1 Reply by Bob Merritt

  • Bob Merritt
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Re: Another installation problem

Last Friday I attempted to install Recorder 6.15.4 onto an Acer Travelmate 5742 laptop running Windows XP Professional SP3.  The laptop is only a few weeks old and had been operating well until soon after the R6 installation.  All appeared to have gone smoothly until I double-clicked the R6 desktop icon and was told that Windows had encountered a serious problem ("did I want to send details to Microsoft" etc).  I cannot remember the exact sequence of events after that but it culminated in a page of text on a blue background being flashed onto my monitor for a second and then the laptop shut down.  I rebooted, ran a virus check (no viruses detected), then I uninstalled R6.  Several times during the next couple of hours, whilst trying to get to the bottom of the problem, I received warning messages and the laptop shut down.  I tried restoring the system to an earlier point.  Still problems.  Finally, I used the laptop's recovery management tool to reintall the operating system.  All files and folders had been routinely backed up, so I lost nothing.  I am now at the point of deciding whether to have another go at installing R6 on the laptop.  I already have it on a desktop PC running XP SP3 Home Edition.

During the initial installation on Friday, I made the following notes:

1) When asked to select one of two options: a) use an existing local SQL Server or MSDE instance, or b) install a new instance of SQL Express onto this machine, I chose a) because this was the recommended option ("so as not to create clutter", or words to that effect).

2) Next I clicked yes (only option shown) to "Select existing SQL Server instance ro attach the database to:
Instance name: ACER-EB920CFC39\MSSMLBIZ"

3) Next I was asked to select one of the following two options: a) install database files in the default location, or b) install database files in a custom location.  I chose a). 

4) Then I was shown the following message: (actually I'm not sure whether this was before or after I selected "a)" ..... "Install. [Warning: This SQL Server instance has been set to support Windows Authentication only.  This means that only your Windows login will be accepted when connecting to it]".

5) Finally I was asked to select one of two SQL Server Login options: "a) use the following SQL Server system administrator login: username "sa", password: (blank), or b) use my Windows account to login (Windows Authentication)".  To be precise, the options weren't shown as a or b, rather as a botton hole to be checked.  Anyway, I chose "b)" because of the earlier warning.

The Recorder icon appeared on my desktop.  I upgraded Adobe Reader 9.1 to 9.2.  Had a cup of tea, came back, double-clicked the Recorder desktop icon, the opening window appeared, seemed to freeze, and then all hell broke loose, either spontaneously or when I tried to shut down Recorder using Alt+Ctrl+Del - I can't remember.

Any ideas on what is going wrong and how to overcome the problem would be much appreciated.

2 Reply by MikeWeideli (edited by MikeWeideli 10-01-2011 14:23:00)

  • MikeWeideli
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Re: Another installation problem

Bob

This is probably something Microsoft did in XP Service Pack 3 which stopped  any version of SQL Server from installing.  It is covered in topic http://forums.nbn.org.uk/viewtopic.php?id=1710

The solution was complex involving the use  of 3rd party software, but it is posible that Microosft have now provided a fix.   

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/968749

This now mentions a new version of SQL Server 2005  (17 Dec 2010) which may also solve the problem. If so this shoudl be downloaded from Microosft and installed, then Recorder 6 installed against this. This is very recent and I haven't tried it.

The fix is also apperntly still avaialble at

http://download.microsoft.com/download/E/3/F/E3F51FFB-505D-480E-9F67-0DD3A9680DEE/MSXMLFix.EXE


It might also be that SQl Server 2008 R2 has solved the problem, but there are currently some reports of problems with this and Recorder 6, so untill these are understood this may not be a good route to try.

Can I please ask that anyone suppyling Recorder makes sure that they

1.  Warn users NOT to attempt to install Recorder  under XP SP1 as this will corrupt their system
2.  Explain the problems with installing under SP 3
3.  Advise users on the special procedures for installing under Windows 7



Mike

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3 Reply by Bob Merritt

  • Bob Merritt
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Re: Another installation problem

Mike

Thanks for your comments.

I'll have a go at installing the most recent version of SQL Server 2005 that you mention.  What worries me is the message I received, during my earlier attempt at installing R6, which said that the existing pre-installed version had been set up to support Windows Authentication only.  Would it be advisable for me to uninstall the existing copy of this software on my laptop before installing the newer version?

Bob

4 Reply by MikeWeideli

  • MikeWeideli
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Re: Another installation problem

Bob

I suggest you uninstall Recorder 6.  Install the altest version of SQl Server 2005, then install Recordser 6 again using the newly installed instance of SQL server 2005. It would be worth installing  Management Studio Express when you install SQL Server 2005, so that you can make sure you have a working verion of SQl Server before installing Recorder.  Some of the symptons you describe haven't been reported before,  and the new version of SQl Server 2005 is also very new  so a  degree of caustion is required.

Mike Weideli

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5 Reply by Bob Merritt (edited by Bob Merritt 10-01-2011 10:39:08)

  • Bob Merritt
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Re: Another installation problem

Mike

Many thanks, I'll do as you suggest.  I'm not sure how I can be cautious during the process - it's either do it or don't!  Would it be advisable for me to uninstall the existing copy of this software on my laptop before installing the newer version, please?  If not, where should I install the new version?

Bob

6 Reply by MikeWeideli

  • MikeWeideli
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Re: Another installation problem

Bob

Immediately before each stage take a backup of the system state data (via Advance options in the backup Wizard - search for backup in help) .. If there is any sort of problem restore from this before  attempting anything else and before doing any other work on the computer.  When installing SQL Server  make a note of the instance name. Install SQL Server Management Tools and check that  SQL Server appears Ok before installing Recorder 6.  You should be able to log in to the instances and see the Master database.   When installing Recorder paste in the Instance name rather than relying on the dropdown boxes.  If you think you have a partly installed SQL Server instance don't worry about deleting it. You should  be able to uninstall  Recorder 6 from Control Panel (add or remove programs). If it isn't listed then you should be OK to do a new install. If you are unsure about anything plesae ask.

Mike

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7 Reply by Bob Merritt

  • Bob Merritt
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Re: Another installation problem

Mike

Sorry to trouble you with the same question, but please would you tell me whether it is advisable to uninstall the existing copy of SQL Server 2005 before installing the newer version?  If not, where should I install the new version?

Bob

8 Reply by MikeWeideli (edited by MikeWeideli 10-01-2011 14:31:22)

  • MikeWeideli
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Re: Another installation problem

I am not sure if or how much of SQL Server has actually been installed. Personally, I would leave anything which is there alone until after you have got Recorder working.  If you do the SQL Server installtion from the Microosft download it will just createa  new instance of SQl Server. You can use the deafults it suggests for file locations. I am trying to set up a machine to duplicate the situation so that I can give you more detailed help, but this is a time consuming process, so not sure when i will get there.


Mike

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9 Reply by Bob Merritt

  • Bob Merritt
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Re: Another installation problem

Thanks, Mike.  I shan't be able to do anything until tomorrow at least as I have taken the laptop back to the shop for checking by someone who knows a lot more than I do.  The laptop crashed today on startup, twice.

Bob

10 Reply by Bob Merritt (edited by Bob Merritt 19-01-2011 08:16:01)

  • Bob Merritt
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Re: Another installation problem

It seems that the problem I described in my original post may have had nothing to do with Recorder 6.  It may have been pure coincidence that at the moment I attempted to start R6 after installation a virus or something became active.

The problem manifests itself in two ways, either of which causes the laptop to shut down.  On startup, and connected to the internet, my antivirus software (AVG internet security 2011) detects a malware item which it isolates in the virus vault.  The machine then needs to restart. The malware file is called RPCNETP.EXE.  At varying times after restart I get a serious error warning, blue screen, and the machine shuts down.  I’ve tried various measures to overcome the problem, including restoring the operating system (XP Professional), and restoring the laptop to factory defaults.  I’ve also attempted to use the pre-installed antivirus software, Mcafee, instead of AVG.  In the latter instance, I got half way through activating Mcafee (typing my password) when I got a blue screen message and the machine shut down.     

After restoring the laptop to its factory defaults, and before doing anything else, I ran a search for the offending file and it comes up in the Windows/ System32 folder.

I know it’s not a Recorder issue, but if anyone has any ideas on how I may overcome the problem, I’d be very interested to hear.

11 Reply by MikeWeideli (edited by MikeWeideli 19-01-2011 09:51:12)

  • MikeWeideli
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Re: Another installation problem

Bob

From what I can see on the Internet it looks like this is not malware or a virus, but something built into your machine as an anti theft pecaution.  Looks like it doesn't work with certain anti virus software.

The following link may help.

http://www.pcreview.co.uk/forums/thread-2834028.php


I think Recorder will still have a problem with XP and SP 3 so you should follow Sally's advice and not use the version of SQL Server on the DVD.


Mike

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12 Reply by Bob Merritt

  • Bob Merritt
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Re: Another installation problem

Mike.

I took the laptop back to the shop yesterday for the second time.  I've forwarded the link you sent to the guy who is working on it at the moment - looks like it may contain a solution to the problem.  Many thanks for your help.

Bob