You are welcome. But remember, the trick to keeping windows happy is to protect the system files at all costs. On Win 3.1, I was of the habit of backing up all the system files and all the INI files prior to any software upgrade or install. I can't tell you how many times I copied all the backup files to the original locations and "rolled back" the upgrade or install, saving my butt. The way windows does this now is the same intention, just not as crude as my old method....
Windows almost became as stable as unix/linux when microsoft and ibm embarked on OS1. There were major disagreements over backward compatibility and support of the plethora of dos/win apps. Originally, OS1 was to have protected filesystem. When you install an app on a unix/linux box, you do an image install. This means Every File associated with that application goes into its' own directory. There are no shared files. This keeps the system files from being bloused by some poorly written/designed software. Winnt was just the outgrowth of the ms/ibm split. Winnt kept the entire dos subsystem and the OS2 subsystem as well as 32 bit windows. I suppose if the public and business sector hadn't demanded the new OS support all the old stuff, Windows would be OS5 or OS6 or some such and we wouldn't be faced with all the machinations to keep the OS healthy. XP does a pretty good job of protecting the filesystem and I expect the next couple of iterations of windows will improve as well. If we live long enough, we probably will see no practical difference between any OS in terms of reliability, just what the individual selects in terms of what accomplishes the work he/she wants to do.... Anyway - Have a good day, Mike ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alastair Burr" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "RBASE-L Mailing List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, July 26, 2003 10:27 AM Subject: [RBASE-L] - Re: Setting Scratch, scratch files and R:Base crashes > 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] > > > > > > > > > > ---------------------------------- > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- RBASE-L > ================================================ > TO POST A MESSAGE TO ALL MEMBERS: > Send a plain text email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > (Don't use any of these words as your Subject: > INTRO, SUBSCRIBE, UNSUBSCRIBE, SEARCH, > REMOVE, SUSPEND, RESUME, DIGEST, RESEND, HELP) > ================================================ > TO SEE MESSAGE POSTING GUIDELINES: > Send a plain text email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > In the message SUBJECT, put just one word: INTRO > ================================================ > TO UNSUBSCRIBE: > Send a plain text email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > In the message SUBJECT, put just one word: UNSUBSCRIBE > ================================================ > TO SEARCH ARCHIVES: > Send a plain text email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > In the message SUBJECT, put just one word: SEARCH-n > (where n is the number of days). In the message body, > place any > text to search for. > ================================================ > >
