You may well be better off to revert back to the settings you had when you first received your PC using the Symantec Dell reinstall - drastic I know but sometimes the best option. Once you have done that then go into msconfig and uncheck the items previously mentioned. I am sure that if you follow this procedure you will not have an recurrence of this problem in the future
1. Sonic Update Manager
2. Sonic Activation Module
The hotfix fixes #1 for a lot of people, I see.
I have broken #2 and the hot fix doesn't do me any good.
[rant]
What a disappointing software installer by Sonic! I don't blame Dell. I bet Sonic just messed up packaging dependencies, so it's now too easy to break one installation be uninstalling other products. Saving money on testing, must be? Also, how stupid is that there is no uninstaller? Or well, they rely on InstallSchield. It would help if Sonic learned how to use it. Such a disappointment. Off to call Dell to get CDs, which they decided to keep to themselves. I want them! Actually, if Dell sent those CDs, I would have had something to insert when Sonic asks for Activate.MSI. Dell also is not that innocent in the packaging department after all.
[/rant]
Dell sent me the CD's, in fact they were most helpful in that respect. However, inserting the CD as requested by the Sonic Activation module did not help me one bit, I got the message that the CD was not the correct one, or something along those lines. I too had corrupted the Sonic software somehow. Anyway to cut a long story short I did a complete reinstall and then unchecked the offending items in msconfig and to date the problem has never resurfaced. Hope this info assists.
I've read somewhere that uninstalling 60-day trials of Corel Paint Shop or Photo Album causes this havoc, as it removes some Sonic shared resources. If so, a lot of people will be burned by that sooner of later, as trial versions should be expected to be removed more often than bought.
Let's agree that disabling offending startups via msconfig, hijeckthis, msicuu2, or regedit just masks the problem. It is not a proper fix. Dell, Corel, and Sonic should probably look at this situation together.
I can confirm that: I received my brand new Dimension on Monday afternoon, uninstalled the Corel trial suite in the evening because I don't intend to use that, and immediately started to have the problems described here.
After uninstalling the Sonic Update Manager, I hit the Activation Module problem, which I could only solve with the Sonic hotfix mentioned above.
I have the same problem and all of your suggestions are VERY helpful. However I have a question regarding the suggestion to remove all sonic and roxio componants. If I do that will it take away my ability to burn CD's adn DVD's? I thought those were the software that allows that?
If you remove all the Sonic software then yes you will not be able to use Roxio for CD DVD burning etc. However, if you simply use the msconfig menu to uncheck the items mentioned in previous posts that will stop the Sonic Activation module from running at every startup but you will still be able to use Roxio. Hope this information helps - this is what I have done by the way, plus I unchecked the update box in Roxio itself. I enclose the actual email from Dell technical support.
Thank you for your email
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
Nice work Dell. This is NOT a fix! This turns off a feature in InstallShield so that you won't receive ANY installation messages - even from other programs.
They might as well have said "Turn off monitor. That way you won't see the offending Sonic Module prompt. Thanks for buying a Dell!"
After trying all of the other fixes posted here, this Roxio hotfix solved the issue on my new computer. Thanx!
My rant: My computer was only 5 days old when this problem surfaced. I contacted Dell "customer support" to get help. After sending me to [India] hardware supprt, software support kindly informed me that I did not purchase software support for my new computer. Therfore, I would have to pay a $99 incident fee to have them debug the problem. After I threatened to return the computer, they offered to help me "reset" my computer to the factory image. Great - then the next time I uninstall the Roxio software, I will get the same error message. No thanx.
To summarize: I spent $1800 on this new computer I started using less than a week ago. Dell actually expects me to pay additional money to have them fix software that I did not request be installed on my computer in the first place. K.M.A. Dell.
This is my fourth Dell computer - it will be my last. The headaches of building my own computer are less than having to deal with this garbage.
Buy
Bye Dell!
this forum is the only thing that saved my sanity. I am a firm believer that Dell is getting a huge kickback from these trial software package companies and thus have no incentive to make them easy to deinstall.
I also went thru the most aggravating experiences while getting rid of the expensive stuff that they certain file types etc defaulted to.
It aint just the Sonic and Corel and Roxio. After two chat sessions with India that, at best only ended up bypassing the problem, (using the regedit and msconfig of startup issues) the forum saved me by recommending the installer cleanup utility from microsoft.
My first ridiculous experience with pre-installed software was with McAfee. I didn't want to pay for the security suite because my ISP provides the CA suite free of charge, I decided to remove McAfee.
It was nearly impossible to remove. I tried to use the add/remove programs but the only thing that shows was the "McAfee unistaller". Any sane person would realize that the last thing that they wanted to remove was the uninstaller. After searching high and low to find the "uninstaller" program (looking for insiduous hidden files etc), I ended up with Dell Indian chat. They told me to remove McAfee with regedit. Bad mistake. McAfee was still around (and still preventing me from loading CA) but now some of the product headings were replaced with garbage characters. I ended up restoring my PC to factory condition.
However, knowing that I was going to do a total restore I went into add/remove programs ahead of time and clicked "remove" for the "McAfee uninstaller". SURPRISE SURPRISE - a new window opens up asking which McAfee product do you wish to unistall.
Everytime i switch on my lap top it comes up with sonic activation module pls insert cd. I have to delete or ok 8 or 9 times before it goes, pleeeese help.
Faustus1
21 Posts
0
March 5th, 2006 12:00
phclaude
1 Message
0
March 11th, 2006 11:00
Hello, i m desoled but i'm speak french and my english is not perfect !! You can go to this adress :
http://kb.roxio.com/content/kb/000001MD
And you execute this programm *.exe
For me, no problem, that's perfect.
Bonne chance and see you
Phil:smileyhappy:
b_katy
2 Posts
0
March 12th, 2006 09:00
Thanx guys. problem solved, dell is working perfectly now :smileyhappy:
Thanx for all your help
xxx
appp
3 Posts
0
March 20th, 2006 14:00
There are annoying breakages in TWO applications:
1. Sonic Update Manager
2. Sonic Activation Module
The hotfix fixes #1 for a lot of people, I see.
I have broken #2 and the hot fix doesn't do me any good.
[rant]
What a disappointing software installer by Sonic! I don't blame Dell. I bet Sonic just messed up packaging dependencies, so it's now too easy to break one installation be uninstalling other products. Saving money on testing, must be? Also, how stupid is that there is no uninstaller? Or well, they rely on InstallSchield. It would help if Sonic learned how to use it. Such a disappointment. Off to call Dell to get CDs, which they decided to keep to themselves. I want them! Actually, if Dell sent those CDs, I would have had something to insert when Sonic asks for Activate.MSI. Dell also is not that innocent in the packaging department after all.
[/rant]
Faustus1
21 Posts
0
March 20th, 2006 17:00
appp
3 Posts
0
March 21st, 2006 11:00
Let's agree that disabling offending startups via msconfig, hijeckthis, msicuu2, or regedit just masks the problem. It is not a proper fix. Dell, Corel, and Sonic should probably look at this situation together.
jmghy
1 Message
0
March 22nd, 2006 09:00
After uninstalling the Sonic Update Manager, I hit the Activation Module problem, which I could only solve with the Sonic hotfix mentioned above.
A very messy installation, if you ask me...
bnaki
1 Message
0
March 23rd, 2006 23:00
Faustus1
21 Posts
0
March 24th, 2006 07:00
Thank you for your email
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.
Quatrelle
2 Posts
0
March 24th, 2006 09:00
Red Karl
2 Posts
0
March 25th, 2006 17:00
Nice work Dell. This is NOT a fix! This turns off a feature in InstallShield so that you won't receive ANY installation messages - even from other programs.
They might as well have said "Turn off monitor. That way you won't see the offending Sonic Module prompt. Thanks for buying a Dell!"
Crapolla!
Red Karl
2 Posts
0
March 25th, 2006 17:00
After trying all of the other fixes posted here, this Roxio hotfix solved the issue on my new computer. Thanx!
My rant: My computer was only 5 days old when this problem surfaced. I contacted Dell "customer support" to get help. After sending me to [India] hardware supprt, software support kindly informed me that I did not purchase software support for my new computer. Therfore, I would have to pay a $99 incident fee to have them debug the problem. After I threatened to return the computer, they offered to help me "reset" my computer to the factory image. Great - then the next time I uninstall the Roxio software, I will get the same error message. No thanx.
To summarize: I spent $1800 on this new computer I started using less than a week ago. Dell actually expects me to pay additional money to have them fix software that I did not request be installed on my computer in the first place. K.M.A. Dell.
This is my fourth Dell computer - it will be my last. The headaches of building my own computer are less than having to deal with this garbage.
BuyBye Dell!BRoW
2 Posts
0
April 6th, 2006 00:00
I also went thru the most aggravating experiences while getting rid of the expensive stuff that they certain file types etc defaulted to.
It aint just the Sonic and Corel and Roxio. After two chat sessions with India that, at best only ended up bypassing the problem, (using the regedit and msconfig of startup issues) the forum saved me by recommending the installer cleanup utility from microsoft.
This preloaded stuff is just plain wrong.
BRoW
2 Posts
0
April 6th, 2006 01:00
It was nearly impossible to remove. I tried to use the add/remove programs but the only thing that shows was the "McAfee unistaller". Any sane person would realize that the last thing that they wanted to remove was the uninstaller. After searching high and low to find the "uninstaller" program (looking for insiduous hidden files etc), I ended up with Dell Indian chat. They told me to remove McAfee with regedit. Bad mistake. McAfee was still around (and still preventing me from loading CA) but now some of the product headings were replaced with garbage characters. I ended up restoring my PC to factory condition.
However, knowing that I was going to do a total restore I went into add/remove programs ahead of time and clicked "remove" for the "McAfee uninstaller". SURPRISE SURPRISE - a new window opens up asking which McAfee product do you wish to unistall.
As Leno would say: "Idiots"
Message Edited by BRoW on 04-05-2006 09:09 PM
ugs
1 Message
0
January 16th, 2008 17:00