A problem that won't go away.

[PaulFXH]

Hi
I use a Dell Dimension 4550 with 2.53GHz CPU/512MB RAM running on WinXP
w/SP2.
Right now, I'm in the process of tuning the computer performance after
having recovered from a rather serious invasion/infection.
At present, most things look good and the computer is robustly
protected by a range of AV and anti-spy&ad software.
However, although I have managed to clean up a significant number of
difficulties (many with the help of this group) one problem just won't
go away, at least permanently. This is that WMP 10, which works
perfectly on my users account (admin), generates an "internal
application error" when launched in the only other user account
(limited) on the computer. Indeed, it still doesn't work if I change
that account to admin status. Even if I make a new account with admin
status, WMP 10 generates the same error.
I have posted on this twice before but have not yet solved the problem.
Two further points which I have since noticed may provoke some
insights:
1. I recently ran a repair-install of WinXP. For a few days after this,
I could access WMP 10 without problems on the limited user account.
Then the same error message started appearing again (for no obvious
reason) which is where I am now.
2. While in the limited users account, I can right click on the WMP 10
icon and then Run As>The Following User. Entering details for my
account gets WMP 10 to launch without problems.

Strangely, the error message does not generate an entry in the Event
Viewer log.
Checking through the MS newsgroups shows that this is not an isolated
problem. However, I have not come across a solution suitable to my
situation.

I'd really welcome any suggestions, comments or ideas.
Thanks
Paul

 

[R. McCarty]

I would use Windows Explorer while in your Administrator account &
navigate to the "Limited" user's profile, go to
\D&S\'Limited'\Application Data\Microsoft\Media Player
Delete the content of this folder, then re-login with your limited account
and retry MP.

 

[PaulFXH]

Hi RM
Thanks for your suggestion.
Unfortunately, it did not resolve the problem.
Does the fact that it didn't work provide any further insights?
I should mention that when this didn't fix it, I copied all of the
files/folders (1 folder, 3 files) from the equivalent Media Player
folder on my account (admin) to the (now empty) limited account.
However, this also failed to improve matters.
Paul

 

[R. McCarty]

It's hard to know if it's one of those "Limited Account" issues or
something unique to that profile. I suppose as a test case, I might
create a NEW limited user and see if MP works in that profile.
I really dislike working on these "Should, but Doesn't" type issue(s).

 

[PaulFXH]

Hi
I tried out your suggestion but unfortunately it has not resolved the
problem. So, a new account, whether it's got "limited" or "admin"
status does not allow WMP 10 to launch and the same "internal
application error" shows up on the screen.
I did already mention that this latter error does NOT seem to cause an
error indication in the event viewer. However, I have now noticed that
every time I try to launch WMP 10 in the limited account (or, more
precisely, any account other than mine) six information messages show
up in the Event Viewer System page. All of these concern the IMAPI
CD-burner which goes through various stages and ends up in the STOPPED
state.
Conversely, when I (successfully) launch WMP 10 from my account, two
errors show up on the same Event Viewer page stating "DCOM got error
attempting to start service MDM with arguments "" in order to run the
server".
Does this shed any light?
Thanks again
Paul

 

[R. McCarty]

Information always helps. Do you use MP to directly burn or use the
Microsoft native burning utility ? The MDM is a diagnostic tool that's
probably trying to collect data for sending to Microsoft. On the Imapi
issue, if you don't use embedded burning I would use Services.Msc &
disable "Imapi CD-Burning Service" and then retry MP.

 

[PaulFXH]

Hi,
Stll no luck, I'm afraid.
Actually, I rarely do any CD burning and I, right now, disabled the
IMAPI burner via Computer Management>Services.
However, trying to launch WMP 10 from the limited account again gave
the same "internal application error" message.
The only difference was that the six IMAPI-related information messages
did not appear in the Event Viewer. Indeed, nothing at all showed up
here this time.
Thanks again
Paul