HELP!! MSVCRT and Explorere.exe problem after loading install files

Suzette

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Mar 18, 2004, 5:38:54 PM3/18/04

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Hi,

I just tried installing a VB6 program I wrote onto a Win 98 machine that I
compiled on my XP machine. I'm running VB6 SP5. After it copied the files
and asked about restarting, the machine won't boot properly. It comes up
with an "Error loading Explorer.exe, You must reinstall Windows." message
after an error:

The MSVCRT.DLL file is linked to missing export
NTDLL.DLL:RtlGetNrVersionNumbers error.

I have a feeling it's something to do with XP and 98 but someone Please tell
me if there is a way to fix this without reinstalling Windows.

Much much appreciation.

Suzette

MikeD

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Mar 19, 2004, 10:21:51 AM3/19/04

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"Suzette" <an...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:%23uKyTnT...@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...

It appears as if you included XP system files in your package (did you use
PDW?) and these got installed on Win98. Windows is most likely hosed to a
point that re-installing is necessary, possibly even to where you must
re-install to a different folder or delete the previous Windows folder
first. You MIGHT be able to just replace MSVCRT.DLL with an older version
(one compatible with Win98) if that's the only problem file. I'd try that
first as you really can't do any more harm. The next thing I'd try is
restoring Win98 from a backup. If you don't have a backup, then
re-installing is probably going to be your only solution.

You have to be very careful NOT to include system files from a later version
of Windows in your distribution packages. For this reason, it's best to
create your package on the oldest version of Windows (preferably without
service pack updates or a later version of IE) you need to support OR take
the necessary steps to prevent installed system files from gettting included
in the package. For PDW, you can do this by copying older versions of files
to the "\VB98\Wizards\PDWizard\Redist" folder. PDW will look there first
for any files to include in the package.

Mike

Suzette

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Mar 19, 2004, 6:05:43 PM3/19/04

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Thanks Mike,

As normal I learned my lesson the hard way. I tried replacing the MSVCRT
which helped but it was still buggered up. Had to reinstall Windows. I
guess I need to check which files are system files. Rather than copy them
into the redist folder I would prefer to not package them at all. This may
sound rather idiotic at this point but is there a fairly standard method of
seeing if a file that PDW wants to include is a system file.

Thank you so much.

Suzette

"MikeD" <nob...@nowhere.edu> wrote in message
news:uaR68WcD...@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...

John Eikanger [MSFT]

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Mar 19, 2004, 6:52:27 PM3/19/04

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Hi, Suzette

Mike has given you some good advice. Putting the VB6 SP5 version of
msvcrt.dll in the redist directory is the solution I recommend. Removing
it works on most systems, but once in a while you encounter an old system
that somehow does not include a modern version of msvcrt.dll, and you hit
problems. You also have to remember to take it out of each new
distribution that you build.

Another issue to be aware of with system files is that the Microsoft
operating systems released since Win98SE prevent you from updating certain
system files. This is intended to prevent what happened to your Win98
system, but it can cause problems with your distributions. For example, if
you try to install a newer version of a system file onto an older OS, it
won't work. After the reboot Setup will detect that it did not work and try
again, leaving you stuck in a run/reboot loop where the install will never
complete.

I haven't heard of the XP version of that file causing problems. It's more
likely to be an IE component. Posting a list of the files in your
setup.lst would be the best way to find out.

Hope this helps,

John Eikanger
Microsoft Developer Support

This posting is provided “AS IS” with no warranties, and confers no rights.
--------------------
| From: "Suzette" <an...@hotmail.com>
| References: <#uKyTnTD...@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl>
<uaR68WcD...@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl>
| Subject: Re: HELP!! MSVCRT and Explorere.exe problem after loading
install files
| Date: Fri, 19 Mar 2004 15:05:43 -0800
| Lines: 66
| X-Tomcat-NG: microsoft.public.vb.deployment

Suzette

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Mar 26, 2004, 7:51:12 PM3/26/04

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Actually there is an issue with XP and it doing that but the latest service
pack fixes it.

Suzette

"John Eikanger [MSFT]" <joh...@online.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:sMl%23%230gDE...@cpmsftngxa06.phx.gbl...
> Hi, Suzette