Windows applications can't spawn subtasks

  • Thread starter Thread starter Steve
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Steve

I'm having a problem that would be a complete show-stopper but for the
presence of a lot of computers here. On both my main work computer and
my laptop that I've used all along on my current project, I have a
problem where any application that tries to run sub-applications (like
the compiler, running its various passes) can't run those sub-apps.
Batch files work fine. Even the Windows 2000 install CD won't run;
clicking on the various tasks is ignored, except for Exit. Possibly
related, AOL won't start; dblclk the icon and the mouse cursor goes
busy for perhaps a second, then returns to normal with no action having
taken place.

I tripped over this last week in trying to run a different compiler;
same exact symptoms. I set it aside to deal with a high-priority
problem; now it seems to be part of the problem here. I'm able to
compile by moving the compiler to a different machine.

A scan for virus and adware comes up clean. I haven't installed
anything new recently. I tried uninstalling Nero on the basis that it
was the most recent install, but even that goes back to before this
problem. However, now it won't reinstall - probably because of whatever
this problem is. Only settings I recall changing would have been some
minor tweeks to internet security settings, and I don't find anything
there that seems relevant. Help!?!
 
Yes, your system is damaged in some way. Always check Event Viewer for
errors.

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| I'm having a problem that would be a complete show-stopper but for the
| presence of a lot of computers here. On both my main work computer and
| my laptop that I've used all along on my current project, I have a
| problem where any application that tries to run sub-applications (like
| the compiler, running its various passes) can't run those sub-apps.
| Batch files work fine. Even the Windows 2000 install CD won't run;
| clicking on the various tasks is ignored, except for Exit. Possibly
| related, AOL won't start; dblclk the icon and the mouse cursor goes
| busy for perhaps a second, then returns to normal with no action having
| taken place.
|
| I tripped over this last week in trying to run a different compiler;
| same exact symptoms. I set it aside to deal with a high-priority
| problem; now it seems to be part of the problem here. I'm able to
| compile by moving the compiler to a different machine.
|
| A scan for virus and adware comes up clean. I haven't installed
| anything new recently. I tried uninstalling Nero on the basis that it
| was the most recent install, but even that goes back to before this
| problem. However, now it won't reinstall - probably because of whatever
| this problem is. Only settings I recall changing would have been some
| minor tweeks to internet security settings, and I don't find anything
| there that seems relevant. Help!?!
|
 
Dave said:
Yes, your system is damaged in some way. Always check Event Viewer for
errors.
Click to expand...

I'd forgotten about that. Reviewing messages there cleaned up a few
odds and ends (like a piece of a printer driver that didn't get
uninstalled) but nothing appears relevant to nor changes the problem at
hand, which is that windows apps (such as a compiler top level) can't
spawn tasks (such as the individual passes of a compiler).

Steve Hendrix
 
I saw a reference in another thread to "Dependency Walker", and that
seemed relevant to the problem of some apps not starting. I used that
tool to profile AOL, Word, and the compiler that was the starting point
of this thread. Word runs fine, the other two do not. Here's the output
from profiling AOL:

Starting Directory: C:\Program Files\America Online 7.0b\
Search Path: C:\Program Files\America Online 7.0b;C:\program
files\hi-tech
software\picc-18\9.50\bin;C:\WINNT2\system32;C:\WINNT2;C:\WINNT2\System32\Wbem;c:\bc4\bin;C:\RCS57\bin\win32;C:\Program
Files\Support Tools;C:\BC4\BIN;c:\system;

Options Selected:
Simulate ShellExecute by inserting any App Paths directories into
the PATH environment variable.
Hook the process to gather more detailed dependency information.
Log LoadLibrary function calls.
Log GetProcAddress function calls.
Automatically open and profile child processes.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Failure starting the process. The system cannot find the file specified
(2).


Unfortunately it fails to identify the "file specified". I'm still
learning my way around this tool. Looking all through the dependency
tree it generates (very nice tool, BTW!), I see nothing flagged in red
nor anything out of the ordinary. The compiler yields the same result.
Word runs just fine and I haven't had any problems, but Dependency
Walker flags a module there that appears to relate to a help file. It's
possible that I opted to not install some of the help files.

How can I identify the file being referred to in the error message "The
system cannot find the file specified (2)."?

Steve Hendrix
 
3c273 said:
You might use a tool like FileMon from www.sysinternals.com .
Louis
Click to expand...

Now to close this thread: I finally solved it, with the help of the
various tools suggested here, combined with the top-notch tech support
from htsoft.com. If you're in the market for compilers and embedded
development tools, I'll HIGHLY recommend them. The bottom line is that
Spyware Doctor (suppposedly uninstalled already) was the problem.
Further details over at the Security newsgroup.

Thanks for the help here guys - I'm back in business!!

Steve Hendrix
 
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