MCE not working after sp3 install

Question

Hi all, this is my first post and I hope you will be able to help me. I have a Dell Dimension running XP MCE. I install sp3 a few days ago through 'Automatic Updates@ and since then Media Centre will not work. I have seen a 'fix' for this on the Microsoft website that suggests uninstall sp3, install sp2 (I hadn't got it),and re-install sp3. Did that but MC still will not open. I get the following messeges when I try to open MC. 'Strong name validation failed for assembly 'C:\Windows\ehomeehshell.exe. The file may have been tampered with or it was partially signed with the correct private key'. When I click OK I get the following. 'Application has generated an exception that could not be handled'

Process id = Ox77c(1916)

Thread id = Oxbb0(2992)

I am then given the chance to debug which then generates a message to say that the debug cannot be found (or something like that)

Has anyone got a 'fix for this? I now know this is not an uncommon problem with sp3 but the possible remedies seem to be very complicated to me. I can do a few things but am not a techie.

Thanks for reading

Dave

Annie70 · Answer

http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&prid=11273&gprid=522131

http://download.microsoft.com/download/c/d/8/cd8cc719-7d5a-40d3-a802-e4057aa8c631/relnotes.htm

read down to this part.....

Windows XP Media Center Edition

This issue affects Windows XP Media Center Edition 2002.

If you install Windows XP SP3 on a computer running Windows XP Media Center Edition 2002 with SP1, Windows XP Media Center Edition may malfunction.

To avoid this...........

Message Edited by aps@sun on 09-06-2008 05:41 PM

Message Edited by aps@sun on 09-06-2008 05:44 PM

Message Edited by aps@sun on 09-06-2008 05:45 PM

dsteeley · Answer

Thanks for the reply aps@sun, but as I mentioned in my post, I have already tried the Microsoft 'fix' but it did not work.   Thanks   dsteeley

joe53 · Answer

When SP3 hosed my MCE, I found the following worked:

- Download and reinstall the .NET Framework 1.1 SP1:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=a8f5654f-088e-40b2-bbdb-a83353618b38&displaylang=en

- Go to the Start menu, choose Run and type CMD

- In the black box that opens, type this carefully (or, Copy/Paste):

%windir%\ehome\medctrro.exe /o /p RunOnce

- Reboot

If that does not work, I would uninstall SP3 by booting into Safe Mode, and uninstalling via Add or Remove Programs.

Message Edited by joe53 on 09-07-2008 08:35 AM

Annie70 · Answer

The next thing I would try is to uninstall service pack 3. Reboot. Then install service pack 2. You can download service pack 2 here.  Then install service pack 3.  Let me know if this works. Message Edited by aps@sun on 09-07-2008 08:06 AM

Annie70 · Answer

dsteeley, I am out of options. I thought perhaps joe53's fix might work. The only other option that I can think of is a complete reformat but that is so drastic.  Let's see if joe53 might have another option. Message Edited by aps@sun on 09-07-2008 02:51 PM

dsteeley · Answer

Thanks to you both for your replies.

Uninstalled sp3 >reboot >and then installed sp2 > reboot>install sp3= problem still there

Next tried this >Downloaded .NET Framework 1.1 SP1: > In the black box that opens, type this carefully (or, Copy/Paste):

%windir%\ehome\medctrro.exe /o /p RunOnce >

- Reboot

Still no change, problem persists.

I see that these fixes have worked for others with the same problem but not for everyone. I was hoping Microsoft might have produced a 'patch' as this seems to be affecting a lot of XP mce users.

Any ideas what I should try next or should I just look for an alternative to mce?

Thanks

joe53 · Answer

A few suggestions:

If, after uninstalling SP3 in Safe Mode, MCE works, consider going without SP3. It is not essential at this time, as long as you keep patches up-to-date.

But first go to the Microsoft Update site and install any MCE updates/Rollups offered (use the Custom option):
http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us

You might try the fix suggested here:
http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/permalink/266778/266778/ShowThread.aspx#266778

dsteeley · Answer

Hi aps@sun, yes I'd also thought about a complete reinstall but I would then have to block out any attempt of an sp3 update in case the same thing happened again. I don't think there is a way of reinstalling media centre without reinstalling the whole OS. I'm hoping Microsoft might come up with a proper 'fix' (their current one does not work) seeing as how they have caused the fault in the first place with the sp3 update. I might email Dell technical services and see if they can offer some advice.

Thanks

dsteeley

dsteeley · Answer

I've seen this as a proposed fix on another forum but am not sure of a few things. When, after typing 'cmd' you get a black box, do I copy & paste all of the commands at the same time and then reboot or should I copy commands individually and reboot after each? After copy & paste into black box do I then click restart or should I press 'enter' before I reboot? Thought someone here might know answers to these questions.

Close Media Center
Click on the Start menu, choose run and type cmd
Execute the command regsvr32.exe atl.dll
Execute the command C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehSched /unregServer
Execute the command C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehSched /service
Execute the command C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehRecvr /unregServer
Execute the command C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehRecvr /service
Execute the command C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehRec.exe /unregServer
Execute the command C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehRec.exe /regserver
Execute the command C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehmsas.exe /unregServer
Execute the command C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehmsas.exe /regserver
Restart Media Center

dsteeley · Answer

Thanks for the links joe53, dosen't look too easy for a non-techie like me but will give them a go.  May have to wait til tomorrow as work calls.   Thanks   dsteeley

Larry R · Answer

@dsteeley wrote:

... When, after typing 'cmd' you get a black box, do I copy & paste all of the commands at the same time and then reboot or should I copy commands individually and reboot after each? After copy & paste into black box do I then click restart or should I press 'enter' before I reboot?

You run each command individually (e.g. type in the command then hit enter, then type the next command ...). You would reboot after you have completed all of the listed commands.

dsteeley · Answer

Thanks Larry, that is what I needed to know.   dsteeley

dsteeley · Answer

Tried the fixes proposed on various forums including this one but no joy getting my MC running again. Saw another post on page 1 about repairing XP with a CD. I have the XPMCE CD from Dell. If I use this and select the repair option do you think it would repair the MC problems?

Thanks

dsteeley

dsteeley · Answer

Hi all, just thought I'd let you know that I seem to have fixed my XPMCE problem. I followed the advice given here. http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/permalink/266778/266778/ShowThread.aspx#266778

Thanks

dsteeley

Annie70 · Answer

dsteely, Thanks for letting us know that your problem is solved and what the solution was.

Windows General

MCE not working after sp3 install

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