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SysTray.exe prevents normal bootup

After installing DirectX Media Runtime Patch for DirectAnimation (ver 2,9,400,0) today, my Win98 would not boot up correctly. Everything would seem normal until the tale end, when the hour glass on the pointer would freeze. I could not do a Ctrl-Alt-Del at all. Through Selective Startup I was able to determine that the problem seems to be in the SysTray.exe file. With it deselected, the PC boots up fine and even the System Tray appears normal. Can anyone give me some ideas on how to proceed from here?

Thanks, Gregg

Asta Cu

I'd try a few things:

1. Are your video and sound drivers
current?

2. Start - run - msinfo32 - tools and
check the DirectX diagnostics

3. Also under MSINFO32 are other tools
check registry checker, sfc (System
file checker).

I'd also consider doing this if still unresolved; you have options to restore a previous "functional" registry or you could try rebooting to DOS prompt only and moving to the directory where windows\command are installed. Default is the C drive (c:\windows\command). Once there, type in scanreg/fix to see if rebuilding/fixing the registry helps.

Additionally, it could be settings on your video acceleration.

Asta

Asta Cu

Perhaps the patch didn't take, did you revisit WindowsUpdate after the problem arose?
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q127/1/39.asp

Troubleshooting Video Problems in Windows

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 95
Microsoft Windows 98
Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition

Asta Cu

You may also be experiencing a version mismatch; by applying a patch for 6.0 and perhaps not having had the original and/or since upgraded to DirectX 7.0.

If the other information doesn't help, please advise; This reference may help you view all the related modules in Windows 98 WindowsUpdate deliverables.

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q243/9/92.asp?LNG=ENG&SA=PER

Gregg011299

ASKER

Thanks for the response. Unfortunately, though, after going through essentially all of your suggestions, I am still having problems. I am at a loss! Windows Critical Updates show that none exist that I need to download. I did install DirectX 7.0 before I did the 6.0 patch, but there does not seem to be an uninstall for the 6.0 patch. I should have backed up my registry before I did the patch download, but I never dreamed I'd have this kind of trouble!

I know in general what the system tray does, but what are the ramifications of having SysTray.exe not selected at startup? Everything seems to work fine until I select it for startup.

In addition to the above question, other suggestions will be welcome and appreciated.

Thanks, Gregg

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Asta Cu

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Asta Cu

Wonder if booting in SAFE MODE shows any problems in device manager not reflected in normal mode, such as duplicated or erroneous devices.

Normal maintenance has been run? scandisk/defrag/cleanup, etc?

No problem devices shown in MSINFO32?

Asta Cu

http://www.geocities.com/~budallen/

Has a lot of good information and also troubleshooting help.

Gregg011299

ASKER

Thank you very much for your multiple replies. System File Checker was the final attempt that seems to have solved all of my problems. I hate having problems, but there is no better way of learning the ins and outs of Windows than by having problems and correcting them yourself. But, I couln't have done it by without your suggestions. The people on this forum are great, and you can be proud that you are one of them. Thanks again!

Asta Cu

Thank you very much, Gregg, I also have found great help here and appreciate and totally agree with you. This is a great group of people; and I am pleased to have found Experts-exchange as well.

I'm so happy to hear all is well.

Best wishes,

Asta