatically fix file system errors for a disk that is in use
(for example, the partition that contains Windows), you'll be prompted you to
reschedule the disk check for the next time you restart your computer.

2.   The message kept telling me to do a chkdsk, but It would not work.
I was told to do a reinstall with the Vista OS CD, but one of the options on the way to the reinstall was to do a Vista Upgrade which I did.

It goes through a fairly long process on its own for about an hour. Then it states that their are corrupt files, so I clicked OK on all of them and let it proceed.

All of the sudden it did it's own chkdsk and cleaned all the corrupt files. No files were lost and I am back to normal.


Robert

[Allan Chesney]

Hi Robert,

  Did you run across these options in your search for a chkdsk solution:
....

Note
If you select Automatically fix file system errors for a disk that is in use
(for example, the partition that contains Windows), you'll be prompted you to
reschedule the disk check for the next time you restart your computer.

Yes I did come across those instructions - it was the first thing I tried but the 'Auto fix file system on restart' is the problem. When it is supposed to do the scan on restart nothing happens - it just goes straight into Windows.  This in turn lead to trying to replace the Autochk.exe file since it was presumably corrupt but Vista Home Premium will not let you change the file name so you can replace it.  Even when I finally worked out how to force it to give me Admin access, it still says the file is write protected - that is the latest issue, how to get past that.  Efforts to 'Take ownership' (takeown) of the file, says it does not know the expression. When I try to Verify the autochk.exe file to confirm it actually is corrupt, it says that a repair is in progress and needs to reboot but when you do you are back at square one!!   I seem to be just going round in circles. So I still do not know if the autochk.exe file is corrupt but suspect that it is but there does not seem to be a way to replace it.

Allan

[rgathje]

  I don't know of to many people that like Vista. I think Microsoft made to bad systems. ME and Vista. I haven't heard of a major complaint with Windows 7 so I am looking forward to buying a new PC or laptop with Windows 7 on it. I worked as a support tech for the county and we never went to Vista. We ordered our computers from Dell and formated the drives when they came in and install XP. I was the only one in the county on Vista for a couple of months until I retired. Your only choice may be to format the drive and if you do that, I would suggest Windows 7. Sorry I couldn't help but I will still be looking.

Robert

[Allan Chesney]

Hi Robert and Pat,

I must admit I have not had any complaints with Vista until now - it just seems to have too much convoluted security to get through. My wife's laptop has Win7 and I have been very impressed with it so far.

I have finally given up and taken it to a computer repairer to sort out!  If I had kept trying I would have had no hair left!  I should know the verdict (and cost ) tomorrow!  Hopefully it will be all over then - will let you know what happens but, if it all works again, you will probably hear the YIPPEE from 'down under' without the need of the internet!!

Allan

[Draft Patrick]

Did you run across these options in your search for a chkdsk solution:
Etc....

--> Of course, this was the first suggestion http://forums.turbofloorplan.com/index.php/topic,1164.msg5636.html#msg5636 and as Allan confirmed it didn't work, hence the search for alternative ways

  I think Microsoft made to bad systems. ME and Vista.

--> I'd add Win 2000. It was really bad

Allan,

Please, let me know about the diagnostic. I am curious now!! 

Pat

[Allan Chesney]

Hi Pat,

I retired about 8 months ago and the company I worked for (State owned energy retailer) stayed with Windows 2000 until fairly recently switching to XP not Vista. Don't know what they have done since Windows 7 came out. Windows 2000 became a joke in the end as so many things would not work.  Trouble was they had been running some critical programmes that would not work in XP apparently.

Yes I will let you know what they say.  I spoke to them late this afternoon and they said it was still applying all of the Windows Updates that had not worked in recent times - I assume they were working this time.

Allan

[rgathje]

  I forgot about Windows 2000 because that was another system the county never went to. I don't know of anyone who bought a 2000 system either. Everyone waited until XP came out before upgrading.

Robert

[Draft Patrick]

  I forgot about Windows 2000 because that was another system the county never went to. I don't know of anyone who bought a 2000 system either. Everyone waited until XP came out before upgrading.

W2000 upgraded to Win ME
W2000 was released in February 2000, and I remember several users that, disappointed with Win 98, upgraded to W2000, only to find more problems. Then, Win Me was released on Sept 2000, and it was not too bad as Win 2000. I still have an old HP with Win ME
Of course, after all of the above  Win XP (released in August 2001) was (and is) a breeze

Pat

[Allan Chesney]

Hi Pat,

Please, let me know about the diagnostic. I am curious now!! 
Pat

Not much to tell yet (and may not be much more). They established that the hard drive was OK, but could not get check disk or Windows Updates to run. They thought if they could force the updates to install, it might help sort things out but every update failed every time, so...  It is booked in for Friday to wipe the hard disk and start again.  I'm trying to decide before then if I can afford to go for Windows 7 instead of just re-instlling Vista.  Somehow before then I have to find the actrivation key for the (preinstalled) Office 2007 also!

I hate these sort of things!!!

Allan

[Draft Patrick]

Hi Allan,

thank you for the update!
yeah, I know, I also hate these Windows / Microsoft issues 

Before the end of the month, I will be getting a new secondary computer, with Win 7, so I will be able to see the differences between XP and Win 7. However, while I was checking prices, I saw some indicators that are worrying 
Example: --> Dell is selling computers with Win 7 with the option to downgrade to Win XP      --> http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=ftbpt38&c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04
Odd, isn't it?

Pat