No more icons or taskbar after update 823980

[Thérèse Hanquet]

Hi,

Once again, in hope somebody may answer...

Since mid-July (thus before discovery of Blaster worm) I have made numerous
attempts to install critical update KB823980 under Windows 2000 (SP4).

Each time the scenario is the same. Patch installs fine, but after reboot:
- no more icon on desktop
- no more task bar
- only way to run *some* applications: through the Run function of the Task
manager (others won't run at all)
- no way to kill processes in the task manager
- extremely slow functionning
- Alt+tab shows one hidden window: NetDDE.

Same behaviour when I boot in Safe mode.
Each time the only way to restore correct functioning is to replace the 3
new DLL installed by the patch by the 3 old ones - this cures instantly all
problems.

I don't have any of the current worms / viruses (checked with McAfee's
Stinger, in the task manager, in the registry etc.). I have tried closing
all applications and even uninstalling VirusScan before applying the patch -
to no avail.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Thérèse

 

[Thérèse Hanquet]

Additional information:

Looking in the Event viewer, for each aborted startup, there was this
message:
"Event Type: Error
Event Source: EventSystem
Event Category: Event Service
Event ID: 4097
Date: 16/07/2003
Time: 22:23:39
User: N/A
Computer: DESKPRO
Description:
The COM+ Event System detected a bad return code during its internal
processing. HRESULT was 8000FFFF from line 137 of .\service.cpp. Please
contact Microsoft Product Support Services to report this error."
Maybe this can bring some more light?

Thérèse

 

[Paul Dietrich]

Thérèse,
Does installing the patch while in safe mode help?

 

[Mark V]

Thérèse Hanquet wrote in

Hi Paul,

Thanks for answering! I was beginning to wonder whether this
problem was beyond help.
No, I just tried now and it does not change anything to install
the patch in safe mode.
Actually, the patch apparently just replaces 3 DLL, thus I fear
that the problem comes from the inside of one of those
(non-compatibility with something on my system, but what?).
I just hope the new patch / solution promised for today will solve
the problem.
Thanks anyway

I don't know but have a thought. If you don't need Network DDE (and
you probably don't) try stopping the Service and setting it to Manual.
Just an idea with no supporting evidence.

 

[Paul Dietrich]

Hmmmm.... Perhaps you should verify your system is in good working order
first:

try:
chdsdk /r /f
sfc /scannow

Also, close as many programs and processes as you can get away with.
Stop (do not disable) several services.
Deactivate your virus scanner.
Deactivate your firewall.

And then try yet again.