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Faustus1

21 Posts

72547

February 5th, 2006 17:00

Sonic Activation Module prompt driving me to despair - help required

Has anyone come across this problem on a Dell Laptop or any other PC for that matter? I keep having a problem when booting up the machine. I get the windows installer trying to configure something called the Sonic Update Manager. Now according to the Sonic site this problem must not be unknown as there is a patch and if that does not work they advise uninstalling it, which I have. However, I also keep getting the message. Sonic Activation Module. The feature you are trying to use is on a CD Rom or other removable disk that is not available - Insert the Sonic Activation Module disk and click OK, use source 1. The thing is the Dell does not come with any disks everything is pre-loaded and is somewhere on the HD. I am at my wits end with this message. The only way to get rid of it is to shut it down in the task manager, which is only a temporary fix. Any ideas or solutions welcomed. If I shut down using the Hibernate option then I do not have this issue, it is only on a proper shutdown and startup that the problem resurfaces. I have tried every cleaning tool etc. to no avail. I have uninstalled all Roxio applications again to no avail. After performing a restore which returned the Laptop to a point before I uninstalled the Roxio applications which are now back, however, I cannot use them now as I am being prompted for a disk for those applications, and yes you’ve guessed it, there are no disks. This particular hiccup re: Roxio is not the end of the world as I have Nero on disk, but the Sonic Activation Module prompt really has me beat. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Faustus1

21 Posts

February 6th, 2006 17:00

I thought someone else may have experienced this problem and would have a solution - sadly it seems not.  What's worse is that Dell tech have failed to respond to my email request for help, so much for their twenty four hour promise, I have been waiting four days.

maecke

9 Posts

February 6th, 2006 18:00

Hi! I had the same problem after removing some unusefull programs from my new Dell Dimension PC. :smileymad: Here is how to handle this:
 
Install de newest Windows Installer version (3.1 v2) from Microsoft's Website:
 
After installing it, the Sonic Activation Module should not be displayed again. Please let me know, if this works for you too, thanks buddy! :smileywink:

Faustus1

21 Posts

February 6th, 2006 21:00

You beaute maecke as the Aussies would say, downloading the latest installer as per your suggestion has worked.  I cannot tell you how relieved I am, I really was ready for throwing this Laptop through the window.  This is clearly a fault that Dell need to rectify prior to delivering these products to customers.  How people with little knowledge of computers go on I just cannot imagine.

maecke

9 Posts

February 7th, 2006 06:00

Hello mate! "Bitte, gärn gscheh", as the Swiss would say! :smileyhappy: In other words: you're welcome!
 
It took me hours to find a solution to eliminate this nerve-racking Sonic message... It seems to be a newer problem. Thanks to my little knowledge of several languages (such as german, french, english) i was able to understand the few forum entries with descriptions of how to remove this :robotmad: message for all times...
 
Sunny and cold :smileysurprised: greetings from beautiful Switzerland!

maecke

9 Posts

February 7th, 2006 11:00

Another tool that could be helpful for others is the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301/en

It helped somebody else to handle the same problem with the "Sonic activation module"-Message.
Cheers! :smileyvery-happy:

aerithian

3 Posts

February 7th, 2006 13:00

I have only had my pc about a week, and I am experiencing the same sonic activation module nonsense so I put it in a search engine and found on a lot of forums people are having the same problem, however the solution that seems to work for most people, downloading the new windows installer has not worked for me, neither has the windows installer cleaner thing...any more ideas? :S

maecke

9 Posts

February 7th, 2006 15:00

What did you remove from your computer before this Sonic Actvation Module message appeared the first time?
 
I've removed ALL Sonic and Roxio software before installing the latest version of Windows Installer (3.1 V2).
 
Do you still have some Sonic or Roxio software on your computer?

Faustus1

21 Posts

February 7th, 2006 17:00

Another little tool that is invaluable is Regclean. It does what the name suggests and cleans up all the old or corrupt registry files left on your PC when you delete or uninstall. I suggest you use this first to get rid of all Roxio and Sonic software and then install the new Windows installer.  I am pretty disillusioned with Dell support over this issue as I have sent them no less than three requests for assistance - all emails although given a unique reference number have gone unanswered.  We in the UK are stuck with the Indian call centre and to be quite honest the whole operation appears to be shambolic, at least Dell's USA customers have got their own support.  It appears that Europe doesn't count when it comes to customer support.  Anyway rant over, try what I suggested and I'm sure that this should work.  I think Dell know this is a big issue hence their silence.

aerithian

3 Posts

February 7th, 2006 19:00

Yeah as far as I'm aware I've got rid of all the programmes via add/remove programmes and I've searched for files and folders with 'sonic' or 'roxio' in and deleted all of those too, and it's still doing it, i've also re-installed the new windows installer a couple of times, still comes up!  Where can I get that other program?

Faustus1

21 Posts

February 7th, 2006 20:00

Try here for Regcleaner  http://www.majorgeeks.com/download460.html
Hope this works.

normanv

2 Posts

February 8th, 2006 07:00

I had exactly the same problem on a new laptop. Updated to the new Windows Installer version as suggested here and elswhere over the web but had no effect.........

Have just downloaded however the WINDOWS INSTALLER CLEANUP UTILITY as suggested above and bingo.......running this produces a list of applications that are held within the Installer and one of these is actually listed as "Sonic Activation Module".........

You simply delete it and it's gone.  Hope it works for others.

 

Faustus1

21 Posts

February 8th, 2006 15:00

Also please see below a fix just supplied by Dell Technicians today.  It has only taken them about a week, still better late than never.

 

Please find below the fix for this issue.

Start the system in Safe Mode.

To do this Turn on the computer

Immediately begin tapping the key.

Use the arrow keys to highlight Safe Mode and press the key.

When windows loads please log in.

Click on Sonic Digital Media to launch software.

Within the software go to Tools and then Options.

In the Options Screen make sure that General is highlighted on the left.

Under the Startup section remove the tick beside Download Updates on Startup.

Click OK

 

Next go to Start and Run.

Type in MSCONFIG

Go to the Startup Tab on the right.

Disable the following 2 items in the list.

ISUSPM

ISSCH

Click Apply and the Close - When prompted to do so Restart the System and let it run into Normal Windows.

This should prevent the Sonic Update Manager from trying to Launch on every startup.

aerithian

3 Posts

February 8th, 2006 20:00

Woohoo. Yeah that Windows Installer Clean Up Utility did the trick. It took a few goes to download it right though...What a pain though...I mean so many people having the same annoying problem, Dell should have got on top of it by now, still, glad it's sorted, thanks for all the help...I feel like this trauma has bought us all together somehow...like we've bonded through these troubled times...I need to get out more! Seriously though, thanks a lot for all the help.

normanv

2 Posts

February 9th, 2006 07:00

A somewhat tedious fix from Dell.......personally I would recommend simply running the WINDOWS INSTALLER CLEANUP UTILITY first.  After all that's what it's for.........

cryingoutloud

3 Posts

February 9th, 2006 08:00

hello, recently purchased Dell Inspiron 6000.  i too am experiencing all this SONIC stuff and its driving me potty.

i have tried exactly as you have but no success - when booting up this activations malarky kicks in and it takes several click on CANCEL to get rid of it.  have tried registering the pre-installed roxio stuff but it still happens.

I also have a sony vaio with roxio installed - have never had this problem with the sony.

should you find a way to resolve this please could you let me know.

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