Empty Device Manager...

[Guest]

Among other problems.

So on Tuesday I grudgingly decided to download and install WinXP's Service
Pack 2, after downloading a collection of updates; after SP2 was installed, I
then DLed some additional updates that appeared afterwards (I suppose they
were SP2-centric.)

Then the problems started. First I could no longer open Aol 9.0; it kept
stating that it had to install files necessary for connection, and that I may
or may not have to reboot afterwards. This was stuck in a loop - Agreeing to
let it install, and reboot, did nothing. Uninstalled, then reinstalled Aol a
number of times, even tried a previous version (8.0) to no avail. That's
about when I noticed that the 'My Networks' selection from the Start menu was
GONE. Under the Control Panel, I opened up Network Connections, and it was
completely EMPTY.

How odd, thought I.

Looking around on the 'net (I connect via cable modem, which thankfully
managed to be unscathed,) I found a solution (or so I thought) involving
corrupt adapers - OEM.inf files with 0 bytes in them. Went through that, so
that's no problem now. Tried again - Still nothing under Network
Connections, and Aol still gives me problems.

So, then I uninstalled SP2 entirely, grudgingly leaving the SP2-related
hotfixes alone (They whined that such-and-such programs wouldn't work, so I
left 'em there for now.) And this, did not help either. About this time, I
noticed my Device Manager under System Properties was EMPTY.

How unsettling, I thought.

Looking around the 'net further, I found a couple solutions - Make certain
Plug-n-Play was still active, for one. Checked that - It's set to Automatic,
and its status is Stated, so I surmise that is not the problem. Another one
involved Permissions - Again, this is not the problem either, as it's all set
up fine and there's nothing missing there. I also found the 'apropos'
malware suggestion... Followed the process to safe mode, installed the
program, Ran This.bat, and reboot back to Windows... Nada.

So, this leaves me to wondering... What the heck do I try now? Uninstalling
SP2's hotfixes? Go down the list of the other hotfixes, uninstalling one by
one 'til Device Manager returns and I can open Aol again? System Restore
seems to refuse to run, and I would -really- rather not create 8 restoration
discs so I can format the drive. Any help would be vastly appreciated!

 

[Roberto]

Get rid of that pesky AOL for starters [no offence intended but you
need SP2 more than you do AOL ...]

rgds
Roberto

 

[Guest]

Get rid of that pesky AOL for starters [no offence intended but you
need SP2 more than you do AOL ...]

rgds
Roberto

Ho ho ho. Funny - But not too helpful. SP2 -still- killed My Networks and
the Device Manager, whereas Aol has done little more than amused me over the
years with its silly chatrooms. Between the two, I'd take the crappy ISP, I
think.

 

[Alias]

Among other problems.

So on Tuesday I grudgingly decided to download and install WinXP's Service
Pack 2, after downloading a collection of updates; after SP2 was installed, I
then DLed some additional updates that appeared afterwards (I suppose they
were SP2-centric.)

Then the problems started. First I could no longer open Aol 9.0; it kept
stating that it had to install files necessary for connection, and that I may
or may not have to reboot afterwards. This was stuck in a loop - Agreeing to
let it install, and reboot, did nothing. Uninstalled, then reinstalled Aol a
number of times, even tried a previous version (8.0) to no avail. That's
about when I noticed that the 'My Networks' selection from the Start menu was
GONE. Under the Control Panel, I opened up Network Connections, and it was
completely EMPTY.

How odd, thought I.

Looking around on the 'net (I connect via cable modem, which thankfully
managed to be unscathed,) I found a solution (or so I thought) involving
corrupt adapers - OEM.inf files with 0 bytes in them. Went through that, so
that's no problem now. Tried again - Still nothing under Network
Connections, and Aol still gives me problems.

So, then I uninstalled SP2 entirely, grudgingly leaving the SP2-related
hotfixes alone (They whined that such-and-such programs wouldn't work, so I
left 'em there for now.) And this, did not help either. About this time, I
noticed my Device Manager under System Properties was EMPTY.

How unsettling, I thought.

Looking around the 'net further, I found a couple solutions - Make certain
Plug-n-Play was still active, for one. Checked that - It's set to Automatic,
and its status is Stated, so I surmise that is not the problem. Another one
involved Permissions - Again, this is not the problem either, as it's all set
up fine and there's nothing missing there. I also found the 'apropos'
malware suggestion... Followed the process to safe mode, installed the
program, Ran This.bat, and reboot back to Windows... Nada.

So, this leaves me to wondering... What the heck do I try now? Uninstalling
SP2's hotfixes? Go down the list of the other hotfixes, uninstalling one by
one 'til Device Manager returns and I can open Aol again? System Restore
seems to refuse to run, and I would -really- rather not create 8 restoration
discs so I can format the drive. Any help would be vastly appreciated!

Order the SP2 CD, back up your data and do a clean install and never,
ever, install AOHell on your machine again. After all, AOHell is
spearheading the move to charge a fee for emails.

Alias

 

[Guest]

Order the SP2 CD, back up your data and do a clean install and never,
ever, install AOHell on your machine again. After all, AOHell is
spearheading the move to charge a fee for emails.

Alias

Not an option. -Facepalms.- Aol is not the problem - SP2 is; as such, I
have no inclination toward dealing with it again. Ever. At all. Times
infinity.

Also, stating that Aol is 'teh suck' isn't too necessary, either - I'm well
aware of the fact, and getting rid of it isn't an option. Lets ignore Aol
for the time being and focus on the more important things, like a missing
Device Manager and AWOL Network Connections, please.

 

[Alias]

Not an option. -Facepalms.-

Not sure what you mean by "facepalms". A cursory look on Google
indicates it's some kind of game?

Aol is not the problem
LOL!

- SP2 is;

Not on any of my machines but I don't have AOL on any of them and never
will.

as such, I
have no inclination toward dealing with it again. Ever. At all. Times
infinity.

It's your machine but the reason we care is that your not having SP2 on
your machine is a threat to the rest of us. No man is an island and all
that jazz.

Also, stating that Aol is 'teh suck' isn't too necessary, either - I'm well
aware of the fact, and getting rid of it isn't an option. Lets ignore Aol
for the time being and focus on the more important things, like a missing
Device Manager and AWOL Network Connections, please.

Um, your problem is what's on your machine. AOHell is not going to help
that. Not installing SP 2 won't help either. The only true way to rid
yourself of AOL and to clear up the mess you've made is to do a clean
install, whether you think that's an option or not and whether you like
it or not.

Alias

 

[Infosink]

Rakoth wrote:
|| Order the SP2 CD, back up your data and do a clean install and never,
|| ever, install AOHell on your machine again. After all, AOHell is
|| spearheading the move to charge a fee for emails.
||
|| Alias
|
| Not an option. -Facepalms.- Aol is not the problem - SP2 is; as such, I
| have no inclination toward dealing with it again. Ever. At all. Times
| infinity.
|
| Also, stating that Aol is 'teh suck' isn't too necessary, either - I'm
| well aware of the fact, and getting rid of it isn't an option. Lets
| ignore Aol for the time being and focus on the more important things,
| like a missing Device Manager and AWOL Network Connections, please.

AOL is not the problem? LOL Since when?

 

[Plato]

Get rid of that pesky AOL for starters [no offence intended but you
need SP2 more than you do AOL ...]

Ho ho ho. Funny - But not too helpful. SP2 -still- killed My Networks and

So go on and keep using that horrid AOL and continue to have problems.

 

[Plato]

So on Tuesday I grudgingly decided to download and install WinXP's Service
Pack 2, after downloading a collection of updates; after SP2 was installed, I

Then the problems started. First I could no longer open Aol 9.0; it kept

Grin. Kudos MS

 

[Guest]

Folks... While I truly appreciate the 'roflcopter MS messd aOl ahahaha'
mentality, it, in truth, does not help a fraction. Honestly, it does not.
I've had the ruddy ISP for ten years over multiple systems and it has given
me no real grief. I've installed this cruddy SP and some hotfixes and in a
day my system has gone to relative pot.

It is -not- the problem in this particular issue. Entirely ignore the fact
I have it. -Sighs.-

 

[Roberto]

Well I was trying to be helpfull, FWIW I have never had a problem
applying SP2 to MANY machines.
But have seen much grief caused by using AOL, truth is SP2 is not the
root of your problem, you have conflicts there.
Do an inventry of your installed programs and remove what you don't
absolutely need, make sure you are virus and spyware free, I suggest
you do a repair install after doing this to make sure the OS is sound.
Then try applying SP2 again, also read the notes relevant to it.
Most problems associated with applying SP2 are caused by not
following the instructions from MS, EG not turning off AV before
applying SP2 etc etc.

rgds
Roberto