Thank you for using the
Dell Community Forum. What is the exact error message you get, word for word?
1.Use system restore to go back to a date before the problem started.
2.Try performing a Windows repair install.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Using System Restore.
1.Click on (Start,Programs, Accessories,System Tools, System Restore.)
2.Check the box for (Restore my computer to an earlier time)
3.Click Next.
4.Choose a (Restore Date.) before the problem started.
5.Click Next.
6.Click Next again.
7.The system should restore and reboot.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Warning*
A repair install will wipe out all Microsoft updates and SP1.
You need to have SP1 ready to reinstall after the repair install.
You should also reinstall the Microsoft updates that you deem necessary.
How do I perform a Repair Reinstall of Microsoft® Windows® XP?
Discussion
Windows XP includes a new reinstall option, the Repair Reinstall. This option should be used when you have determined that the operating system files are corrupt, but you do not want to completely format the hard drive and reinstall the operating system.
What a Repair Reinstall Will Do
Delete all of the files normally installed by Windows XP.
Reinstall those files from the Windows XP CD.
What a Repair Reinstall Will Not Do
Completely rebuild the registry. A Repair Reinstall only writes to parts of the registry used by Windows XP. It will not completely rebuild the registry.
Delete applications and user settings. A Repair Reinstall will generally leave applications and user settings in the state they were before the Repair was attempted. All applications should remain functional, and all user settings should remain the way they were.
Fix issues caused by corrupt applications or user settings. Since the Repair Reinstall does not affect user or application settings, it will not repair issue stemming from those settings being corrupt.
Solution
Performing a Repair Reinstall
1.Insert the Windows XP CD into the CD or DVD drive.
2.Configure your system to boot to the CD drive.
3.Restart the computer.
4.When the computer prompts Press any key to boot from CD, press the (Spacebar).
5.The Welcome to Setup screen appears.
6.Press the (Enter) key to continue.
7.The system scans to see which hard drives are available.
8.When the license agreement screen appears, press the (F8) key to accept the license agreement.
9. You should now see: (C:\Windows )
Press F3 to quit, R to repair, ECS not to repair.
You want to press R at this point.
Windows will begin to load some files...asking you to please wait.
10.Setup will proceed with the installation sequence appropriate to the version of Windows XP being repaired.
Once setup is complete, the system will restart.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
I performed a "Repair Reinstall" of Windows XP Professional SP1 as you suggested. All of the Windows XP updates from Windows Update are pending installation. I plan on holding these updates until the system proves stable.
This morning I have had several reoccurences of the NTDLL.DLL failure. Here is a copy of the information from the event log:
For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp. Data: 0000: 41 70 70 6c 69 63 61 74 Applicat 0008: 69 6f 6e 20 46 61 69 6c ion Fail 0010: 75 72 65 20 20 65 78 70 ure exp 0018: 6c 6f 72 65 72 2e 65 78 lorer.ex 0020: 65 20 36 2e 30 2e 32 38 e 6.0.28 0028: 30 30 2e 31 31 30 36 20 00.1106 0030: 69 6e 20 6e 74 64 6c 6c in ntdll 0038: 2e 64 6c 6c 20 35 2e 31 .dll 5.1 0040: 2e 32 36 30 30 2e 31 31 .2600.11 0048: 30 36 20 61 74 20 6f 66 06 at of 0050: 66 73 65 74 20 30 30 30 fset 000 0058: 30 32 31 30 39 0d 0a 02109..
NTDLL fails while just browsing with Windows Explorer. I get no runtime message, just a dialog box letting me know that Explorer has to close and do I want to send in a trouble report. I always send the trouble report.
Just to reiterate ... this is a big problem for me. I cannot rely on my system to perform any work. Everytime I have to perform a function that requires file I/O I never know if it's going to work or fail. I can't get any work done!!
Please advise on a next step.
PS: I received my system on 2/9/2003 and there is no point, before this problem began, to go back to. So recovering to a previous date is not an option for me. This problem has existed since the beginning.
1.Try stopping all background programs.
2.Reset the bios defaults.
3.Disconnect all external devices except your mouse,keyboard, and monitor.
4.You may want to open the system and reseat your memory and expansion cards. A loose memory module or expansion card could cause this problem.
5.Run the CHKDSK utility.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
**Clearing the Startup Folder.**
Click on (Start,Programs,)
Find the (Startup) folder, and right click the mouse button over it.
You should get a small gray windows.
Go down to "Explore" and left click on "Explore"
You should get a "Startup" window that is split in two.
High light and delete all the icons on the right hand side of the Window.
**Using MSconfig to stop all background programs.**
Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type msconfig, and then click OK.
The System Configuration Utility starts.
Click the General tab, and then click Selective Startup.
Under Selective Startup, click to clear the following check boxes:
Process SYSTEM.INI file
Process WIN.INI file
Load Startup Items
Then...
Click the Startup tab.
Uncheck every entry.
Left-click on "Apply" and then left-click on "OK."
A message will appear stating that "For the changes to take place, the system must be restarted." Left-click on the "OK" button, and the system will begin the restart.
If the problem stops, you must then isolate the cause of it.
Using msconfig again, to back to the startup tab.
Recheck one entry click Apply, OK, and reboot the system.
Keep using this process until you find the entry that is causing the problem.
Once you have found that entry, leave it unchecked and recheck everything else.
Click Apply, Ok, and reboot the system for the last time.
"Process of elimination"...
If having problems with an application or driver, it is best to try and reload
the application or driver. If reloading the application or driver does not fix the
problem, then you may want to leave it unchecked under the startup tab.
You may also want to check and see if there is an updated version of that
application or driver.
Msconfig can be used to stop all programs from loading at startup to free up system resources.
The true intention of MSconfig is to be used as a troubleshooting tool to isolate programs that may be causing problems.
**Delete old dos/legacy configuration files.**
Search the system for these files, delete them.
Autoexec.bat
Config.sys
Win.ini
-Delete "All" the files and folders in the ( C:\Windows\Temp ) and
( C:\Windows\Temporary Internet Files ) folder.
Search the system for any ( *.TMP ) files, and delete them.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Entering Bios:
1.Using the F2 key the user may enter System Setup program.
If you are having trouble entering setup using this key,
press the F2 key when the keyboard leds 1st flash.
Also, (Ctrl-Alt-Enter) key sequence will still work.
Once you are in the System Setup Program (BIOS),
the top of the screen will read: Dell Dimension 8250
2.Resetting the default settings.
Press and activate the following keys.
(Capslock, Scroll Lock, Num Lock.)
When all three keyboard lights are lit, press the following keys.
( ALT-E )
With the keyboard lights lit, Clears the ESCD information stored in the NVRAM.
( ALT-F )
Resets all fields in the system setup to their factory default settings.
ALT-D With an individual field highlighted, resets the field to its factory default.
(ALT-B)
Exits System Setup, saving any changes, and reboots the system.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
How should I run CHKDSK or what switches should I use?
Answer:
There are several ways to run CHKDSK.
*Option 1:
1.Open My Computer.
2.Right click on the Hard drive, click Properties.
3.Click on the Tools Tab.
4.Under Error Checking click on Check Now.
5.Click the Start button to run Check Disk.
Using choosing the options "Automaticaly fix files.... or Scan for and Attempt recovery... " you will get the following message:
"The disk check could not be performed because exclusive access to the drive could not be obtained.
Do you want to schedule this disk check to occur the next time you restart the computer?"
Simply click on YES.
*Option 2:
1.Click on Start, Run.
2.Type in CHKDSK and press Enter.
3.Check Disk will run a very quick check of the drive.
*Option 3:
Complete Check:
1.Click on Start, Run.
2.Type in Command and click Ok.
3.Type in CHKDSK /F or /R and click Ok.
You will get a message:
"The disk check could not be performed because exclusive access to the drive could not be obtained.
Do you want to schedule this disk check to occur the next time you restart the computer?"
4.Press Y for yes.
5.Close the command prompt and reboot the system.
/F switch Fixes errors on the disk.
/R Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information, implies /F switch.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
After experiencing more failures of NTDLL.DLL on Friday night, I decided to examine the properties of the folder I was trying to display (with Windows Explorer) when NTDLL.DLL last failed. To my surprise I found the READ ONLY attribute set. Since my data folders under Windows 95, 98 or NT did not have a READ ONLY attribute set, I turned off the attribute for this folder. Following this action, the folder contents displayed much quicker with Windows Explorer, than before. It seemed as if something internally had been "cleaned up" or reset. Next I went to the root folder of My Documents and examined the properties of this folder. It also had a READ ONLY attribute set. So I turned off the READ ONLY attribute and let it propagate to all sub-folders -- resetting all of my data folders.
I have been using my system heavily, for 3 days now, without a single failure of NTDLL.DLL. I wish I had a better explanation, but it seems that resetting the READ ONLY attribute on all of my data folders resolved the problem. How the attribute got set in the first place, I don't know.
I will update this discussion thread if any new information comes to light. For now, my NTDLL.DLL problems have gone away. I will proceed to apply my queued-up Windows XP updates, 1 per day until all are applied or I again begin having problems with NTDLL.DLL.
Best regards. JEK.
PS: When I reset the READ ONLY attribute, Windows reported the progress through a dialog box while the reset was executing. However, after it was complete, the READ ONLY attribute continues to display as "set". I know the system took action on my request to clear the READ ONLY attribute, but it still shows as set. This seems odd to me and if anyone has an explanation, please eMail me (james.kafka@cobaltwavetech.com).
Message Edited by CobaltWave on 02-18-2003 12:34 PM
Karell
2 Intern
•
2.5K Posts
0
February 13th, 2003 12:00
Thank you for using the Dell Community Forum.
What is the exact error message you get, word for word?
1.Use system restore to go back to a date before the problem started.
2.Try performing a Windows repair install.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Using System Restore.
1.Click on (Start,Programs, Accessories,System Tools, System Restore.)
2.Check the box for (Restore my computer to an earlier time)
3.Click Next.
4.Choose a (Restore Date.) before the problem started.
5.Click Next.
6.Click Next again.
7.The system should restore and reboot.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Warning*
A repair install will wipe out all Microsoft updates and SP1.
You need to have SP1 ready to reinstall after the repair install.
You should also reinstall the Microsoft updates that you deem necessary.
How do I perform a Repair Reinstall of Microsoft® Windows® XP?
Discussion
Windows XP includes a new reinstall option, the Repair Reinstall. This option should be used when you have determined that the operating system files are corrupt, but you do not want to completely format the hard drive and reinstall the operating system.
What a Repair Reinstall Will Do
Delete all of the files normally installed by Windows XP.
Reinstall those files from the Windows XP CD.
What a Repair Reinstall Will Not Do
Completely rebuild the registry. A Repair Reinstall only writes to parts of the registry used by Windows XP. It will not completely rebuild the registry.
Delete applications and user settings. A Repair Reinstall will generally leave applications and user settings in the state they were before the Repair was attempted. All applications should remain functional, and all user settings should remain the way they were.
Fix issues caused by corrupt applications or user settings. Since the Repair Reinstall does not affect user or application settings, it will not repair issue stemming from those settings being corrupt.
Solution
Performing a Repair Reinstall
1.Insert the Windows XP CD into the CD or DVD drive.
2.Configure your system to boot to the CD drive.
3.Restart the computer.
4.When the computer prompts Press any key to boot from CD, press the (Spacebar).
5.The Welcome to Setup screen appears.
6.Press the (Enter) key to continue.
7.The system scans to see which hard drives are available.
8.When the license agreement screen appears, press the (F8) key to accept the license agreement.
9. You should now see: (C:\Windows )
Press F3 to quit, R to repair, ECS not to repair.
You want to press R at this point.
Windows will begin to load some files...asking you to please wait.
10.Setup will proceed with the installation sequence appropriate to the version of Windows XP being repaired.
Once setup is complete, the system will restart.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
CobaltWave
4 Posts
0
February 14th, 2003 13:00
I performed a "Repair Reinstall" of Windows XP Professional SP1 as you suggested. All of the Windows XP updates from Windows Update are pending installation. I plan on holding these updates until the system proves stable.
This morning I have had several reoccurences of the NTDLL.DLL failure. Here is a copy of the information from the event log:
Event Type: Error
Event Source: Application Error
Event Category: None
Event ID: 1000
Date: 2/14/2003
Time: 10:07:25 AM
User: N/A
Computer: CWT
Description:
Faulting application explorer.exe, version 6.0.2800.1106, faulting module ntdll.dll, version 5.1.2600.1106, fault address 0x00002109.
For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
Data:
0000: 41 70 70 6c 69 63 61 74 Applicat
0008: 69 6f 6e 20 46 61 69 6c ion Fail
0010: 75 72 65 20 20 65 78 70 ure exp
0018: 6c 6f 72 65 72 2e 65 78 lorer.ex
0020: 65 20 36 2e 30 2e 32 38 e 6.0.28
0028: 30 30 2e 31 31 30 36 20 00.1106
0030: 69 6e 20 6e 74 64 6c 6c in ntdll
0038: 2e 64 6c 6c 20 35 2e 31 .dll 5.1
0040: 2e 32 36 30 30 2e 31 31 .2600.11
0048: 30 36 20 61 74 20 6f 66 06 at of
0050: 66 73 65 74 20 30 30 30 fset 000
0058: 30 32 31 30 39 0d 0a 02109..
NTDLL fails while just browsing with Windows Explorer. I get no runtime message, just a dialog box letting me know that Explorer has to close and do I want to send in a trouble report. I always send the trouble report.
Just to reiterate ... this is a big problem for me. I cannot rely on my system to perform any work. Everytime I have to perform a function that requires file I/O I never know if it's going to work or fail. I can't get any work done!!
Please advise on a next step.
PS: I received my system on 2/9/2003 and there is no point, before this problem began, to go back to. So recovering to a previous date is not an option for me. This problem has existed since the beginning.
Karell
2 Intern
•
2.5K Posts
0
February 14th, 2003 16:00
What software have you installed on the system?
1.Try stopping all background programs.
2.Reset the bios defaults.
3.Disconnect all external devices except your mouse,keyboard, and monitor.
4.You may want to open the system and reseat your memory and expansion cards. A loose memory module or expansion card could cause this problem.
5.Run the CHKDSK utility.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
**Clearing the Startup Folder.**
Click on (Start,Programs,)
Find the (Startup) folder, and right click the mouse button over it.
You should get a small gray windows.
Go down to "Explore" and left click on "Explore"
You should get a "Startup" window that is split in two.
High light and delete all the icons on the right hand side of the Window.
**Using MSconfig to stop all background programs.**
Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type msconfig, and then click OK.
The System Configuration Utility starts.
Click the General tab, and then click Selective Startup.
Under Selective Startup, click to clear the following check boxes:
Process SYSTEM.INI file
Process WIN.INI file
Load Startup Items
Then...
Click the Startup tab.
Uncheck every entry.
Left-click on "Apply" and then left-click on "OK."
A message will appear stating that "For the changes to take place, the system must be restarted." Left-click on the "OK" button, and the system will begin the restart.
If the problem stops, you must then isolate the cause of it.
Using msconfig again, to back to the startup tab.
Recheck one entry click Apply, OK, and reboot the system.
Keep using this process until you find the entry that is causing the problem.
Once you have found that entry, leave it unchecked and recheck everything else.
Click Apply, Ok, and reboot the system for the last time.
"Process of elimination"...
If having problems with an application or driver, it is best to try and reload
the application or driver. If reloading the application or driver does not fix the
problem, then you may want to leave it unchecked under the startup tab.
You may also want to check and see if there is an updated version of that
application or driver.
Msconfig can be used to stop all programs from loading at startup to free up system resources.
The true intention of MSconfig is to be used as a troubleshooting tool to isolate programs that may be causing problems.
**Delete old dos/legacy configuration files.**
Search the system for these files, delete them.
Autoexec.bat
Config.sys
Win.ini
-Delete "All" the files and folders in the ( C:\Windows\Temp ) and
( C:\Windows\Temporary Internet Files ) folder.
Search the system for any ( *.TMP ) files, and delete them.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Entering Bios:
1.Using the F2 key the user may enter System Setup program.
If you are having trouble entering setup using this key,
press the F2 key when the keyboard leds 1st flash.
Also, (Ctrl-Alt-Enter) key sequence will still work.
Once you are in the System Setup Program (BIOS),
the top of the screen will read: Dell Dimension 8250
2.Resetting the default settings.
Press and activate the following keys.
(Capslock, Scroll Lock, Num Lock.)
When all three keyboard lights are lit, press the following keys.
( ALT-E )
With the keyboard lights lit, Clears the ESCD information stored in the NVRAM.
( ALT-F )
Resets all fields in the system setup to their factory default settings.
ALT-D With an individual field highlighted, resets the field to its factory default.
(ALT-B)
Exits System Setup, saving any changes, and reboots the system.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
How should I run CHKDSK or what switches should I use?
Answer:
There are several ways to run CHKDSK.
*Option 1:
1.Open My Computer.
2.Right click on the Hard drive, click Properties.
3.Click on the Tools Tab.
4.Under Error Checking click on Check Now.
5.Click the Start button to run Check Disk.
Using choosing the options "Automaticaly fix files.... or Scan for and Attempt recovery... " you will get the following message:
"The disk check could not be performed because exclusive access to the drive could not be obtained.
Do you want to schedule this disk check to occur the next time you restart the computer?"
Simply click on YES.
*Option 2:
1.Click on Start, Run.
2.Type in CHKDSK and press Enter.
3.Check Disk will run a very quick check of the drive.
*Option 3:
Complete Check:
1.Click on Start, Run.
2.Type in Command and click Ok.
3.Type in CHKDSK /F or /R and click Ok.
You will get a message:
"The disk check could not be performed because exclusive access to the drive could not be obtained.
Do you want to schedule this disk check to occur the next time you restart the computer?"
4.Press Y for yes.
5.Close the command prompt and reboot the system.
/F switch Fixes errors on the disk.
/R Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information, implies /F switch.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
CobaltWave
4 Posts
0
February 18th, 2003 03:00
After experiencing more failures of NTDLL.DLL on Friday night, I decided to examine the properties of the folder I was trying to display (with Windows Explorer) when NTDLL.DLL last failed. To my surprise I found the READ ONLY attribute set. Since my data folders under Windows 95, 98 or NT did not have a READ ONLY attribute set, I turned off the attribute for this folder. Following this action, the folder contents displayed much quicker with Windows Explorer, than before. It seemed as if something internally had been "cleaned up" or reset. Next I went to the root folder of My Documents and examined the properties of this folder. It also had a READ ONLY attribute set. So I turned off the READ ONLY attribute and let it propagate to all sub-folders -- resetting all of my data folders.
I have been using my system heavily, for 3 days now, without a single failure of NTDLL.DLL. I wish I had a better explanation, but it seems that resetting the READ ONLY attribute on all of my data folders resolved the problem. How the attribute got set in the first place, I don't know.
I will update this discussion thread if any new information comes to light. For now, my NTDLL.DLL problems have gone away. I will proceed to apply my queued-up Windows XP updates, 1 per day until all are applied or I again begin having problems with NTDLL.DLL.
Best regards. JEK.
PS: When I reset the READ ONLY attribute, Windows reported the progress through a dialog box while the reset was executing. However, after it was complete, the READ ONLY attribute continues to display as "set". I know the system took action on my request to clear the READ ONLY attribute, but it still shows as set. This seems odd to me and if anyone has an explanation, please eMail me (james.kafka@cobaltwavetech.com).
Message Edited by CobaltWave on 02-18-2003 12:34 PM
Karell
2 Intern
•
2.5K Posts
0
February 19th, 2003 15:00
Thanks for the additional info, that certainly is strange...
FinnD
1 Message
0
January 29th, 2004 11:00
Hi.
I have just the same problem. Used hours of testing and diagnosting, checking on MS knowledgebase and so on.
I moved the documents to c:\
Flagged all files read/write
No more problem.
Best regards
Finn :-D
JRosenfeld
2 Intern
•
4.4K Posts
0
January 29th, 2004 15:00
All those folders are marked as read only on my system, and I have no problems (XPSP1 home, with all updates).
Probably not relevant, but I did find this, that might apply also to other software not listed, and/or other Video card.
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=166125
Message Edited by JRosenfeld on 01-29-2004 05:34 PM