some pgms won't start

[rwbrick]

Recently some of my programs -- a couple of setup (installers) and one or two applications -- won't start. I get a similar message regarding my "temp folder" as variously "invalid", "write only", "full", etc., none of which are true. Most times it refeers to WINNT/TEMP; other times to /......./Local Settings/TEMP. Also, but maybe unrelated though began around the same time, my file delete process runs very slow. I've run updated Ad-aware, Spybot (usoft), anti-virus, and hijack this -- nothing. I have a P3 at 600MHz with 256MB running WIN2000, SP4. Any ideas??

ps I'm currently deleting about 200 or so cookies (using Total Commander) -- 4min so far and 20% done! CPU at 2-4% usage with occassional spikes to 10-15%; roughly 40% memory usage. Though strangly (it's now about 30min at 90% done) I deleted instantaneously a couple of other files (Commander allows such.)

 

[Diancecht]

Sounds to me like a HD problem. Does it have space enough? Defragmentated? Cheched for errors?

Cheers,
Dian

 

[rwbrick]

I have plenty of disk space, ran CHKDSK and defragmented 2-3 times, one with Paragon. I'm able to generate (write) files to "invalid/unopenable" TEMP folders (one in WINNT, another in /......../LOCAL SETTINGS) Only one program (so far....), PaintShopPro, won't start. Two setup (install) exe files won't start, but one other has.

Thanks.

 

[wolluf]

chkdsk found no errors then?

have you checked the security permissions on:-

C:\WINDOWS\Temp
C:\Documents and Settings\your username\Local Settings\Temp

Obviously you should have full permissions to both, and so should the System user and Administrator's group. Check these are all in place - and replace them if any missing.

 

[rwbrick]

Correct -- CHKDSK found no errors. I do have full access/permission.

 

[wolluf]

But does the System user?

 

[rwbrick]

I'm exposing my abilities here, but what/where is a System User? I have (am) an Administrator, but I find no System user (ID)....

The two TEMP files (and all of my system files and most program folders/files) listed above are in a logical FAT32 drive which does not have settable permissions.

Further exposing myself, I tried to setup a new user called "Test" with full Administrator capabilities but can't: Uncle Bill makes you file a starter profile in a unique system folder but doesn't tell you which one! A bunch that I guessed at was WRONG -- and I swear I thought I heard a .WAV of Gates snickering.

One other oddity (??) I noticed: my main user profile is 32MB large, 100 times or so larger than other profiles. Is that an indication of anything?

 

[djhawthorn]

The system user is basically an account that the OS core services/kernel runs under; it can be granted (or denied) permissions to files and folders much like a user. You should check those folders mentioned before and make sure both the "System" user and "Administrators" group have full control. Of course, this is irrelevant if these folders are on FAT32 partitions...

The main user profile at 32MB is nothing to worry about - remember this includes that users My Documents folder, internet cache, Outlook (Express) Email, amongst other programs data and settings, temp files etc.

How much memory are you using once Windows boots up?

Have you tried emptying both temp folders? (Some files will be in use and won't be deleteable, but most should be if no programs are running).

MCSE NT4/W2K

 

[rwbrick]

Yes, I've emptied both TEMP folders. I've also created a test text file in them to assure normal access. They do pick up and store routine files that uSoft puts in them from time to time.

Of 256MB of RAM memory I characteristically run about 80MB free with brief periods of down to ~40MB and up to ~120MB free. My virtual memory usually is 50-75% free (of also 256MB.)