Fix Pctstray.exe Application Errors

Pctstray.exe is the tray application for the Spyware Doctor and PC Tools Internet Security software.

File Information

Pctstray.exe, by default, is located within a subfolder of C:\Program Files. The most common size of the file on Windows XP is 1,103,240 bytes. You may also find it in 1,103,752, 1,101,192, 1,168,264, and 1,107,848 bytes sizes.

Pctstray.exe Problems

You may receive the following error messages at system boot:

"pctsTray.exe -
Application Error The exception unknown software exception (0x0eedfade)
occurred in the application at location 07c812a5rb."

"pctsTray.exe - Entry Point Not Found
The procedure entry point @Forms@TApplicationHelper@SetMainFormOnTaskBar$qqrxo could not be located in the dynamic link library vcl100.bpl."

"The procedure entry point GetArmadilloVariable could not be located in the dynamic library"

"Pcts Tray. exe Unable to locate component.
Failed to start because rtl 100.bpl was not found.
Reinstalling may fix problem."

Cause of the Error

This error usually occurs when there are problems with the files related to Spyware Doctor.

Resolution Method

The easiest way to resolve these errors is to uninstall Spyware Doctor, reboot the computer and then reinstall the software again. You may also opt to install an updated version of Spyware Doctor, if one is available.

To uninstall and then reinstall Spyware Doctor, perform the following steps:

1. Exit Spyware Doctor.
2. Go to Start and then point to All Programs.
3. Look for and point to Spyware Doctor and select Uninstall.
4. Uninstall Spyware Doctor.
5. After the uninstall has completed, check if C:\Program Files\Spyware Doctor is still present on your system.
6. Delete the folder if it is still there. Tip: One efficient way of completely removing software applications from your computer is to use an efficient program uninstaller tool, such as Perfect Uninstaller. A program uninstaller tool is designed to perform a thorough scan of your PC and get rid of any information and registry entry related to it to ensure complete program removal.
7. After the Spyware Doctor removal process is complete, restart your PC and reinstall the application. Before reinstalling ensure that there is no problem with the installation files. Also, check the Spyware Doctor website for an upgraded version of the software. If it is available, it is recommended that you opt for the new version of the software.

Another point to consider is the number of antivirus programs you are running. Ideally, you must run only one antivirus program at any given time. If you are running PC Tools Internet Security software along with another antivirus program, you may experience incompatibility issues. These issues may significantly slow your computer down.

It is best that you select an antivirus program that you would like to keep and use.

Another solution to prevent high CPU usage is to disable auto update on Spyware Doctor. Instead, you can opt to manually download the updates when your PC is comparatively free.

However, if you have had just enough, it is best that you remove Spyware Doctor and opt for a more reliable and less resource-consuming antivirus and antispyware tools for your system.

How to Fix Pctssvc.exe Application Errors

Pctssvc.exe is a core service of the Spyware Doctor software developed by PC Tools. This executable file is installed by either Spyware Doctor or Internet Security software. The main function of pctssvc.exe is to perform either a manual or scheduled spyware scan.

File Information

This pctssvc.exe file is located in C:\Program Files or in a subfolder of C:\. On Windows XP, the known file sizes are 948,616, 946,568, 1,017,224, 1,079,176, 1,077,640, 1,073,544 and 945,576 bytes.

Pctssvc.exe Problems

The issue that a lot of users have with pctssvc.exe is that the process eats up huge chunks of CPU and system memory. For example, it has been observed that the program normally uses between 24 to 28 Mb of memory, which at times, causes computers to lock up or freeze. This can be quite annoying and inconvenient for many users.

There seems to be no quick fix to disable pctssvc.exe from hogging resources. There are a few suggested solutions to solve certain issues but there is no definitive way to repair any application errors that come up.

Suggested Solutions

The following are some of the suggested solutions.

Solution 1: Uninstall and then Reinstall Spyware Doctor or Internet Security Software

Uninstall PC Tools Spyware Doctor or Internet Security. You can use Add or Remove Programs available in Windows or an efficient third-party program removal tool, such as Perfect Uninstaller for this task. After uninstallation is complete, reboot your computer. Reinstall the PC Tools product you uninstalled.

Solution 2: Install Latest Version of the Software

Update to a higher and better version of the Spyware Doctor or Internet Security software if it is available on the PC Tools web site.

Solution 3: Ensure That There are No Program Conflicts

Are you running a separate antivirus program? If you are, your antivirus program may be conflicting with PC Tools’ Internet Security Suite and producing application errors. Running two antivirus programs at the same time is usually not recommended. However, if you must, run them one after the other.

If possible, you should choose between your antivirus programs and uninstall one.

After uninstalling, make sure to run a registry scanner like RegGenie to clean up any leftover entries and avoid potential errors.

Solution 4: Disable Pctssvc.exe From Running at Startup

You can disable pctssvc.exe from starting automatically by performing the following steps:

1. Right-click on the Spyware Doctor System Tray icon.
2. Select Shutdown.
3. Now, click Start, select Run, type msconfig, and then press Enter.
4. On the Startup tab of the System Configuration utility, disable the Spyware Doctor System Tray.
5. You should note that this is only as good as long as you do not open Spyware Doctor.

After you do, the configuration will unavoidably revert to Automatic.

Solution 5: Increase the Virtual Memory of Your System

Spyware Doctor likes to have a lot of available memory when monitoring your computer in real time. So, you can work around the problem by increasing the virtual memory of your system by performing the following steps:

1. Right-click on My Computer.
2. Select Properties.
3. Click on the Advanced tab.
4. Click on the Settings button in the Performance section.The Performance Options dialog box will open.
5. In the Performance Options dialog box, click Advanced.
6. Next, click on Change in the Virtual Memory section.The Virtual Memory dialog box will open.
7. Click on the Custom size button.
8. If you have 1GB of RAM, you must configure: Initial size (MB) to at least 1440 MB
   Maximum size (MB) to at least 1950 MB

   Ideally, maximum size should be set to double or nearly double the value set for your Initial size.

9. Click Set and then click OK to close each window.

If your work is constantly interrupted by system freezes caused by Spyware Doctor and Internet Security software and if you do not want to bother with constantly configuring them so that they do not hog your computer resources, you may opt to use another more efficient product, such as StopZilla.

Disable osa.exe on Startup

What is Osa.exe?

Osa.exe is the Office Startup Assistant for Microsoft Office applications. This program aims to enhance the performance of Office XP programs. When you install Office, a shortcut to osa.exe is added to the Windows Startup folder. The name of this shortcut is Microsoft Office.

File Information

By default, the osa.exe file is located in the C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\ folder. The most common size of the file on Windows XP is 83,360 bytes. You may also find it in 51,984, 61,440, 86,016, 52,224, 16,384, and 99,672 bytes sizes. A file signed by Versign, the process makes the following registry entries that enable it to start when your Windows PC starts.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders

HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

Osa.exe: Uses

Basically, osa.exe improves the performance of Office programs by:

• Initializing the automation process.
• Initializing common Office XP fonts.
• Providing shortcuts to common Office commands, such as New Office Document, Open Office Document, Help, and Screen Saver, on the Office Shortcut bar and Start menu.
• Displaying Microsoft Outlook alerts and notifications when Office Assistant is available.

Osa.exe: Benefits

The main benefit of using osa.exe is speed because the process helps Office XP programs start at a much faster rate.

You can use the following switches with osa.exe to quickly perform various office-related tasks:

Osa.exe: Problems

Although Microsoft says that osa.exe speeds up various Office processes, there are users who have noted that osa.exe actually causes problems by consuming high CPU resources when running on the system.

Osa.exe Problem: Solution

To resolve high CPU usage problems by Osa.exe, you can safely remove or disable osa.exe from system Startup. To do this, open the System Configuration Utility by running the msconfig command. Next, on the Startup tab clear the check box for Office Startup Assistant and then click OK.

Disabling the process will prevent the Office Shortcut bar from loading at system startup and also cause a slight delay when you open Office files.

You can disable osa.exe on the Startups tab. Disabling this is perhaps the better option compared to deleting the file. Some users have experienced problems with their Microsoft Office programs when they deleted the program. The issues were resolved when osa.exe was put back in the system and re-enabled.

If you are concerned that the osa.exe file you have is not a valid file, you can put your fears to rest by running antivirus and anti-spyware scans. You may use efficient programs, such as Antivirus Plus and StopZilla for the task.

If you’d like to identify osa.exe related application errors, run a scan with RegGenie. This is a superb registry cleaner that can find, fix and prevent errors without placing undue strain on your system.

How to Disable Nopdb.exe

The nopdb.exe process is automatically installed by Norton Speed Disk, which is a part of Norton Utilities or Norton SystemWorks. The process is used to schedule the time when the Speed Disk Application is supposed to run on your PC. This Speed Disk application is used to defragment the hard disk of your PC.

File Information

The nopdb.exe file is usually found in Windows NT4, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows 2003 operating systems. By default, the file is located in a subfolder within C:\Program Files. The known file sizes on Windows XP are 172065, 176193, 181416, 176161, 181672 and 176128 bytes. If you see a file alleging to be nopdb.exe but that does not fit known file sizes and locations, your best option would be to perform a quick virus and spyware scan of your system.

Nopdb.exe Problems

The nopdb.exe process runs at system Startup, and is notorious for consuming a large amount of CPU resources. Many users report that the process may consume up to 80% of CPU when it is running in the background. This extreme CPU usage is a cause of concern and irritation for several users.

The main cause of system slow down by the nopdb.exe process is that when Speed Disk runs, it starts sorting your hard disk volumes. The more information there is on the hard disk, the more work the process does. Although regular defragmentation can help, it still doesn’t completely resolve the issue of resource hogging.

You can change the default setting for nopdb.exe to Manual if it is causing a lot of trouble. However, it is recommended that you do not delete this file because deleting nopdb.exe will cause Speed Disk to stop functioning both in the automatic and manual modes. So, if you need to use Speed Disk once in a while, a better option is to set the process to Manual mode rather than to disable the process completely by deleting the nopdb.exe file.

You may use the following methods to either disable Speed Disk or set it to Manual mode.

Method 1: Steps to Disable Speed Disk

1. Open Speed Disk.
2. Click View and then select Schedule Options.
3. Clear the Enable Schedule checkbox.

Method 2: Steps to Set Speed Disk to Manual

1. Open Start menu and then select Control Panel.
2. In the Control Panel, select Administrative Tools and then select Services.
3. Locate Speed Disk and right-click on it.
4. Select Manual and then click Stop.
5. Click Apply and then click OK to save your changes and exit the Services dialog box.

High CPU usage may make you think that nopdb.exe is a virus or a spyware. If you are in doubt, it is best that you use a good antivirus tool, such as Antivirus Plus to perform a thorough scan of your PC to detect and remove any infections. It is also a good idea that you follow up the virus scan with a spyware scan using a good anti-spyware program, such as StopZilla. Not only do you remove spyware and malware, but you also protect yourself from identity theft and other serious security breaches.

Repair Nmindexingservice.exe Errors

Nmindexingservice.exe is an executable file that belongs to Nero AG’s Nero Scout software. This background service comes bundled with Nero 7 and 8.  Nmindexingservice.exe is a database application Nero media indexing service that manages your digital media. Instead of using different databases to index metadata and file locations, Nero uses the built in indexing service to keep track of them all. Nmindexingservice.exe also allows you to browse your media files through Windows Explorer or almost any application. The Nero indexing service enables you to do away with extraneous databases for media management.

File Information

By default, the NMIndexingService.exe is located in a subfolder within the C:\Program Files\Common Files folder. The most common size of the file on Windows XP is 271,920 bytes . You may also find it in 266,240 , 382,248 , 529,704 , 279,848 , 262,144 , 447,784 , 537,896 , 275,752, and 267,824 bytes sizes.

Nmindexingservice.exe Problems

The most common issue with nmindexingservice.exe is that the process is known to use up a large amount of CPU resources. At times, nmindexingservice.exe may also consume up to 35 MB of RAM when running. What’s more, if there are some problems, an additional service, nmindexstoresvr.exe is also launched to help in the processing. Having both nmindexingservice.exe and nmindexstoresvr.exe running at the same time can consume up to 120MB of RAM. This results in resource hogging and thus becomes the main reason that drivers users to disable the process in order to conserve system resources.

Another reason due to which you may want to disable Nero is when the process interferes with the creation of CDs and DVDs. This may occur even if these are on Nero’s Backup Service as well as Outlook Express. Sometimes, Outlook Express is affected because some Outlook Express files are locked open.

The following are some of the methods that you can use to disable the nmindexingservice.exe service:

Method 1: Disable Nero Scout from Start Menu

1. Open the Start menu and navigate to Nero Toolkit menu.
2. Start Nero Scout.
3. Clear the Enable Nero Scout checkbox.
4. Clear the Integrate Nero Scout in Windows Explorer checkbox.

These will stop Nero Scout from indexing files.

Method 2: Disable Nero Scout from System Tray

1. Navigate on the Nero icon in the system tray.
2. Select Options.
3. Clear the Enable Nero Scout checkbox.
4. Reboot your system.
5. After reboot, open the Services management console window by running the Services.msc command at Start > Run.

Here, ensure that the Startup type of the Nero Scout service is set to Manual. If not, then change the setting to Manual.

Method 3: Disable Nero Scout from the Services management console window

Since this is a service, you can disable it from Services management console. For this, perform the steps listed below:

1. Open Start menu, select Run, type services.msc and then press Enter.
2. In the Services window, scroll down the list until you find nmindexingservice.exe and other Nero services.
3. Right click on each one-by-one and select Properties.
4. Disable the selected service.
5. After you have disabled all Nero related services, restart your PC.

When you encounter unwarranted problems with you files and processes, it is recommended that you ensure that you are running a legitimate program file. Malware can be found anywhere. Also, if you use the Internet, you are at a much higher risk risk. Always run a scan with a robust antivirus software such as Antivirus Plus.  To keep your PC safe from other malicious programs like adware and spyware, run regular checks with a trusted anti-spyware utility like StopZilla.

As you install and uninstall programs and continue to use your computer, you may be surprised to see the amount of registry bloat that develops. Prevent errors, such as the BSOD errors from shutting you down your PC by running regular checks with RegGenie’s registry scanner. Doing this will not only fix current errors, prevent future errors and trim registry bloat, but will also enhance your overall computing experience.

Disable or Delete Mspmspsv.exe

Mspmspsv.exe is the Windows Media Device Manager Pre-Message Security Protocol service. This process comes with a specific update for Microsoft Corporation’s Windows Media Player. The process allows the Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI) to be utilized for digital music media. Mspmspsv.exe is a necessary update for MS Digital Right Management (DRM) and is installed on Windows 2000. The mspmspsv.exe executable file allows the user to copy and transfer audio content to a portable player. On Windows XP/2003, mspmspsv.exe is an instance of the generic host process svchost.exe and is known as the Portable Media Serial Number.

File Information

By default, you will find this file located under C:\Windows\System32 or sometimes in a subfolder of C:\Program Files. File sizes have been noted to be 53,520, 53,248, 98,576 and 57,344 bytes for Windows XP.

Note that any malware can be masked as a valid file. An example of malware pretending to be the mspmspsv.exe file is the mspmspv.exe file. Note the similarity of the names. On a cursory glance you may easily miss this difference and mistake the file as legitimate. The latter is a Trojan that acts to steal passwords from the infected user’s computer.

To avoid malware infection, you should check your PC’s status regularly by scanning with an endorsed antivirus program like Antivirus Plus.  By pairing your antivirus tool with an anti-spyware program like StopZilla, you can root out hidden malware files and protect yourself from identity theft.

You may also want to give your registry a clean bill of health. RegGenie comes highly recommended as a scanner that can find, fix and prevent registry errors.

Common Mspmspsv.exe Problems

Mspmspsv.exe has been noted to consume up to 1.5MB of memory when running. Because most Windows users do not use any of the SDMI features, this simply means that instead of being helpful, the mspmspsv.exe process becomes nothing more than bloatware-a term used to refer to programs that consume much larger amounts of system resources than required.

Solutions

If you are not using the features provided by the mspmspsv.exe process, it is best that you either disable or uninstall it from your computer. Let us have a look at the steps to do this.

Steps to Disable the Mspmspsv.exe Process

1. At Start > Run, type Services.msc and then press Enter.
2. Scroll down and look for the Windows Media Device Manager Pre-Message Security Protocol service.
3. Right-click and select Properties.
4. Change the startup type to Manual.
5. If you want to stop the service immediately, click the Stop button and then click OK.

Steps to Uninstall the Mspmspsv.exe Process

1. Open the Task Manager-Press the Ctrl + Alt + Del key combination or right-click the taskbar and then select Task Manager.
2. Here, search for and then select the Mspmspsv.exe process.
3. Click End Process to stop it.
4. Next, at Start > Run, type CMD and then press Enter.
5. At Command Prompt, type mspmspsv -u to uninstall the service.
6. Finally, at Start > Run, type Prefetch and then press Enter.
7. In the Prefetch folder look for Mspmspsv.exe and then delete it.

Microsoft has also identified that there are certain vulnerabilities in Windows Media Player related to the mspmspsv.exe program. The patch and instructions that address this vulnerability are available here. A previously issued patch had a file missing. Make sure that your Windows Media Player is updated regularly to reduce your security risks.

Repair Navapw32.exe Error

Navapw32.exe or Norton AutoProtect belongs to the Symantec Corporation Norton Antivirus software. Navapw32.exe runs at Startup and is a part of the Norton background scanning process. This program is compatible with the Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows 2003 operating system.

File Information

Navapw32.exe is by default located in the C:\Program Files folder. The file has known file sizes of 75384, 74832 and 25600 bytes on Windows XP. When the program runs, an icon for the program is displayed in the system tray on the taskbar.

Navapw32.exe Error and Resolution

You may see the following error messages at system startup:

“Unable to determine the location of the configuration files.”

And

"NAVAPW32.EXE caused an invalid page fault in module APWCMD.DLL."

Cause of the Error

These errors are usually caused by damaged or missing virus definition files. However, the causes are varied and not limited to the issue regarding virus definition files.

How to Fix the Error

To fix this error, you need to perform the following steps:

• Uninstall all Symantec programs that use virus definitions.
• Delete the Virus Definitions folder VirusDefs
• Remove the registry key for SharedDefs.
• Reinstall previously uninstalled Symantec programs.
• Run LiveUpdate.

Let us now go through each step in detail.

Step 1: Uninstall all Symantec programs that use virus definitions.

Open Add or Remove Programs from the Control Panel and then uninstall the following Norton programs-all these use the Symantec virus definitions folder:

• Norton Internet Security
• Norton SystemWorks
• Norton AntiVirus
• Symantec AntiVirus for Palm OS
• PcAnywhere

If after restarting you still have the virus definitions folder, you will have to remove it manually. It is also recommended that you use a reliable registry tool, such as RegGenie to scan and remove any left behind Symantec registry entries.

Step 2: Delete the Virus Definitions folder VirusDefs

Virus definitions, by default, are located in the C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\VirusDefs folder. Do the following to delete the folder on Windows XP:

1. Click Start and select Search.
2. Type in virusdefs in the All or Part of the File Name folder.
3. In the Look in: box select Local hard drives.
4. Select the Search system files and folders and System subfolders checkboxes.
5. Click Search and wait for the results to display.
6. Right-click the \VirusDefs folder.
7. Click Delete and then click Yes to confirm your decision.

Steps for Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT and Windows 2000 operating system are similar. Terms may vary but the procedure itself remains the same.

Step 3: Remove the registry key for SharedDefs.

Warning: Always create a backup of your registry prior to making any edits to it. There is always a risk involved in editing your registry. Any change you make is irreversible if you have no backup in place. You can create registry backup by using the Registry Editor tool or a reliable third-party registry tool, such as RegGenie.

1. Click Start, select Run, type regedit and then press Enter. and go to Run.
2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Symantec\SharedDefs and delete it.
3. Exit the Registry Editor and restart your PC to enable the changes to take effect.

Step 4: Reinstall Symantec programs

Reinstall the Symantec programs you uninstalled earlier and restart your system whenever prompted.

If you have downloaded the installation files, ensure that there are no problems with the downloaded sources. Also, if you are installing from a CD or DVD ensure that the disk is not scratched or damaged in any other way.

Step 5: Run LiveUpdate once reinstallation of programs is complete.

Start your product and then use the LiveUpdate feature to download and install updates on your PC. Restart the system whenever prompted.

Let LiveUpdate run until all updates are installed.

Virus definitions are constantly being updated or modified. You should always keep your virus definitions for your Symantec products updated. You may download the files if you are unable to run LiveUpdate. These virus definitions are available for download at Symantec Security Response web site.

Fix Mstask.exe Application Error

Mstask.exe is the Windows Task Scheduler process. This process manages task scheduling activities such as backups and updates that need to run at specified times. Removing or disabling this process will cause the scheduler to cease functioning. Your scheduled tasks will also fail to run if the mstask process is disabled or removed.

File Information

By default, the mstask.exe file is located in a subfolder within C:\Windows. Its file size on Windows XP is 700,416 bytes. Although located within the Windows folder, mstask.exe is not a core Windows file. The process loads at the time your Windows PC stats up.

Mstask.exe High CPU Usage Problem

Mstask.exe is known to hog CPU resources, especially when it is performing a task and slow down your computer as a result.

Disable Task Scheduler to Resolve Mstask.exe High CPU Usage Problem

If you have no need for the Task Scheduler or if you use an alternate method, you may disable it to resolve high CPU consumption problems caused by mstask.exe:

1. Open Start menu and click on Run.
2. Type services.msc and then press Enter.
3. In the Services management console window, search for Task Scheduler.
4. Right-click on it and then select Disable.

Error Running Scheduled Jobs

There may be incidences when Task Scheduler fails to run scheduled jobs on Microsoft Windows 2000 Server, Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition, and Microsoft BackOffice Server 4.0. You may need to restart the Task Scheduler to run jobs again.

Why does this happen?

The following are two usual causes of this problem:

• If two tasks are scheduled to run at the same time and the first task runs successfully its status is set to Running. Now, if the second task fails to run, the post processing for the first task will not finish and its status will still be set to Running. This is the reason why, next time when mstask.exe tries to run this first task, it fails because the status is still displayed as running.
• Mstask.exe fails to complete a task for some reason. Now when the task list is submitted for rebuilding at the end of the day, usually midnight, new tasks are not is submitted until the following day. This results in problems when its time to run the task next time.

Solutions

Microsoft has acknowledged that there are issues and has offered the following solutions to address them. Select the one that is applicable to your problem.

Simply download and install the latest service pack for Windows 2000. The English version of the fix should have this file attribute:

Date Time Version Size File name
—————————————————-
09/27/2000 07:42p 4.71.2195.1 118,032 Mstask.exe

An alternate solution is to download and install the latest service pack for Internet Explorer Version 5.01.

A fix for Windows NT 4.0 is yet unavailable.

Users should note that if mstask.exe is running when there is no scheduled task, the process has a high probability of being a virus or a Trojan. Make sure that your computer is not infected. Run a scan using a reliable antivirus program like Antivirus Plus. When you are done scanning for viruses, you may also want to run an anti-spyware scan on your system. StopZilla comes highly recommended and also has the capacity to protect users from identity theft.

If you feel that mstask.exe is causing other PC errors, you can also run registry scanning software like RegGenie to fix issues. This is a lightweight but powerful tool that can help maintain overall PC health.

Fix Msimn.exe Error

Msimn.exe is an executable file that belongs to Microsoft Outlook Express, the default email application included with Windows operating system.

Error Messages

You may receive the following errors messages while working with Outlook Express:

Msimn.exe has generated errors and will be closed by Windows. You will need to restart the program. An error log is being created.

MSIMN caused an invalid page fault in module MSOE.DLL.

Cause of the Error

These errors may occur when either.DBX files are marked as read only or Identities key in the registry are damaged.

Note: .DBX files are used my Outlook Express to save email messages.

Resolution Method

Create a backup of your messages, contacts and addresses before you attempt to fix this error. You do not want to compound your problem by losing important messages and contacts.

Solution 1 – Ensure that .DBX files are not Read Only

1. Click Start and go to Find or Search.
2. Click Files and Folders.
3. In the File Name field, type in *.dbx.
4. Include local hard drives in the search.
5. Click Find Now or Search Now. When results are displayed, group the items by location. You can do this by clicking on the In Folder column name.  Write down the locations. Use Windows Explorer to navigate to the directories.
6. Right-click on the first file and then select Properties.
7. On the General tab, clear the Read Only check box and then click OK.
8. Repeat the same for the other files in the folder.
9. Test Outlook Express to ensure that it works without any errors.

Solution 2 – Regenerating the Identities Registry Key

Warning: Always make sure that you have a backup of your registry. Changes to the registry cannot be undone if you do not have a backup. Remember that there are always risks involved when editing your registry. You can use the backup to restore your registry to previous settings if problems occur.

1. Click on Start and go to Run.
2. Type regedit and then press Enter.
3. In the Registry Editor, navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Identities.
4. Click Export Registry File in the File menu.
5. Select Desktop in the Save In box.
6. Enter Identities in the File Name box.
7. Save.
8. In the Registry Editor, right click on the Identities key.
9. Click Delete.
10. Exit the Registry Editor.
11. Test Outlook Express.
12. You may now restore mail, addresses and other account settings.

If you have multiple identities on your system, use the following steps to identify the correct GUID.

1. Click Start and go to Run.
2. Type regedit and then press Enter..
3. In Registry Editor, navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Identities.
4. Click the little cross next to Identities.
5. Click GUID on the left side of the window.
6. On the right side, look for the data name User Name to find the correct Outlook Express Identity and then delete it.

The above fixes apply to the following Outlook Express versions:

Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5 Service Pack 2
Microsoft Outlook Express 5.01 Service Pack 1
Microsoft Outlook Express 5.0
Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5 Service Pack 1
Microsoft Outlook Express 5.01 Service Pack 2
Microsoft Outlook Express 5.02
Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0

Solution 3 Check if msimn.exe has Internet Access

If you are running firewall software from one of the following vendors, you should make sure that msimn.exe has access to the Internet. Otherwise, an error message will come up on your screen.

• McAfee
• Symantec
• ZoneLabs
• Cisco
• Sygate
• Sonicwall
• Freedom Security Zero Knowledge

If you are unsure whether or not the msimn.exe process that you have is valid or not, check the file size and location. The valid file is usually found in C:\Program Files\Outlook Express\. On Windows XP, the known file sizes are 60416 and 15872 bytes.

You should also ensure that you are adequately protected against worms, Trojans and viruses by using an antivirus program like Antivirus Plus.  StopZilla’s anti-spyware tool can provide further protection against identity theft while protecting your system from various malware.

To round off your PC’s health, run a regular registry scan with RegGenie’s registry scanning software. This will help keep your PC free from most registry related errors and fix existing errors in the registry.

Is Msdtc.exe Safe or a Virus?

Msdtc.exe is the core part of the Microsoft Distributed Transaction Coordinator (MSDTC) application. This application from the Microsoft Corporation is basically used to allow multiple client applications to have more than one source of data for a single transaction. The Msdtc.exe process then coordinates distribution across all servers included in the transaction.

Msdtc.exe can run on all Windows platforms. Normally, this application is installed by Windows programs, such as Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Personal Web Server that need to use this service. If you have Msdtc.exe on your computer, you most likely have a need for the program and the best thing to do is to allow the application to function as is.

What msdtc.exe basically does is provides a console program to the application that uses it. You can get through the command window that receives the output from the main application through msdtc.exe. Whenever the user starts up the Microsoft Distributed Transaction Coordinator or whenever an application loads this program, msdtc.exe is automatically loaded.

File Information

The known file sizes for msdtc.exe are 6,144 5632 bytes, 20480 and 20992 bytes. Currently, the available version for this file is 2001.12.4414.258. By default, you can find this file in the C:\Windows\System32 folder.

Msdtc.exe Problems

You may receive an error message similar to the one given below:

Windows could not start the Distributed Transaction Coordinator on Local Computer. For more information, review the System Event Log. If this is a non-Microsoft service, contact the service vendor, and refer to service-specific error code -1073737712.

Additionally, the following entry may be added to Application logs:

Event Type: Error
Event Source: MSDTC
Event Category: LOG
Event ID: 4163
Description: MS DTC log file not found. After ensuring that all Resource Managers coordinated by MS DTC have no indoubt transactions, please run msdtc -resetlog to create the log file.

Event Type: Error
Event Source: MSDTC
Event Category: TM
Event ID: 4185
Description: MS DTC Transaction Manager start failed. LogInit returned error 0x5.

The following is another entry that you may find in Application logs:

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Service Control Manager
Event Category: None
Event ID: 7024
Description: The Distributed Transaction Coordinator service terminated with service-specific error 3221229584 (0xC0001010).

Cause of the Error

These errors are caused by the MS DTC service’s failure to access the %windir%\System32\Msdtc\Msdtc.log file.

Resolution Method

Two methods may be used to resolve this issue. Perform the methods as required and in the order they are presented.

Method 1: Recreate the MS DTC log

1. Click Start, select Run, type CMD and press Enter to display the Command Prompt window.
2. At the command prompt, type msdtc -resetlog and press Enter.

Note that using the msdtc -resetlog command incorrectly can corrupt data. Make sure that there are no current transactions when you use this command. You should be familiar with cmd commands and PC operations to perform this solution.

3. Type net start msdtc and press Enter.

If this method fails to resolve the issue, proceed to the next method.

Method 2: Set the Logon Account Permissions for the MSDTC Service

1. Click Start, select Run, type cmd, and then press Enter to display the Services management console window.
2. Look for Distributed Transaction Coordinator in the Services pane.
3. Note the account name in the Log on As column. Bear in mind that the default logon account for the MS DTC service is NETWORK SERVICE.
4. Now, right-click on Distributed Transaction Coordinator and then click Stop.
5. Open Windows Explorer and navigate to the %windir%\System32\Msdtc folder.
6. Right-click on the Msdtc.log file and select Properties.
7. On the Security tab, click the logon account name you noted earlier.
8. In the Permissions pane, select the check boxes in the Allow column for Read and Execute, Read and Write permissions.
9. Click OK and then click Yes to confirm your decision.
10. Right-click on Distributed Transaction Coordinator in the Services window and then click Start.

The methods to resolve the errors shown above are applicable to Microsoft COM+ 1.5 and Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit x86). You should note which version of Windows you are running on your computer.

You should know that while msdtc.exe is a perfectly valid program, users are not required to run this as a Startup process. Sqlservr.exe, txfaux.dll and the xolehlp.dll are a few of the files associated with msdtc.exe. You can check to see if any of these three processes are running alongside msdtc.exe by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del to bring up your Task Manager. Click the Processes tab to view the processes that are currently running.

If an application is accessing msdtc.exe do not end the process as this will interfere with the application. If you have no need at all for msdtc.exe then you may disable the process.

Note that msdtc is a service that you may disable but not delete from the system. If you are not using any of the applications that need the msdtc.exe service, disable the service by performing the following steps:

1. Open the Start menu, select Run, type Services.msc and press Enter.
2. Look for Distributed Transaction Coordinator and double-click on it to display its properties dialog box.
3. On the General tab, click Stop.
4. Set Startup type to Disabled.

Some users fear that the process is either a virus or a Trojan because the service listens on a port. This fear is unfounded as msdtc.exe is a perfectly valid and legitimate file from Microsoft.

However, always make sure that you have the correct and valid file. Be sure to check the location and file sizes to determine if the msdtc.exe file you have is the correct one. Users should also run an anti-virus scan and an anti-spyware scan with reliable and trusted tools to ensure the file’s validity.

Malware can hide themselves using nomenclature similar to legitimate files. If you see a suspicious executable, always run a check. Malware can threaten your system, your security and identity on many different levels. Always make sure that your online safety, software and identity are not compromised.

If you would like to avoid errors associated with the registry, make sure that you perform regular scans with a recommended registry cleaner like RegGenie. This is a simple, easy to use, albeit powerful tool that can root out error causing registry entries and resolve them at the same time. You can also prevent registry bloat which can adversely affect your system’s performance.