Start Button and Side Menu Graphic (SE) (W98)

[gt2k]

Here's a funny one for ya:

<a target="_blank" href=http://www.thetesttube.com/gt/start.bmp>http://www.thetesttube.com/gt/start.bmp</a>

I've tried several different things, reloading drivers, directx, windows, changing all kinds of settings, and still I haven't been able to get a handle on it.

I've searched through the forums to see if I could find an answer before buggin' ya'll with this, but wasn't able to find anything, the link above contains a screeny of the problem, figured a picture would help.

[Mosaic1]

Try this. Use SFC to extract a fresh copy of Explorer.exe from the Install CD to C:\windows
Here's a link in the event you are not familiar with System File checker.
<a target="_blank" href=http://users.erols.com/dj-paulen/ss/>http://users.erols.com/dj-paulen/ss/</a>

[gt2k]

Actually, that's one of the things I've already tried (sorry, forgot to mention that), I replaced that file with the one off my cd, and I also replace a Setupx.exe from the cd that SFC told me was corrupt.

[gt2k]

More "interesting" distortions while browsing the forums just now...

<a target="_blank" href=http://www.thetesttube.com/gt/untitled1.bmp>http://www.thetesttube.com/gt/untitled1.bmp</a>

[Mosaic1]

SFC likes to tell you that file is corrupt. It's ok you changed it, but it was probably OK.

You say you tried reinstalling Drivers. Did you boot to SAfe Mode and uninstall the Video ADapter and then let Windows Reinstall it? Have you tried to reduce Hardware acceleration. IF you do that and the problem goes away, you need a Driver Update.

[Mosaic1]

Also, how are your resources running?

And what else do you have running in the background?

It might be a good idea to go here:
<a target="_blank" href=http://home.earthlink.net/~rmbox/Reticulated/Toys.html>http://home.earthlink.net/~rmbox/Reticulated/Toys.html</a>

Download Startup log. Unzip it and run . It will produce a text file. Copy and paste the contents into a post here.

[gt2k]

Resources are doing just fine, have 256 megs of pc133 ram, sure it ain't the greatest nowadays, but it still gets the job done.

And as for background apps, the only things running on bootup are the windows standards, taskmanager, systray, and explorer.

I'll get that start up log creater and see if it produces anything of interest.

[gt2k]

Here's the log file, just incase it comes in handy.

StartUp Log Index

1. HKLM Run
2. HKCU Run
3. HKLM RunOnce
4. HKCU RunOnce
5. HKLM RunServices
6. HKLM RunServicesOnce
7. WIN.INI file
8. SYSTEM.INI file
9. AUTOEXEC.BAT file
10. StartUp folder
11. All Users StartUp
12. Misc. StartUp Configurations

__________________________________________________ ________________________
__________________________________________________ ________________________

The following is a list of your current Start-Ups
__________________________________________________ ________________________
__________________________________________________ ________________________

1. HKLM Run - Registry

[RegPath]
"StartUp"


[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Run]
"ScanRegistry"="C:\\WINDOWS\\scanregw.exe /autorun"
"TaskMonitor"="C:\\WINDOWS\\taskmon.exe"
"SystemTray"="SysTray.Exe"
"LoadPowerProfile"="Rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,LoadCurrentPwrScheme"
"NvCplDaemon"="RUNDLL32.EXE NvQTwk,NvCplDaemon initialize"
"LoadQM"="loadqm.exe"
"CriticalUpdate"="C:\\WINDOWS\\SYSTEM\\wucrtupd.exe -startup"


================================================== ========================
__________________________________________________ ________________________

2. HKCU Run - Registry

[RegPath]
"StartUp"


[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Run]


================================================== ========================
__________________________________________________ ________________________

3. HKLM RunOnce - Registry

[RegPath]
"StartUp"


[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\RunOnce]


================================================== ========================
__________________________________________________ ________________________

4. HKCU RunOnce - Registry

[RegPath]
"StartUp"


[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\RunOnce]


================================================== ========================
__________________________________________________ ________________________

5. HKLM RunServices - Registry

[RegPath]
"StartUp"


[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\RunServices]
"LoadPowerProfile"="Rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,LoadCurrentPwrScheme"
"SchedulingAgent"="mstask.exe"
"Hidserv"="Hidserv.exe run"


================================================== ========================
__________________________________________________ ________________________

6. HKLM RunServicesOnce - Registry

[RegPath]
"StartUp"


[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\RunServicesOnce]


================================================== ========================
__________________________________________________ ________________________

7. WIN.INI File - (c:\windows\win.ini)

Your win.ini run/load lines should look like run= and load= exclusively.
There should be nothing to the right of the equal signs.


These are the run and load lines in your WIN.INI file

run=

load=

================================================== ========================
__________________________________________________ ________________________

8. SYSTEM.INI File - (c:\windows\system.ini)

Your system.ini shell line should look like shell=Explorer.exe exclusively.
You should only see Explorer.exe following the equal sign.


This is the shell line in your SYSTEM.INI file

shell=Explorer.exe

================================================== ========================
__________________________________________________ ________________________

9. AUTOEXEC.BAT File - (c:\autoexec.bat)

(Some trojans have been known to start from this file)


These are your program startups and set paths in your autoexec.bat file



================================================== ========================
__________________________________________________ ________________________

10. StartUp Folder - (c:\windows\start menu\programs\startup)

Shortcuts to any program will automatically start when placed here.


These are the shortcuts located in your StartUp folder

*(No start-ups found)*

================================================== ========================
__________________________________________________ ________________________

11. All Users Folder - (c:\windows\all users\start menu\programs\startup)

Shortcuts to any program will automatically start when placed here.


These are the shortcuts located in your All Users StartUp folder


*(No start-ups found)*

================================================== ========================
__________________________________________________ ________________________

12. Miscellaneous StartUp Configurations

-============================-
Registry StartUp Directories
-============================-

Should show the Start Menu StartUp and All Users StartUp directories

.................................................. ...................

[1] HKCU - Shell Folders

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Exp lorer\Shell Folders

"Startup"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Start Menu\\Programs\\StartUp"

.................................................. ...................

[2] HKCU - User Shell Folders

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Exp lorer\User Shell Folders


.................................................. ...................

[3] HKLM - Shell Folders

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\exp lorer\Shell Folders

"Common Startup"="C:\\WINDOWS\\All Users\\Start Menu\\Programs\\StartUp"

.................................................. ...................

[4] HKLM - User Shell Folders

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\exp lorer\User Shell Folders


.................................................. ...................

-=======================-
Registry Shell Spawning
-=======================-

Open Commands for Executable File Types

@="\"%1\" %*"
(.exe file - RegPath = HKCR\exefile\shell\open\command)

@="\"%1\" %*"
(.com file - RegPath = HKCR\comfile\shell\open\command)

@="\"%1\" /S"
(.scr file - RegPath = HKCR\scrfile\shell\open\command)

@="\"%1\" %*"
(.bat file - RegPath = HKCR\batfile\shell\open\command)

@="\"%1\" %*"
(.pif file - RegPath = HKCR\piffile\shell\open\command)

@="C:\\WINDOWS\\SYSTEM\\MSHTA.EXE \"%1\" %*"
(.hta file - RegPath = HKCR\htafile\shell\open\command)

-=========================-
HKLM RunOnceEx - Registry
-=========================-


[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\RunOnceEx]


-=========================-
HKU (.Default) Run - Registry
-=========================-


[HKEY_USERS\.Default\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Cur rentVersion\Run]


-==============================-
HKU (.Default) RunOnce - Registry
-==============================-


[HKEY_USERS\.Default\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Cur rentVersion\RunOnce]


-================================-
StubPaths - Registry (Partial Listing)
-================================-

(Please see the StubPath.txt on your desktop for complete listing)

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components


"OldStubPath"="C:\\WINDOWS\\SYSTEM\\ie4uinit.exe"
"RealStubPath"="C:\\WINDOWS\\SYSTEM\\IE4UINIT.EXE"
"StubPath"="C:\\WINDOWS\\msnmgsr1.exe"
"StubPath"=""
"StubPath"="C:\\WINDOWS\\COMMAND\\sulfnbk.exe /L"
"OldStubPath"="\"C:\\PROGRA~1\\OUTLOO~1\\setup50.exe\" /APP:OE /CALLER:WIN9X /user /install"
"RealStubPath"="\"C:\\PROGRA~1\\OUTLOO~1\\setup50.exe\" /APP:OE /CALLER:IE50 /user /install"
"OldStubPath"="\"C:\\PROGRA~1\\OUTLOO~1\\setup50.exe\" /APP:WAB /CALLER:WIN9X /user /install"
"RealStubPath"="\"C:\\PROGRA~1\\OUTLOO~1\\setup50.exe\" /APP:WAB /CALLER:IE50 /user /install"
"StubPath"="C:\\WINDOWS\\SYSTEM\\updcrl.exe -e -u C:\\WINDOWS\\SYSTEM\\verisignpub1.crl"

-=================-
WININIT.BAK File - (c:\windows\wininit.bak)
(name) (type) (size)(modified)(time)
wininit bak 80 04-09-02 9:12p
-=================-

[rename]
NUL=C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\PFTC24~1\SETUP.EXE
NUL=C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\PFTC24~1
-=====================-
Screen Saver Settings (Possible system.ini start-up)
-=====================-


================================================== ========================
__________________________________________________ ________________________

- Supplemental Environment Information -

TMP=C:\WINDOWS\TEMP
TEMP=C:\WINDOWS\TEMP
winbootdir=C:\WINDOWS
PATH=C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND
COMSPEC=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND.COM
windir=C:\WINDOWS

File - c:\windows\Wininit.bak
File - c:\windows\deletefi.ini

================================================== ========================
__________________________________________________ ________________________

- End -

[Mosaic1]

Nothing jumps out at me.

Did you uninstall something today?
Your wininit.bak indicates you may have done.
these lines:
[rename]
NUL=C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\PFTC24~1\SETUP.EXE
NUL=C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\PFTC24~1
You probably have considering the problems you have been having.
Open Msconfig and click the startup tab:

I would uncheck loadqm This is a possible privacy issue and is not needed in startups. It ia realted to MSn network or Msmessanger if you have that. It supposedly looks for your contacts online.

Also this:
NvCplDaemon"="RUNDLL32.EXE NvQTwk,NvCplDaemon initialize This loads a systray icon to allow you to change display settings on the fly. It isn't necessary but is your choice.
CriticalUpdate"="C:\\WINDOWS\\SYSTEM\\wucrtupd.exe -startup" Again your choice, but I check Windows Update myself and don't use this.

mstask.exe Thatr would run along with the critical update. If you uncheck Critical update, uncheck this too. Unless you are using it to schedule something else. It is a Resource Hog, though.


Have you checked your refresh rates? Are you using 32 bit color?

You might take that down to 16 bit if you are.

[gt2k]

This is a fairly new install of 98, about 2 days to be exact, I've been through msconfig already to get rid of the unwanted things at startup.

And as for the refresh and bit rates, I've had it set to optimal for starters, then the lowest of 60, and the highest of 75, with no changes, for the colors, 16, 24, 32, don't matter either.

And as for resolutions, 8x6, 10x7, 12x9, makes no difference there either. But I have noticed, that after a reboot, before the glitche has shown up, if I change my resolution, it'll usually show up afterwards, but the time I notice it showing up the most is right after playing a graphics-intense game.

I really appreciate your help so far in this matter, and am still open to suggestions.

[Mosaic1]

Is it possible you have a heat issue with your video card? Have you ever opened the case after shutting down and checked to see if the card was hot? Be careful not to burn yourself, and unplug the computer before opening the case. Take precautions against static electricity. (I have a feeling you probably know this, but I fell the need to mention it )

The possiblity of another fan to cool it off might help.

[gt2k]

Oh boy, don't even get me started on the heat issues :)

I think I've finally fixed that stuff, after getting a new heatsink for the processor, and I also installed a pci-slot exhaust fan 2 slots underneath my video card to help with it's cooling.

I really don't think my video card has any cooling problems, otherwise I don't think I'd be able to play some of the games I play occasionally, for the amount of time that I sometimes run them for.

[Mosaic1]

That about covers the list. I don't have any other ideas.

[Smitty]

gt2k

FWIW

Some poster's in Newsgroups resolved display problems by disabling following Nvidia utility...maybe try unchecking in Msconfig

"NvCplDaemon"="RUNDLL32.EXE NvQTwk,NvCplDaemon initialize"


Smitty