Windows 98 SetUp

[TonyPi]

Hi,
Help needed to get rid of a harmless irritant!
At Boot up or reboot, just prior to the appearance
of the ‘desktop’ I get a Dialogue Box at centre screen
labelled : ‘Windows 98 Set Up’ containing the words -
‘Updating System Settings’ with a progress bar which
fills, and then the Dialogue Box goes away. I presume this is the Dialogue box one gets after hardware installation which normally only appears once after installation first boot – but mine will not go away!
Any suggestions please?
I have recently replaced a defective Sound Card with associated reinstall
but several reboots without card fitted still showed the irritant Dialogue Box.
AMD 1.4, 512Mb, ASUS A7A266, Win 98SE.

TonyPI

[Balrog]

All i can suggest is that u re-install the drivers, check everything is correctly installed.

Oh and look for conlflicts in the config/system window.

Good luck

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Benjamin Kelly
kellydesign@hotmail.com

[gwallen4]

This also occurs after most software installations.

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Sandman

[Sylvander]

Hello Tonypi

In a typical Windows installation "Updating System Settings" is carried out only once as shown at the web-page below for example.
http://www.gateway.com/support/techdocs/software/windows/750882205.shtml

I wonder if this procedure is run-once only, as specified by a setting in the Registry at the following key:
"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\RunOnce"

Under normal circumstances there would be no value in this key to tell a program to run. If you use Regedit to check this key and it has a value specifying that a program should run once during the boot process, it is my guess that when that process [Updating System Settings]is complete the value in this key should be deleted. In your case this is not happening. Possibly because the process has not been properly completed?
Deleting the value in the "RunOnce" key would probably stop it running again but you should try to figure out why the value is not being automatically deleted.

Why not try to re-run windows setup and see if it gets it right the next time?

[TonyPi]

Hello,
Thanks for proffered words of wisdom, BK – no conflicts apparent, B-Sandman – no recent software installations.
Oh Sylvander, I entered the REGISTRY in fear and trembling, hair standing on end and cold feeling in stomach - top entry for that key was (Default Value) (value not set).
Two further entries below that: CTDBMig = to do with Norton System Works …. Cleansweep – with IM numbers .CIL etc and
PMXInit=C:\WINDOWS\SyS\pmxinit.exe
Since Cleansweep fell into the Symantec nest I get a gray feeling about Cleansweep and Norton System Works.
Feel very nervous about re-running Windows setup, my system has many
Microsoft (Critical) updates, thus many removed and added files; don’t want to rock the boat!
Had suggestion that problem could be associated with an .ocx file but am none the wiser! It has taken me six months to get the system running without continual crashes, and knowledgeable Support is very short on the ground here! Unless there is a simple safe cure for repetitive irritant – would rather just live with it!
Many thanks,
Tonypi

[kayofcircles]

Really enjoyed your "I entered the REGISTRY in fear and trembling, hair standing on end and cold feeling in stomach". That's exactly the way I feel about fooling with the Registry. I can also indentify with "It has taken me six months to get the system running without continual crashes" except that I am only two months into the process.

Do you have Norton's WinDoctor on the System Works, and if so, did you try that? We've used it on several puters and it hasn't screwed any of them up yet.. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif..so I can hesitantly recommend it. Don't know if that could help with current problem though. And you did check in Safe Mode to be sure that the old sound card was totally "gone", right?

[Sylvander]

Hello TonyPi

Don't wory about re-running Windows Setup with critical updates in place.
It will surely inform you that you have more up-to-date copies of certain files and ask if you wish to overwrite or not. Just say no! Even if you did overwrite them you could then go get the updates again, and anyway, don't you have backups!

Have you any idea why there should be two entries in the "RunOnce" key?
There should only be entries in this when you're in the middle of some special procedure which requires a re-boot, at which point these will be run only once then deleted.
"PMXInit=C:\WINDOWS\SyS\pmxinit.exe" is suspicious!
I wonder what "PMX Initialisation" is? [PMXinit.exe]
This could be your problem entry. Your problem is related to Initialisation is it not? ["Updating System Settings"].
Do you have a "SyS" folder in the Windows folder and is there a file "pmxinit.exe" in it? In other words; is it possible or impossible to execute this command?

[Whyzman]

Tony,

If you're a bit timid about entering into the land of Registry, you're not alone! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

You might want to read THIS ARTICLE (http://www.tweak3d.net/tweak/cleanup/) first.

I suspect Sylvander may be on to something here...it may be possible to excise the culprit automatically following the registry cleaning procedure.

Each one of the Cleaners mentioned in the article seem to find different problems. You might need to do a GOOGLE SEARCH (http://www.google.com) as I think at least one of the links is outdated.

THIS (http://www.jv16.org) one is one of the easiest ones I've found to use as a starter. I think it is in TOOL>Registrycleanup>AutoMatic registry cleanup.

Oops, also the EasyCleaner by ToniArts...It found dead links the other one by jv16 did not! I'll see if I can find the link also.

It will find all the dead ones and list them for your disposal.

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May all your dealings in life be win/win!


Whyzman
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Reserved for Punishing Humor...A Pessimist's blood is always B-negative!

[This message has been edited by Whyzman (edited 05-27-2002).]

[Paleo Pete]

And you did check in Safe Mode to be sure that the old sound card was totally "gone", right?

Good call, Kay...

I think Kay has hit on the first place I'd start, boot into Safe Mode, open Control Panel\System\Device Manager and see if the sound card is listed twice or more. If so, remove ALL sound cards listed, reboot and let it install from scratch, clean.

The reason being, if the old card was not completely removed, the system can still sometimes act as if it's still there and try to install drivers for it. When it's listed in Safe Mode twice or more you don't know which component is the one actually being used currently, so the best way to go is remove them all and start over. That removes any "ghost" drivers that may be causing trouble.

The registry cleaner idea probably won't hurt either, after 6 months of tinkering it could probably benefit from some housecleaning...

------------------
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[TonyPi]

Hello,
Many thanks for all the advice and suggestions, progress will be slower from now on as wife and supervisor is off to UK on holiday and I become head cook and bottle washer, and dog nurse and walker!
Tried Nortom Utilities - No Faults found. No Erors shown in System (Device Manager) - In NORMAL MODE.
Third entry PMXInit = C:\Windows\Sys\pmxinit.exe – think this is connected with Kyro (display adaptor) but as my graphics card is NVIDIA GeForce 2 MX/MX400 ( Geforce 64Mb AGP + TV) – bit of a grey area here for me.
Don’t know why there are entries in Registry – period – black art! Did disable Norton Cleansweep prior to start-up but ‘Windows Set-Up box still appeared ( did I mention that it has progress bar which fills every time).
Looked in MSConfig and in three figured salute (running programs) both have nothing there that hasn’t always been there {including pmxinit.exe}.
SAFE MODE is a whole different ball game – Display adaptors has NVIDIA card and Power VR KYRO, the latter NOT shown in NORMAL Device Manager. CDROM has several duplicates! And an item that isn’t on board. Other Devices {only shown in Safe Mode} six listed Unknown devices! Sound video and game controllers seems to have some left-overs from SoundBlaster recently replaced by Audigy (due to card defect).
Imaging Device has duplicated Epson Perfection 1240 (USB). All in all – a mess! The beast is currently working, which is a blessed relief from the dreaded BSOD at Shut-Down! The locally built brute is only ten months old! Free Memory at start-up still fluctuates by 100Mb {all other things being equal}. I am too inexperienced/lacking in confidence to get head too deep into inner workings! Have to play it safe, very little local help available.
Regards, Tonypi.
Added Config: Printer,Scanner,Wacom Tablet, Thrustmaster – all USB;
Logitech ball-less (PS2). Second printer DotMat on LPT.