newbie question on environment variables etc.

[pauldepstein]

Yesterday, I tried to install some fairly complex software which
required changing the path settings on dos.

I installed quantlib and dev c++

This has caused no end of problems with my computer. I'm assuming
that the problems are that I messed up these settings, but I'm not
sure.

Is there a way to check that these settings are ok, or to get back to
the default settings that appear when windows xp operates for the
first time?

Some problems with my computer are as follows:

Unless I start the computer in safe mode, I don't get a taskbar or
start button.

Sometimes I get out-of-memory messages even though when I go into the
C drive and click properties, it says 26 GB free.

When I try and start the internet, I get a long error message. Some
details are as follows:

physical memory 746/1014 MB (free/total)

free disk space 25 GB

process id $13c

executable wwDisp.exe

version 6.0.2.466

madExcept version 2.7e

exception class EOleSysError

exception message: The RPC server is unavailable.

The method I know to set the environment variables is by right-
clicking on My computer and going into Advanced Properties and then
Environment variables.

There are then two environment variables, one called TEMP and the
other called tmp.

Another possibility that just occurs to me is that although there is
plenty of disk space, there is not enough RAM and that is causing
problems.

Perhaps, it's nothing to do with the environment variables or path
setting.

So what I want to do is a) sort out the problem so my computer works
normally. (I tried System Restore but it doesn't seem to work) and b)
check out the environment variables.

I think that, by starting in safe mode, I will have enough
functionality to uninstall the new software but I'm a bit reluctant to
do that.

Another problem is that the computer doesn't shut down using the
normal methods -- I have to actually disconnect and reconnect the
battery.

Thanks a lot for any help

Paul Epstein

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Yesterday, I tried to install some fairly complex software which
required changing the path settings on dos.

I installed quantlib and dev c++

This has caused no end of problems with my computer. I'm assuming
that the problems are that I messed up these settings, but I'm not
sure.

Is there a way to check that these settings are ok, or to get back to
the default settings that appear when windows xp operates for the
first time?

Some problems with my computer are as follows:

Unless I start the computer in safe mode, I don't get a taskbar or
start button.

Sometimes I get out-of-memory messages even though when I go into the
C drive and click properties, it says 26 GB free.

When I try and start the internet, I get a long error message. Some
details are as follows:

physical memory 746/1014 MB (free/total)

free disk space 25 GB

process id $13c

executable wwDisp.exe

version 6.0.2.466

madExcept version 2.7e

exception class EOleSysError

exception message: The RPC server is unavailable.

The method I know to set the environment variables is by right-
clicking on My computer and going into Advanced Properties and then
Environment variables.

There are then two environment variables, one called TEMP and the
other called tmp.

Another possibility that just occurs to me is that although there is
plenty of disk space, there is not enough RAM and that is causing
problems.

Perhaps, it's nothing to do with the environment variables or path
setting.

So what I want to do is a) sort out the problem so my computer works
normally. (I tried System Restore but it doesn't seem to work) and b)
check out the environment variables.

I think that, by starting in safe mode, I will have enough
functionality to uninstall the new software but I'm a bit reluctant to
do that.

Another problem is that the computer doesn't shut down using the
normal methods -- I have to actually disconnect and reconnect the
battery.

Thanks a lot for any help

Paul Epstein

Your post is a happy mix of about four unrelated subjects. I shall
restrict myself to answering your first question. To restore your
system to the pre-quantlib and dev c++ status, run System Restore.

 

[pauldepstein]

Your post is a happy mix of about four unrelated subjects. I shall
restrict myself to answering your first question. To restore your
system to the pre-quantlib and dev c++ status, run System Restore.

That didn't work.

The question about environment variables would be useful, if you would
only like to answer one question.

Do you know how I can check that these variables are set correctly?

Here's another unrelated question.

How do I check if I have enough RAM for these downloads?

Paul Epstein

 

[Jim]

Yesterday, I tried to install some fairly complex software which
required changing the path settings on dos.

I installed quantlib and dev c++

This has caused no end of problems with my computer. I'm assuming
that the problems are that I messed up these settings, but I'm not
sure.

Is there a way to check that these settings are ok, or to get back to
the default settings that appear when windows xp operates for the
first time?

If your new installation doesn't work, and you changed to Path environment
variable, then the change was incorrect.
Post the current value of the Path environment variable.
Post the instructions for making a change to Path.
If system restore didn't fix this particular problem, you may be facing a
reinstallation.

Some problems with my computer are as follows:

Unless I start the computer in safe mode, I don't get a taskbar or
start button.

Sometimes I get out-of-memory messages even though when I go into the
C drive and click properties, it says 26 GB free.

This message meant that the pagefile is too small. You are confusing RAM
with disk space.
The fact that the C drive has 26 GB free has no bearing on the problem.

When I try and start the internet, I get a long error message. Some
details are as follows:

physical memory 746/1014 MB (free/total)

free disk space 25 GB

process id $13c

executable wwDisp.exe

version 6.0.2.466

madExcept version 2.7e

exception class EOleSysError

exception message: The RPC server is unavailable.

This is the remote procedure call server. You are not going anywhere until
you fix this.
Somebody else needs to tell you how to start the service.

The method I know to set the environment variables is by right-
clicking on My computer and going into Advanced Properties and then
Environment variables. That is the easiest way.

There are then two environment variables, one called TEMP and the
other called tmp.

And lots of others as well. TEMP and tmp may point to the same temporary
folder.
But, if all that you changed was the contents of the Path variable, why
introduce these two?

Another possibility that just occurs to me is that although there is
plenty of disk space, there is not enough RAM and that is causing
problems.

You have enough RAM; what you don't have is enough virtual memory (which
boils down to a pagefile that is too small).
The pagefile is the entity which allows XP to pretend that every process has
4GB address space.

Perhaps, it's nothing to do with the environment variables or path
setting.

So what I want to do is a) sort out the problem so my computer works
normally. (I tried System Restore but it doesn't seem to work) and b)
check out the environment variables.

I think that, by starting in safe mode, I will have enough
functionality to uninstall the new software but I'm a bit reluctant to
do that.

Another problem is that the computer doesn't shut down using the
normal methods -- I have to actually disconnect and reconnect the
battery.

Some process somewhere is hanging the system during shutdown.

Thanks a lot for any help

Paul Epstein

Jim