PMEMNT.SYS

Kevin Stecyk

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May 11, 2002, 8:39:09 PM5/11/02

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Hi,

I have an IBM Laptop A21p, with Win 2K operating system. When I check the event viewer using the administration tools in the control panel, I see an error that comes up repeatedly.

"The PMEMNT.SYS service failed to start due to the following error:
The system cannot find the file specified."

It has an event user ID of 7000.

I tried searching Microsoft's knowledge base and came up empty.

Using Google, I see that IBM discusses PMEMNT.SYS on the following web page:

http://www-3.ibm.com/software/webservers/hpbuilder/support/faq_wv5.html

IBM states:

The following file was not installed correctly.
pmemnt.sys
Copy this file as follows: from: hpb_folder\prt (hpb_folder is the folder where you installed Homepage Builder)
to: d:\winnt\system32\drivers (d: represents the disk drive where Windows NT is installed)

I don't have "Homepage Builder, nor did I ever install it.

But surprisingly, I do have the file "PMEMNT.SYS in the directory C:\winnt\system32\drivers.

File Version: 4.0.1381.1
Description: Physical Memory Driver
Copyright: Copyright (C) Microsoft Corp. 1981-1996

Furthermore, it was accessed today, at about or the same time as the error message was created.

I do not understand why Win2K is unable to find the file when it is right there.

What is this error message, and how do I get rid of it?

Kevin

Dave Patrick

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May 11, 2002, 9:59:13 PM5/11/02

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Control Panel|Admin Tools|Services|PMEMNT.SYS|Properties|General, and check the "Path to
executable:" If it's not correct, you can run regedt32 and navigate to;
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\ServiceShortName
and adjust the Reg_Expand_Sz string "ImagePath" value.

Alternately if you don't need the service anymore, you can Control Panel|Admin
Tools|Services"|"Service Name", then set the "Startup Type:" to "Disabled". Else delete the
ServiceShortName subkey.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft MVP [Windows NT/ 2000]

Kevin Stecyk

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May 12, 2002, 12:17:56 PM5/12/02

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Dave,

+ NT LM Security Support

+ pcAnywhere Host Service

+ Performance Logs and Alerts

+ Plug and Play

+ Print Spooler

+ Protected Storage

+ QoS RSVP

However, I did fix the path in the registry as instructed. After fixing the path, I got a different error message this time.

Event ID 7000

"The PMEMNT>SYS service failed to start due to the following error: The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect."

In the registry, the following is entered for "PMEMNT.SYS"

DisplayName: REG_SZ: PMEMNT.SYS

ErrorControl: REG_DWORD: 0X1

ImagePath: REG_EXPAND_SZ: C:\WINNT\System32\drivers\PMEMNT.SYS

Start: REG_DWORD: 0X2

Type: REG_DWORD: 0X1

The path given in the ImagePath is correct. Prior, there was an error where it had stated: "??\C:\WINNT\System32\drivers\PMEMNT.SYS". I simply removed the double question marks.

To summarize:

1) I don't see PMEMNT.SYS in Admin Tools | Services

2) I adjusted the path name in the registry

3) I now get a different error message: "The PMEMNT>SYS service failed to start due to the following error: The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect."

Dave, I very much appreciate you walking me through this problem. I look forward to your next response.

Kind regards,

Kevin

"Dave Patrick" <ma...@NoSpam.DSPatrick.com> wrote in message news:#A65giV#BHA.2396@tkmsftngp05...

Dave Patrick

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May 12, 2002, 1:43:09 PM5/12/02

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Try changing the Reg_Expand_Sz value of "ImagePath" to

\??\C:\WINNT\System32\drivers\PMEMNT.SYS

Else you may need to reinstall the service or application that installed the service. Since the
service doesn't start and if you think you don't need it, you can set the Reg_Dword value of "Start"
= 4 (disabled) which will stop the Event Viewer errors being generated.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft MVP [Windows NT/ 2000]

"Kevin Stecyk" wrote"

Kevin Stecyk

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May 12, 2002, 6:43:14 PM5/12/02

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Hi Dave,

I changed the path as you suggested. Unfortunately, I am back to the original error message as follows:

The PMEMNT.SYS service failed to start due to the following error:

The system cannot find the file specified.

Given that I cannot seem to resolve this issue, I "disabled" PMEMNT.SYS as you suggested below in your message.

Interestingly, the file was accessed when the path was C:\WINNT\System32\drivers\PMEMNT.SYS. But I got the other error message,

The PMEMNT.SYS service failed to start due to the following error:

The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.

I don't know which service or application installed the file PMEMNT.SYS, so I can't reinstall it. It might even have been one of the many MS Win2K updates for I know. Anyway, I hope the error messages will stop.

If you have any further thoughts, please let me know.

Thank you for your help!

Kevin

"Dave Patrick" wrote...

Dave Patrick

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May 12, 2002, 6:56:16 PM5/12/02

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If you set the Reg_Dword value of
"Start" = 4
then the error message should not appear any more. There may be dependant *.dll's, etc. that are
missing, hence the error message. The only posts I ever see related to this error are from IBM
laptop users. May be something that the IBM OEM version of Windows 2000 installs.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft MVP [Windows NT/ 2000]

"Kevin Stecyk" wrote:
Hi Dave,

I changed the path as you suggested. Unfortunately, I am back to the original error message as
follows:

The PMEMNT.SYS service failed to start due to the following error:
The system cannot find the file specified.

Given that I cannot seem to resolve this issue, I "disabled" PMEMNT.SYS as you suggested below in
your message.

Interestingly, the file was accessed when the path was C:\WINNT\System32\drivers\PMEMNT.SYS. But I
got the other error message,

The PMEMNT.SYS service failed to start due to the following error:
The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.

I don't know which service or application installed the file PMEMNT.SYS, so I can't reinstall it.
It might even have been one of the many MS Win2K updates for I know. Anyway, I hope the error
messages will stop.

If you have any further thoughts, please let me know.

Thank you for your help!

Kevin

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kevin Stecyk

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May 12, 2002, 9:57:23 PM5/12/02

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Dave,

Thank you very much for your patience and your help!

>The only posts I ever see related to this error are from IBM laptop users.<

Yup, that is me.

Again, thank you.

Kevin

"Dave Patrick" wrote in message

Kevin Stecyk

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May 15, 2002, 11:13:30 PM5/15/02

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Dave,

You might find the following post of interest. The "update connector" is a service that allows IBM to tell if anything needs upgrading, much like MS's Win2K updating feature.

Kevin

Topic:	PMEMNT.SYS service error messages (1 of 4), Read 56 times
Conf:	ThinkPad T20,T21,T22,T23
From:	ricksparks
Date:	Monday, April 01, 2002 12:20 PM

I've got the same problem with an A21m

The source of those files is the Update Connector.
I uninstalled the UC and reinstalled it... and first time I used it, it updated with new PMEMNT.SYS and all the other associated files.

I still have the problem tho.... any ideas???

Topic:	PMEMNT.SYS service error messages ANSWER! (2 of 4), Read 57 times
Conf:	ThinkPad T20,T21,T22,T23

From:	ricksparks
Date:	Wednesday, April 03, 2002 01:06 PM

I found it!
The IBM Update Connector (which is now not recommended by IBM) installs the PMEMNT.SYS service... and it doesn't work right.

To fix it:
Go to the IBMTOOLS folder and look for the file INSTDRVW.EXE.... if you try to run it, it'll show you the format.

So... go to Start/Run.... and browse until you get to INSTDRVW.EXE. and after it type "PMEMNT.SYS REMOVE". and hit OK
Reboot & the annoying error messages will be gone!

IBM provided a way out of this by shipping the INSTDRVW file, but didn't show us how to use it.
Seems like a better alternative would be for them to have the service uninstall with an uninstall of Update Connector... but I'm just glad I could find the problem!

Topic:	PMEMNT.SYS service error messages ANSWER! (3 of 4), Read 34 times
Conf:	ThinkPad T20,T21,T22,T23

From:	craig.a.johnson
Date:	Wednesday, May 01, 2002 07:23 AM

Are you saying that this file is used only by IBM connector and would NOT be part of the MS Operating system? I see that it is an NT4 file (not 5, or .2195) and MS has no mention of it in TechNet. Physical Memory seemed to be OK even with the "Service failing to Start".
- I just got off the phone with IBM, and they 1)didn't have this answer, but 2) recommended against the updater!

Thank you for your post- I was almost done with the build and set to Ghost when I updated and noticed errors!

Topic:	PMEMNT.SYS service error messages ANSWER! (4 of 4), Read 28 times
Conf:	ThinkPad T20,T21,T22,T23

From:	AdamBarichello@IBM
Date:	Wednesday, May 01, 2002 01:12 PM

Hi there.

I did a search on Technet as well and found no results for the file "PMEMNT.SYS"

I then tried searching www.google.com which always has results...I only found one hit and it was for the same error only it was caused by Homepage Builder Windows Version 5.
The fix was to overwrite it with the original copy from the install directory.

Based on the search results it doesn't look like it is a critical file. If the fix provided by ricksparks works then feel free to use it.

Thank you for using the IBM Discussion Forums.

Adam Barichello
IBM US Mobiles
Customer Support Specialist

"Dave Patrick" <ma...@NoSpam.DSPatrick.com> wrote in message news:OLl$8gg#BHA.2172@tkmsftngp04...

Dave Patrick

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May 15, 2002, 11:57:17 PM5/15/02

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Good find! Thanks for posting back with that information.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft MVP [Windows NT/ 2000]