Re: Seem to have lost Calc.exe in Win XP

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

This is a reply to EW_Zuki's Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:06:01 -0700 message

"EW_Zuki" <EWZuki@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:A27D73AA-8ADE-4320-9BBC-4E784899AF5C@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Jose" wrote:

The "most important" version is the one in dllcache.

If WFC gives that error in the event log and fails to replace in when
deleted from system32 and sfc doesn't like it either. it is
afflicted.

As far as Windows is concerned, the one in dllcache doesn't match what
it thinks is correct. That is where WFC and sfc look for missing
files and decide what to do. Your event log says WFC would like to
replace it when it is missing from system32, but doesn't like the
replacement so it does not get replaced. It doesn't matter if it
looks the same and acts the same from someplace else - Windows doesn't
like it.

If you want it to work (and I know you do) that is the one that
matters and needs to be replaced.

Actually, long ago "Bob" told me about Calculator Plus. I prefer it to
Calculator (calc.exe) which I keep a copy of on my desktop but don't use.

You can replace (copy) it from another system and see if it is
replaced properly when deleted from system32.

OK, I'm still curious about what's going on, so I'll get a copy from a
friend.

Do you have any kind of XP Installation media (CD). That is where the
unexpanded version would be.

I have a "Dell Dimension ResourceCD", but searching it for "calc" gets no
hits. I'll try the friend. He runs Win 2000.


You probably won't solve the WFP rejection of the dllcache copy problem by
using a calc from another operating system. Even Windows setup has to get
permission from WFP to make changes to operating system files. You need to
use the Add Windows Components, and point the path to a valid i386 folder on
your drive, or to a valid Windows XP Professional installation CD.

If your computer did not ship with the optional Windows XP Professional CD,
you can "Request back up disks from Dell" here:

https://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dellcare/en/backupcd_form
(I didn't see any mention of cost on that page.) You will need to enter your
Dell "Service Tag" ID, which is on the back of desktop models, or elsewhere
on laptops. There's a button on that page that will you help locate it. (If
you don't have a user manual for your computer, look on the left side of
some of the support pages for a User Manuals link.)

If the computer did not come with an XP CD, then it possibly has a hidden
partition on the hard drive that can be accessed by pressing an F key, (mine
is F12,) for a BOOT MENU when the Dell logo appears at startup. You can
check right now to see if your drive has a Recovery Partition here:

Start> Run> diskmgmt.msc

Your (C:) drive should say: "Healthy (System)"
An unLettered hidden partition may say: "Healthy (EISA Conguration)"
Windows Disk Management will let you see manufacturer's hidden partitions,
but should not let you access it through Disk Management.

WARNING: Some kinds of recovery partitions only have the ability to restore
the operating system drive to factory condition without any of the data you
have added, so be sure you have backup copies of your Valued Data before
doing any sort of Repair Install, or re-install. Check your User Manual.

Your best option to correct the missing files problem in a way that WFP
approves, is to use a genuine Windows XP Professional CD with the same
Service Pack level as your computer, and boot the CD and press R key to get
to the Recovery Console and at the command line:
CHKDSK /p

and after the Check Disk scan completes:
SFC /scannow

That way WFP can restore files it needs from the CD when it scans. (And
hopefully put copies in dllcache that it likes. :)

Then after booting from the drive, go to the Add/remove Windows Components
dialog, and if no checkmarks, checkmark all the stuff you want, etc., and
point the path to the CD.
- - -

That still leaves us with the mystery of why WFP found so many hinky files
with bad signatures or supposedly wrong versions. Malware is usually at the
top of the list of suspects for radical file changes. Your malware scans
have not pointed in that direction so far. WFP's catalog of files might have
become corrupt. Filing system errors will be exposed when you run CHKDSK.
Sometimes the setup packages for application installations mess things up.
If you can pin down the time when calc.exe went missing, you can check
Add/Remove programs for any applications that were installed about the same
time, and check their website for bug reports or revision updates, to see if
there might be a known problem. You can check in the program's folder for a
setup log or .inf file that may reveal a setup quirk.

Your "Step7.jpg" image showed that Windows looked here for an i386 folder:

C:\Documents and Settings\<UserName>\Local Settings\Temp\setup\i386

and did not find one. Apparently there had been some sort of previous setup
of some software that used the Current User %temp% folder to unpack its
installation files. That leads me to wonder if someone used a Windows setup
information file as a pattern for their own setup, and did not sufficiently
modify the pattern, and maybe caused all optional Windows components to be
uninstalled. That's a stretch, but whatever happened, WFP did not stop it.

What Registry Cleaner do you use? Some brands make backup copies of the
registry when cleaning uninstall leftovers, which may have some clues.

(Well, I've peeled back all the layers of yellow Post-It notes plastered
around the inside of my empty skull and can't think of anything else. :)

Looking forward to your progress report.
--Richard



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