SFC

[David Kelsey]

I have several problems with XP, OE and IE, and the solution may be found in
sfc /scannow. Unfortunately, this won't run, because the app won't read the
CD when it needs to. If I try the CD in another drive, the error message
says the disk is not the right one, or is not the disk that was used to
install XP, both of which assumptions are completely wrong. The CD player
and the CD writer play music and read data, even the XP and SP2 disks I
tried, but neither reads in sfc. Eldergeek gives a registry key in which
sfc resides, but on my machine, sfc is in another key, so I'm stuck again.
OE will not reopen if closed, because it says there is another instance of
it still running. This isn't so either, at least, not according to Task
Manager. I imagine the problems are allied in some way.

I've not long reinstalled XP and SP2 on a clean drive, and came unstuck
because the backups I did in MS backup did not increment, and I'm not
looking forward to going that route again. Has anyone any ideas that don't
involve yet another installation of XP please?

David Kelsey

 

[R. McCarty]

If your XP CD-ROM is SP2 (or Slipstreamed SP2), copy the entire
i386 folder to partition on your system (in the Root Path). Then use
Regedit and navigate to:
HKey_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Setup

Modify the follow two keys
CDInstall 0 (Probably existing value is 1)
SourcePath Drive letter you copied i386 to ( D:\)
If your XP had SP2 installed as a stand-alone update, then check the
Registry key "ServicePackSourcePath" and verify it's correct.

Close Regedit, Reboot and re-try SFC /Scannow

 

[David Kelsey]

Thanks for that - I'll try it. I have an upgrade XPCD, which I used as a
full install on a clean drive, and a SP2 CD. i386 is already in the root
on C:, but the sfc in it is sfc.ex_, and it produces an unknown extension
error in effect if I try to run it, or at least the usual Open With message.
It is 4k, so I guess it is a shortcut. Does this change anything in your
advice? The keys you mention do not appear in setup, or in any of setup's
folders. There may be a clue there!

David

 

[bumtracks]

curious
C:\i386
are the bulk of the files contained within it dated Aug 2004 ?

 

[David Kelsey]

No, 23 August 2001. Why?

David

curious
C:\i386
are the bulk of the files contained within it dated Aug 2004 ?

 

[David Kelsey]

Thanks again for a brilliant response. I altered the CD key, but the main
thing was that the ServicePackSourcePath was wrong, thanks to XP's habit of
playing ducks and drakes with drive letters. SFC then worked faultlessly,
but didn't find anything, unless it doesn't report now.

One of the reasons I wanted to use sfc was that Outlook Express was not
closing properly, and therefore not only delayed shut down, but also refused
to reopen if closed because another session was running. I suspect this is
a general, rather than OE problem. I can close the session by ending
msinm.exe in Task Manager, and then OE will open again normally, but
something must be failing to do this automatically. Any thoughts please?

David

 

[R. McCarty]

Be sure the cumulative update for Outlook Express is
applied. It is not a "Critical", but recommended update
on Windows Update. Might be good also to check and
see what other software is "Hooking" into OE. Perhaps
disable the Windows Messenger from Options and also
your Security software (A/V email scans). I would do a
Compaction on your store folders (.dbx).
These type of issues are sometimes the hardest to run
down the cause.

 

[David Kelsey]

Thanks for that. Re my earlier message, it wasn't the service pack path
that was wrong, but the CD path, which had retained an earlier drive letter.
No wonder it wasn't being read properly, although I don't understand how it
worked at all with the wrong letter in the registry. I'll take up your
latest suggestions and come back.

David

 

[David Kelsey]

Thanks to you and your suggestion that I check out the Windows Update site
for OE 6 updates, I think my problem is solved. Anyway, OE is now
apparently closing as it should, both on shutdown and on second opening in a
session. I'll keep my fingers crossed until it has done it for several
days. Thanks again.

David