Mike, I've just spent an exciting couple of hours <g> going through the System File Checker.
I now have 106 files backed-up in \windows\helpdesk\sfc which were, generally, older that the original W98SE files. I have left significant advances in either date or version number alone and assumed that they are valid updates. They were some for which I could not find the original file either in c:\cabs or on the W98SE installation disk. There were also some where I used my discretion (or took a flyer, if you prefer) and made an executive decision that the current file "looked" right! The system still boots and has allowed me to write this so I don't seem to have done anything too bad. I'll try R:Base for a few days and see what difference, if any, has been made. Thanks for your help, Regards, Alastair. ----- Original Message ----- From: "MikeB" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "RBASE-L Mailing List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2003 6:30 PM Subject: [RBASE-L] - Re: Setting Scratch, scratch files and R:Base crashes > As I said, on the NT4 boxes, adherence to the HCL is required for reliability. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Alastair Burr" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "RBASE-L Mailing List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2003 12:22 PM > Subject: [RBASE-L] - Re: Setting Scratch, scratch files and R:Base crashes > > > > Thanks, if a number of programs were crashing regularly I'd re-install the > > O/S. But I'm not getting an unacceptable number of crashes from other > > programs - only R:Base. However, since changing the .DAT extension for an > > output & then run file, and removing the srcatch setting even R:Base is > > behaving _much_ more acceptably. This doesn't, to my mind, point to a > > problem with my machine. > > > > That said, I've got nothing better to do <g> so I'll go through the files > > via the file checker and replace those that I think could be "wrong" - even > > if it means two or three runs through. Presumable the Microsoft on-line > > update utility will then replace any that it thinks are wrong next time it > > does its check. > > > > If I remember correctly on NT the service pack read-me insisted that a > > re-patch should be done after new software was added but, when I was at > > work, we had NT servers that crashed regularly and often and all they did > > (more or less) was run Lotus Notes. I don't miss them at all! > > > > Thanks & regards, > > Alastair. > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "MikeB" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: "RBASE-L Mailing List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2003 3:36 PM > > Subject: [RBASE-L] - Re: Setting Scratch, scratch files and R:Base crashes > > > > > > > You assume wrong. The changed files are system files that other software > > has replaced with their > > > own (which may or may not be the same as the original). That is the > > purpose of this utility. It's > > > a 'manual' execution of what is automatic in WinXP, to protect and persist > > the files that Windows > > > relies upon for its' own proper execution. If I had a machine that (after > > ruling out hardware, nic, > > > ram, etc) continually crashed running programs, I would delete the > > partition, and reinstall the OS > > > to its virgin state and adhere to a practice of protecting the files that > > maintain its installed > > > state. BTW, Updates are likely security issues and not OS fixes, but > > after you do a virgin install, > > > you can run the utility and then run all Microsoft Updates available, then > > rerun the Utility and > > > "accept" the microsoft files to the approved list, then consider that > > state as the point of > > > beginning. On my old NT boxes, I always reinstalled the Service Packs > > after installing new > > > software. I am not kidding when I say the Server Has Never locked up, > > blue screened, and except > > > when there is sever electrical storms(we are outside the city and our Elec > > utility goes down > > > frequently, so I don't risk some snafu during the night and shut down > > occasionally), it never gets > > > rebooted. The NT development machine during debugging sessions is another > > issue as you would > > > expect, but never during ordinary software execution. > > > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: "Alastair Burr" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > To: "RBASE-L Mailing List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2003 1:56 AM > > > Subject: [RBASE-L] - Re: Setting Scratch, scratch files and R:Base crashes > > > > > > > > > > I've done this before and I know that it comes up with a large number of > > > > changed files but I have assumed that because Microsoft automatically > > > > updates and applies patches on-line that it would be unwise to revert > > them > > > > all to the originals. > > > > > > > > Have you any guidance? > > > > > > > > Regards, > > > > Alastair. > > > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > From: "MikeB" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > To: "RBASE-L Mailing List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2003 8:09 PM > > > > Subject: [RBASE-L] - Re: Setting Scratch, scratch files and R:Base > > crashes > > > > > > > > > > > > > Just for kicks, start win98>Start Button>Programs>Accessories>System > > > > Tools>System Information[starts > > > > > applet]>Tools>System File Checker[starts subapplet]. I would like to > > see > > > > the results. It may > > > > > "enlighten" you. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > > From: "Alastair Burr" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > > To: "RBASE-L Mailing List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > > Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2003 1:21 PM > > > > > Subject: [RBASE-L] - Re: Setting Scratch, scratch files and R:Base > > crashes > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Yes, I know a lot of people have said the same thing but if I remove > > it > > > > I > > > > > > lose data more often than not when R:Base crashes. As I said to > > Mike, > > > > > > usually, I can recover R:Base enough with CrashGuard to save my > > work. > > > > > > > > > > > > The real crux is that R:Base really should not crash - full stop. > > > > > > > > > > > > According the C/G stats: R:Base has crashed 947 time since I last > > reset > > > > the > > > > > > system on 06/06/2002. > > > > > > The next biggest offender is Wordpad with 44 - but I know why that > > > > happens > > > > > > and I can control it. > > > > > > After that, Irfan viewer with 15 - and that usually crashes > > > > because/after > > > > > > R:Base crashes and I can't recover it. > > > > > > Everything else is less than 10. > > > > > > > > > > > > Regards, > > > > > > Alastair. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > > > From: "David Billing" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > > > To: "RBASE-L Mailing List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > > > Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2003 2:05 PM > > > > > > Subject: [RBASE-L] - Re: Setting Scratch, scratch files and R:Base > > > > crashes > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hi Alaster, > > > > > > > > > > > > > > My experience with "CrashGuard" was similar to Mike's, but I > > started > > > > with > > > > > > > Win98. I believe even Symantec got the message and doesn't market > > it > > > > any > > > > > > > more. It didn't come with my new System Works 2003. I'd get rid > > of > > > > it if > > > > > > I > > > > > > > were you. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Dave Billing > > > > > > > Tall Tree Business Solutions > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > > > > From: "MikeB" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > > > > To: "RBASE-L Mailing List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > > > > Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2003 1:56 PM > > > > > > > Subject: [RBASE-L] - Re: Setting Scratch, scratch files and R:Base > > > > crashes > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I thought "CrashGuard" cause more trouble than any piece of > > utility > > > > > > > software I ever installed. That > > > > > > > > was early Win95 when I installed it and removed it very shortly > > > > > > > thereafter... > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > > > > > From: "Alastair Burr" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > > > > > To: "RBASE-L Mailing List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > > > > > Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2003 7:16 AM > > > > > > > > Subject: [RBASE-L] - Setting Scratch, scratch files and R:Base > > > > crashes > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I'd like to sound out the list's views on what goes on with > > > > scratch > > > > > > > files: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > As you all know, I've had endless problems with R:Base > > crashing > > > > since > > > > > > > > > changing from Dos to Windows 2 years ago. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > You also all know that a couple of things have recently made > > > > > > significant > > > > > > > > > differences to the crashes, namely: > > > > > > > > > 1) Changing a file extension from .DAT to .$$$. > > > > > > > > > 2) Removing the SET SCRATCH C:\TEMP setting. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Currently, I still get a few crashes but nowhere near as many. > > > > > > However, > > > > > > > I > > > > > > > > > noticed today that CrashGuard - yes, I'm still using it - > > notified > > > > a > > > > > > > problem > > > > > > > > > with a .$$$ scratch file in a directory where I didn't think > > there > > > > > > > should be > > > > > > > > > a scratch file. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I have 5 databases in 5 sub-directories of D:\DBFiles. > > > > > > > > > My start-up procedure goes to one of the sub-directories and > > opens > > > > its > > > > > > > > > database and a form. > > > > > > > > > (This is my controlling database that contains details of the > > > > other 4 > > > > > > > DBs > > > > > > > > > and backups, maintenance, etc., etc..) > > > > > > > > > The form, basically, has buttons that allow access to the > > other 4 > > > > > > > databases. > > > > > > > > > The app that is running uses QUIT TO to change to apps that > > run > > > > the > > > > > > > other 4 > > > > > > > > > DBs. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Generally, this all works perfectly well - except for the > > > > crashes... > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Before I removed the scratch setting of C:\TEMP I assumed that > > all > > > > the > > > > > > > > > scratch files would always be in C:\TEMP. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Having removed it I assumed that the scratch files would be in > > the > > > > > > > > > respective directories for each database as and when a > > database is > > > > > > > opened. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > CrashGuard had a problem with the .$$$ in D:\DBFiles - not one > > of > > > > the > > > > > > > > > sub-directories. My short-cut has its start-in directory as > > > > D:\DBFiles > > > > > > > but a > > > > > > > > > database is not opened until the app changes directory to one > > of > > > > the > > > > > > > > > sub-directories. It was set that way originally because I > > often > > > > opened > > > > > > > > > R:Base to work on apps rather than to _run_ the apps. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > If anybody has had any similar experiences or problems with > > > > > > > sub-directories > > > > > > > > > I'd be very interested to hear how they were overcome. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Thanks & regards, > > > > > > > > > Alastair. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ---------------------------------- > > > > > > > > > A D B Burr, > > > > > > > > > St. Albans, UK. > > > > > > > > > ---------------------------------- > > > > > > > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > > > > ---------------------------------- > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
