sp2 "the system cannot find the file specified"

[Guest]

I have a customer's older Gateway w/xp home sp2 in the shop that is having
problems that seem to be related to IE6 and/or activeX. Vanilla web pages
work ok, but when trying to logon to yahoo mail or hotmail, IE puts up "page
cannot be displayed - dns error." The same pages work fine in Firefox on the
same machine. Since they are trying to use MSN explorer, and it is basically
IE with a pretty face, this also does not work - won't login.

When I try to run windows update from IE, it pops up the yellow bar saying
that the activeX settings prevent web pages from running installed activex
controls. If I right or left click on the yellow bar, nothing happens, other
than the help bubble. The settings in Internet Options are all correct, with
the Internet security zone being relaxed to default.

It has been my experience that in order to fix this type of problem, IE has
to be reinstalled, at minimum. Since this system has been upgraded to sp2,
and since there is no way to reinstall just IE on an sp2 machine other than
reinstalling sp2, that is is what I tried. However, shortly after extracting
the files, it aborts with "Setup error - the system cannot find the file
specified." The same error occurs shortly after trying to uninstall sp2 from
add/remove programs.

I know about uninstalling sp2 from recovery console, but it is a real crap
shoot as to whether the machine will load windows after doing that, so that
would be a last resort. I can slipstream sp2 onto their xp cd and do a repair
reinstall, but was wondering if anyone had run into this sp2 setup error and
knows a way around it.

Too bad MS doesn't make activex available as a separate download...

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

I have a customer's older Gateway w/xp home sp2 in the shop that is
having problems that seem to be related to IE6 and/or activeX. Vanilla
web pages work ok, but when trying to logon to yahoo mail or hotmail,
IE puts up "page cannot be displayed - dns error." The same pages work
fine in Firefox on the same machine.

Since the same pages work fine with another browser, delete all cookies
and the temporary internet files as well. If this doesn't help, repost
that problem (via Newsreader) to
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.internetexplorer.general

When I try to run windows update from IE, it pops up the yellow bar
saying that the activeX settings prevent web pages from running
installed activex controls. If I right or left click on the yellow bar,
nothing happens, other than the help bubble. The settings in Internet
Options are all correct, with the Internet security zone being relaxed
to default.

This may happen when the ActiveX control "MUWebControlClass" (muweb.dll)
has been disabled. Check with IE > Tools > Manage Add-ons. If activating
resolves that issue, scan the system for malware. Otherwise, repost that
problem to the group as mentioned above.

It has been my experience that in order to fix this type of problem, IE
has to be reinstalled, at minimum.

That's an overkill in most cases. And although this may fix the obvious
problems, this does not clean a possible infested machine.

 

[Rock]

I have a customer's older Gateway w/xp home sp2 in the shop that is having
problems that seem to be related to IE6 and/or activeX. Vanilla web pages
work ok, but when trying to logon to yahoo mail or hotmail, IE puts up
"page
cannot be displayed - dns error." The same pages work fine in Firefox on
the
same machine. Since they are trying to use MSN explorer, and it is
basically
IE with a pretty face, this also does not work - won't login.

When I try to run windows update from IE, it pops up the yellow bar saying
that the activeX settings prevent web pages from running installed activex
controls. If I right or left click on the yellow bar, nothing happens,
other
than the help bubble. The settings in Internet Options are all correct,
with
the Internet security zone being relaxed to default.

It has been my experience that in order to fix this type of problem, IE
has
to be reinstalled, at minimum. Since this system has been upgraded to sp2,
and since there is no way to reinstall just IE on an sp2 machine other
than
reinstalling sp2, that is is what I tried. However, shortly after
extracting
the files, it aborts with "Setup error - the system cannot find the file
specified." The same error occurs shortly after trying to uninstall sp2
from
add/remove programs.

I know about uninstalling sp2 from recovery console, but it is a real crap
shoot as to whether the machine will load windows after doing that, so
that
would be a last resort. I can slipstream sp2 onto their xp cd and do a
repair
reinstall, but was wondering if anyone had run into this sp2 setup error
and
knows a way around it.

Too bad MS doesn't make activex available as a separate download...

Issues with windows update are best posted to the experts in the windows
update newsgroup.
http://www.microsoft.com/communitie...655-a5d5-4c07-bdb0-90caf9f30c42&lang=en&cr=us

General issues with Internet Explorer are best posted to the internet
explorer newsgroup.

IE General Newsgroup
http://www.microsoft.com/communitie...655-a5d5-4c07-bdb0-90caf9f30c42&lang=en&cr=us

Lastly it's a bit surprising to see a tech accessing these Usenet newsgroups
using the awful web interface instead of with a newsreader.

 

[mikeyhsd]

see this is another of your USEFUL posts.


to OP.

you should just write it off as a virtual spanking by our resident net nanny.
no one is allowed to post anything unless he approves of it in advance.
no one else is allowed to present help or advise unless he approves of it in advance.
he even feels it is necessary to post contradicting or correcting other mvps. excusing it as they did not present sufficient info. when it just getting his name in lights again.

if you do not post using PERFECT english you are wrong.
if you do not post using PERFECT grammar you are wrong.
if you do not post using perfect PUNCTUATION you are wrong.
and worse heaven forbid if you fail to post in the proper news group you are denied an answer but told to buzz off and go to the proper news group.

our little net nanny seems to forget there are many people who post here whose first language is not english. and have a lacking of understanding on how things should work. more tolerance should be given with the prime purpose being to HELP PEOPLE and not shame them or tell them where to go.




(e-mail address removed)

I have a customer's older Gateway w/xp home sp2 in the shop that is having
problems that seem to be related to IE6 and/or activeX. Vanilla web pages
work ok, but when trying to logon to yahoo mail or hotmail, IE puts up
"page
cannot be displayed - dns error." The same pages work fine in Firefox on
the
same machine. Since they are trying to use MSN explorer, and it is
basically
IE with a pretty face, this also does not work - won't login.

When I try to run windows update from IE, it pops up the yellow bar saying
that the activeX settings prevent web pages from running installed activex
controls. If I right or left click on the yellow bar, nothing happens,
other
than the help bubble. The settings in Internet Options are all correct,
with
the Internet security zone being relaxed to default.

It has been my experience that in order to fix this type of problem, IE
has
to be reinstalled, at minimum. Since this system has been upgraded to sp2,
and since there is no way to reinstall just IE on an sp2 machine other
than
reinstalling sp2, that is is what I tried. However, shortly after
extracting
the files, it aborts with "Setup error - the system cannot find the file
specified." The same error occurs shortly after trying to uninstall sp2
from
add/remove programs.

I know about uninstalling sp2 from recovery console, but it is a real crap
shoot as to whether the machine will load windows after doing that, so
that
would be a last resort. I can slipstream sp2 onto their xp cd and do a
repair
reinstall, but was wondering if anyone had run into this sp2 setup error
and
knows a way around it.

Too bad MS doesn't make activex available as a separate download...

Issues with windows update are best posted to the experts in the windows
update newsgroup.
http://www.microsoft.com/communitie...655-a5d5-4c07-bdb0-90caf9f30c42&lang=en&cr=us

General issues with Internet Explorer are best posted to the internet
explorer newsgroup.

IE General Newsgroup
http://www.microsoft.com/communitie...655-a5d5-4c07-bdb0-90caf9f30c42&lang=en&cr=us

Lastly it's a bit surprising to see a tech accessing these Usenet newsgroups
using the awful web interface instead of with a newsreader.

 

[Guest]

Since the same pages work fine with another browser, delete all cookies
and the temporary internet files as well. If this doesn't help, repost
that problem (via Newsreader) to
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.internetexplorer.general

Deleteing cookies/temp internet files had no effect...

This may happen when the ActiveX control "MUWebControlClass" (muweb.dll)
has been disabled. Check with IE > Tools > Manage Add-ons. If activating
resolves that issue, scan the system for malware. Otherwise, repost that
problem to the group as mentioned above.

MUWebControlClass does not show up in the Add-ons list, so this might be the
problem. How do you go about adding it back in?

That's an overkill in most cases. And although this may fix the obvious
problems, this does not clean a possible infested machine.

True, but since I remove adware/scareware/trojans/rootkits for a living, I'm
pretty sure that this machine is not infected. Sometimes, due to infections
or other problems, IE doesn't work correctly until it is reinstalled.

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

you should just write it off as a virtual spanking by our resident net nanny.

Nope. Redirecting the OP to specific groups with specific experts was
absolutely correct.

he even feels it is necessary to post contradicting or correcting other
= mvps.

Even MVPs can be mistaken although this is not often the case.

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

Deleteing cookies/temp internet files had no effect...

All WinXP systems around have IE7 installed rather than IE6 and this may
apply to the majority of the users within this group. Any further advice
will fail due to the different options regarding the specific settings.
Again, repost that problem to the experts of the IE group as mentioned
above.

MUWebControlClass does not show up in the Add-ons list, so this might
be the problem.

See above. You may either want to repost that problem to the IE group as
mentioned above or (via Newsreader) to this group:
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsupdate

Good luck.

 

[Guest]

Issues with windows update are best posted to the experts in the windows
update newsgroup.
http://www.microsoft.com/communitie...655-a5d5-4c07-bdb0-90caf9f30c42&lang=en&cr=us

General issues with Internet Explorer are best posted to the internet
explorer newsgroup.

IE General Newsgroup
http://www.microsoft.com/communitie...655-a5d5-4c07-bdb0-90caf9f30c42&lang=en&cr=us

Since MS made IE & ActiveX part of the OS instead of separate components,
and I don't yet know what else is affected, this seems to be a general OS
issue to me. Not sure that the IE problem is affecting the ability to
uninstall or reinstall sp2 either. I haven't yet tried the windows automatic
update, so don't know if there really is an issue with windows update, or if
it is just IE, which appears to be the case.

Lastly it's a bit surprising to see a tech accessing these Usenet newsgroups
using the awful web interface instead of with a newsreader.

I don't like newsreaders. If I'm not supposed to use the awful web
interface, why does it exist?

 

[Rock]

Since MS made IE & ActiveX part of the OS instead of separate components,
and I don't yet know what else is affected, this seems to be a general OS
issue to me. Not sure that the IE problem is affecting the ability to
uninstall or reinstall sp2 either. I haven't yet tried the windows
automatic
update, so don't know if there really is an issue with windows update, or
if
it is just IE, which appears to be the case.


I don't like newsreaders. If I'm not supposed to use the awful web
interface, why does it exist?

You got me why it exists. Probably to make it easier on folks who don't
know any better, but usually once someone obtains a bit of knowledge about
it, they go for a newsreader.

Suit yourself on where to post. I was just trying to suggest where you were
likely to get the best help. I see Detlev has pointed you to the IE
newsgroup as well. Good luck.

 

[Rock]

Nope. Redirecting the OP to specific groups with specific experts was
absolutely correct.


Even MVPs can be mistaken although this is not often the case.

Lol, I see you've come across my personal little yap dog. You might have
had experience with that sort at some time. You visit some folks who have
this little yap dog that chases after you through the house, yapping and
nipping at your heels. So you pick it up by the scruff, it pees on itself,
then you set it down and off it runs into the corner yelping.

He seems to post his drivel from time to time, get's slapped down by any
number of folks, goes away for awhile tail between his legs, then eventually
comes back. It's hard to understand why he wastes his energy this way.

 

[mikeyhsd]

when one has a small mind they can get hit by a mack and not realize it.

since you are in the habit of being rude and discourteous you need to be reminded of it regularly.

in most cases you have posted the answer to the question but

SIMPLY INTENTIONALLY DENY THE POSTER THE ANSWER

because you disapprove of the method, content or news groups the question is posted in.



(e-mail address removed)

Nope. Redirecting the OP to specific groups with specific experts was
absolutely correct.


Even MVPs can be mistaken although this is not often the case.

Lol, I see you've come across my personal little yap dog. You might have
had experience with that sort at some time. You visit some folks who have
this little yap dog that chases after you through the house, yapping and
nipping at your heels. So you pick it up by the scruff, it pees on itself,
then you set it down and off it runs into the corner yelping.

He seems to post his drivel from time to time, get's slapped down by any
number of folks, goes away for awhile tail between his legs, then eventually
comes back. It's hard to understand why he wastes his energy this way.

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

Lol, I see you've come across my personal little yap dog. You might
have had experience with that sort at some time.

Yep, you can find these watch dogs in the local groups as well. <bg>

 

[mikeyhsd]

so you also approve of the rude abusive behavior of denying a person an answer because he does not like the grammar, punctuation, english usage or wrong news group.
it has been done many times. and since he has posted the answer in other news groups, it is for sure that the answer is known.




(e-mail address removed)

Lol, I see you've come across my personal little yap dog. You might
have had experience with that sort at some time.

Yep, you can find these watch dogs in the local groups as well. <bg>

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

so you also approve of the rude abusive behavior of denying a person an
= answer because he does not like the grammar, punctuation, english
usage = or wrong news group.
it has been done many times. and since he has posted the answer in
other = news groups, it is for sure that the answer is known.

Nothing of that nonsense applies to this thread. You're nothing but a
Troll and more than off topic! EOD&EOT.

 

[Guest]

You got me why it exists. Probably to make it easier on folks who don't
know any better, but usually once someone obtains a bit of knowledge about
it, they go for a newsreader.

Suit yourself on where to post. I was just trying to suggest where you were
likely to get the best help. I see Detlev has pointed you to the IE
newsgroup as well. Good luck.

Ok, IE problem was solved by re-registering some dlls.

Now, back to the subject of the title of this post - what causes sp2 install
or uninstall to report "the system cannot find the file specified" ???

Is this the appropriate forum, or is there an sp2 forum?

 

[Rock]

Ok, IE problem was solved by re-registering some dlls.

Now, back to the subject of the title of this post - what causes sp2
install
or uninstall to report "the system cannot find the file specified" ???

Is this the appropriate forum, or is there an sp2 forum?

This would be the place for it. Sorry I don't have an answer for that
issue. You might want to create a new thread asking that one question.

 

[mikeyhsd]

install error could be caused by bad media or bad download.
does it tell you which file it is, if so you may be able to extract it from the media yourself.
or look for it using google.



(e-mail address removed)

You got me why it exists. Probably to make it easier on folks who don't
know any better, but usually once someone obtains a bit of knowledge about
it, they go for a newsreader.

Suit yourself on where to post. I was just trying to suggest where you were
likely to get the best help. I see Detlev has pointed you to the IE
newsgroup as well. Good luck.

Ok, IE problem was solved by re-registering some dlls.

Now, back to the subject of the title of this post - what causes sp2 install
or uninstall to report "the system cannot find the file specified" ???

Is this the appropriate forum, or is there an sp2 forum?

 

[Paul]

Hey Guys...

I recently came into owning an older Dell Latitude with XP Pro. This
laptop had no antivirus installed, and the previous user wanted to start
a worm farm. This thing was infected with the Winn32/tantos.m virus and
replicated itself 170 times in one instance. I installed AVG 9, ran it.
3 days later, Winn32/tantos came back 145 times. Installed rmtant.exe
from AVG, and seemed to work (so far).

Also, through Windows Update, over 45 updates, to include SP3 was
installed.

Anyway, this worm corrupted many files, mainly install/uninstall
programs. Upon desktop loading, I get this error message: *Windows
cannot find: C:\documents and settings\aaa\desktop\akvspf.exe *Make
sure..... blah, blah...

There is no "akvspf.exe" on the desktop.

The computer runs fine after clicking "ok".

Also, installed CCleaner, ran it. Ran the Registry cleaner, error
message still pops up.

Question one: "How do I stop Windows from looking for it?"
Question two: "Is there a fix for install/uninstall programs?" (for
instance, Limewire is installed, it can not be uninstalled or updated
due to corrupted installer files.)

I looked in gpedit and regedit as well as services, and didn't really
find anything related to "akvspf.exe"

When randomly named executables attempt to run at startup, those are
malware.

Your malware cleanup process, has removed "akvspf.exe". So the
dangerous bit, has already been removed.

But there is still a startup item, which the malware cleaner doesn't
remove. And that still attempts to reference the file. That doesn't
hurt anything, but it does give you some idea that there used to be a
"akvspf.exe" file, which is now gone. If there was such a thing
as a quarantine folder, the file might be in there. Or perhaps it
is completely deleted.

You may be able to locate the reference, with a program like Autoruns.
Or, using other tools, you can search the registry, search the known places
where startup files are supposed to go, and take care of the references
to the missing/deleted file from there. The advantage of Autoruns, is
it shows you all of the methods at the same time.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-ca/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx

Paul

 

[Paul]

Hey Paul -

It worked! Found it, deleted it, and never came back! Bravo! I also used
the program to fix another issue as far as an auto run.

HOWEVER..... I broke the laptop in the process..... (where's my dunce
cap)
I accidently de-selected the Windows.exe, because "My Computer" was now
popping up on the desktop. Ever realize you left your keys in the car just
as the locked door is closing? Well, that's me right now.

So.... I get the desktop, but no icons, task bar, nothing. No Windows.
Oops.

I have an XP Pro disk, SP2 (that didn't come with this laptop) and
Hiren's Boot CD 9.5 as well as the "Ultimate Boot CD" and a Dell
Reinstallation CD that came with a desktop.

Place hand on forehead, shake head, laugh.

Help?

My first problem is, when I look in Autoruns here, I don't see a "Windows.exe",
so I can't tell what you've done.

When I look in the Autoruns program, it supports two options. If you click a
tick box, that is a temporary disabling of an item. Autoruns may prepare some
backup information, which you could use as part of correcting a mistake you
made.

If you went to the menu and used the "Delete" option, I suspect that would be
more serious. As it may not leave any way to correct the mistake.

If you damage the registry, System Restore is your friend. If you have left
System Restore running, it has a copy of the registry in it. But since you've
been working on Malware, you may have been instructed at some point, to disable
System Restore, to clear out the restore points and start from scratch. If that
is the case, again, you could be screwed.

Recovering from registry damage is detailed here.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

That process uses the Recovery Console. What you're doing, is removing the current
busted registry, and moving an "empty" registry into place. The "empty" registry
is not a "keeper" and is only an intermediate step to recovery. If the computer
is bootable with the newly installed "empty" set of five registry files, then
you can use System Restore and select a restore point, that has a known good
registry in it. You'd select a date far enough back, where you know the
registry is OK. The purpose of that procedure, is to give you access to
System Restore, and do a restore without further file hacking.

So for that two step method to work, System Restore has to be working, and there
has to be at least one Restore Point in there with an intact copy of the
registry. If System Restore is not available, an "empty" registry is not
going to be of much good to you, since there is nothing in there which
corresponds to all your installed programs.

If the damage you've done, involves Autoruns moving some file called
"Windows.exe" into a backup folder, you'd have to figure out where the
file is, then move it back. The Recovery Console has rudimentary tools in
it, to make repairs, but it would not be my favorite place to work.

If I need to do some serious changes to my C: drive, I boot a Linux
LiveCD, as I can surf the web (Firefox), as well as search folders
for stuff, and move stuff around. That's how I fix things here, as a
home user. If the only tool I had was the Recovery Console, I'd probably
be completely bald from hair loss

There is another suggestion here, to prepare a BartPE CD, which is
more powerful than the Linux LiveCD, but means a bit of preparation
work to build one.

http://forum.sysinternals.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1374&PN=4&TPN=1

Autoruns has its own support forum here, which is where I found that link.

http://forum.sysinternals.com/forum_topics.asp?FID=16

I don't think any of these procedures is exactly easy. In this
one, they cover the case of someone who has disabled their "userinit.exe",
which wouldn't allow the desktop to even sit there.

http://forum.sysinternals.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7672

*******

The first part of getting help, is figuring out exactly what you've done.
I don't have a Windows.exe here, so perhaps you could elaborate.

Paul