Unwanted Services

[red kite]

Hi,
While trying to troubleshoot something else I noticed 3 errors in my system
log relating to services unable to start. One of the messages is -

"The Winfast TV200XP Expert WDM TVtuner service failed to start due to the
following error:
The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or because it
has no device associated with it"

The other two are also Winfast services.

The winfast TV card failed 3 years ago - the software has been removed -
there is no trace of Winfast on the system that I can find. No winfast
services are listed in the list of services.

While this doesn't seem to be doing any harm - I'd like to clean it out

Any ideas would be gratly appreciated

TIA
Red

System is XP SP2

 

[Malke]

Hi,
While trying to troubleshoot something else I noticed 3 errors in my system
log relating to services unable to start. One of the messages is -

"The Winfast TV200XP Expert WDM TVtuner service failed to start due to the
following error:
The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or because it
has no device associated with it"

The other two are also Winfast services.

The winfast TV card failed 3 years ago - the software has been removed -
there is no trace of Winfast on the system that I can find. No winfast
services are listed in the list of services.

While this doesn't seem to be doing any harm - I'd like to clean it out

You have something in startup that is calling the Winfast stuff. Of
course you wouldn't see anything in services because you uninstalled the
card, but apparently something is still calling the WDM TVtuner service.
Do clean-boot troubleshoot to find out what it is so you can stop it:

Clean boot in Windows XP - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353
Clean-boot advanced troubleshooting in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316434
How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310560


Malke

 

[red kite]

Malke
Thanks for the suggention
Have clean booted with only Windows Services
Still get the three error messages.

Clean booted again, but without the Windows Services - that didn't help
because of course I got no log.

So it would seem that the Winfast services are being started by Windows
Services.

Any ideas where to look next ?

Red

 

[philo]

Hi,
While trying to troubleshoot something else I noticed 3 errors in my system
log relating to services unable to start. One of the messages is -

"The Winfast TV200XP Expert WDM TVtuner service failed to start due to the
following error:
The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or because it
has no device associated with it"

The other two are also Winfast services.

The winfast TV card failed 3 years ago - the software has been removed -
there is no trace of Winfast on the system that I can find. No winfast
services are listed in the list of services.

While this doesn't seem to be doing any harm - I'd like to clean it out

Any ideas would be gratly appreciated

TIA
Red

System is XP SP2

Run msconfig and see if it's still listed in startup...
if so , uncheck it ouf course

 

[Malke]

Malke
Thanks for the suggention
Have clean booted with only Windows Services
Still get the three error messages.

Clean booted again, but without the Windows Services - that didn't help
because of course I got no log.

So it would seem that the Winfast services are being started by Windows
Services.

Any ideas where to look next ?

No, because I can't see your computer. Use AutoRuns (free) by the
Sysinternals team (now at Microsoft) to see what is set to run at
startup. *Something* is and *something* is calling the WinTV stuff. Also
make sure you look in Device Manager to make sure the hardware is really
gone as far as the system is concerned. Tick the box that says "Show
Hidden Devices" to be sure.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/default.mspx


Malke

 

[red kite]

Hi
Thanks for suggestions so far
I have done clean start, and found the unwanted services were starting with
Windows Services.
I have just spent a merry couple of hours working my way through the Windows
Services. I have finally narrowed it down to WMI. When I prevent WMI - no
Winfast, enable WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation)and there they are.
Have done some research on WMI, and it seems to provide an api into windows,
scripts can also be written to modify the registry - but am now approaching
neck depth.

Can you guide me in any closer ?

TIA

Red

 

[Malke]

Hi
Thanks for suggestions so far
I have done clean start, and found the unwanted services were starting with
Windows Services.
I have just spent a merry couple of hours working my way through the Windows
Services. I have finally narrowed it down to WMI. When I prevent WMI - no
Winfast, enable WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation)and there they are.
Have done some research on WMI, and it seems to provide an api into windows,
scripts can also be written to modify the registry - but am now approaching
neck depth.

What did Device Manager show?


Malke

 

[Gerry]

Red

Autoruns was recommended by another user. Msconfig only covers some
things starting!

With Autoruns a useful feature of the programme is that you can right
click an item and select Search Online to get information about the item
selected.

WMI is not your problem. It's an intermediary.
http://www.theeldergeek.com/windows_management_instrumentation.htm

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Poprivet]

Excellent links, Malke; those should be considered required reading by all
since they include a lot of detail for XP.

 

[red kite]

Hi again

Many thanks for the suggestions

I am impressed with Auroruns - but cannot see Winfast listed anywhere.
Although I will spend a little time getting to know Autoruns.

I've been steadily cleaning out Device Manager, a lot of hidden devices but
they only seem to be from plugging and unplugging various USB HDD etc. No
sign of a TV card.

Thanks again

Red

 

[Daave]

Hi again

Many thanks for the suggestions

I am impressed with Auroruns - but cannot see Winfast listed anywhere.
Although I will spend a little time getting to know Autoruns.

The startup process calling for it must be called something else then.
Msconfig (and if not, then surely Autoruns) should tell you what it is.
I recommend going to http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php .

Actually, I would use Google to search sysinfo.org for Winfast:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Winfast+site:sysinfo.org

Those links list the following processes that are somehow involved with
Winfast:

Wfwiz.exe
Rundll32.exe
Wf2kcpl.dll
DllLoadDefaultSettings
DTVSchdl.exe
WF2k.exe
wfcpl.dll
DllLoadGammaRampSettings
wftask.dll
WFDllLoadDefaultSettings

Good luck and happy hunting!

 

[Sam Hobbs]

I would use regedit to search the registry. Be careful when using regedit of
course, but if you only search and don't change anything you are safe. You
could search for the string "Winfast TV200XP Expert WDM TVtuner" and if that
is found then you probably have found something that is at least a big clue.
If that is not found then I would try strings uch as "Winfast" or "TV200XP".
You probably won't find answers but you might find a big clue.