Does anyone have an idea of what I can do to fix this?
IT Help Required
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EricTheRed
- Posts: 57
- Joined: Thu Jan 27, 2011 10:45 pm
- Location: Centre of the universe (Yorkshire)
IT Help Required
I've been having a few problems with my PC following what I believe was a virus. Now when I try to load Google Earth I get the message "This application failed to start because dbghelp.dll was not found." Re-installing Google Earth does not make a difference.
Does anyone have an idea of what I can do to fix this?
Does anyone have an idea of what I can do to fix this?
Re: IT Help Required
That sounds like you are running windows XP and your service pack is corrupt.
I would suggest running a scandisk to ensure that your hard drive is OK and that is not the cause of the corruption then you can either just download dbghelp.dll from the web and drop it in to your system32 folder or re-install SP3.
I would suggest running a scandisk to ensure that your hard drive is OK and that is not the cause of the corruption then you can either just download dbghelp.dll from the web and drop it in to your system32 folder or re-install SP3.
Understeer: when you hit the wall with the front of the car.
Oversteer: when you hit the wall with the back of the car.
Horsepower: how fast you hit the wall.
Torque: how far you take the wall with you.
Oversteer: when you hit the wall with the back of the car.
Horsepower: how fast you hit the wall.
Torque: how far you take the wall with you.
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Talking Hoarse
- Posts: 79
- Joined: Wed Jun 15, 2011 5:46 am
- Location: Winchcombe, Glos, UK
Re: IT Help Required
You do not say what version of Windows (assuming it is Windows) you are running (ie XP, Vista, Win7 etc). That will assist any helpers. Or what the infection(s) was.
In my experience often the only way to surely eradicate the harm of a virus etc is to rebuild entirely from original disks, or (preferably) from build image if that is held on a utility partition. Be warned - it takes a while as lots of patches etc are to be downloaded after, and also you must back up your data and ensure you have disks etc to reload apps after. A rebuild is therapeutic after 2, 3 or 4 years of use (at least I reckon so), and restores a lot of the lost performance. It is not for the ameteur or faint hearted though....
Good luck.
Ed
In my experience often the only way to surely eradicate the harm of a virus etc is to rebuild entirely from original disks, or (preferably) from build image if that is held on a utility partition. Be warned - it takes a while as lots of patches etc are to be downloaded after, and also you must back up your data and ensure you have disks etc to reload apps after. A rebuild is therapeutic after 2, 3 or 4 years of use (at least I reckon so), and restores a lot of the lost performance. It is not for the ameteur or faint hearted though....
Good luck.
Ed
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EricTheRed
- Posts: 57
- Joined: Thu Jan 27, 2011 10:45 pm
- Location: Centre of the universe (Yorkshire)
Re: IT Help Required
It's Windows XP.
I tried to sort it out by replacing dbghelp.dll. Now when I try to load Google Earth I don't get the error message but it sticks on the "initializing" screen and won't go any further!
I tried to sort it out by replacing dbghelp.dll. Now when I try to load Google Earth I don't get the error message but it sticks on the "initializing" screen and won't go any further!
Re: IT Help Required
I would suggest removing SP3 and re-applying it, that should replace the missing files (or simply upgrading to SP3 if you are still running 2).
Following a particularny nasty virus a format and re-install would get your system back to full health but that is a last resort rather than step 1.
Following a particularny nasty virus a format and re-install would get your system back to full health but that is a last resort rather than step 1.
Understeer: when you hit the wall with the front of the car.
Oversteer: when you hit the wall with the back of the car.
Horsepower: how fast you hit the wall.
Torque: how far you take the wall with you.
Oversteer: when you hit the wall with the back of the car.
Horsepower: how fast you hit the wall.
Torque: how far you take the wall with you.
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EricTheRed
- Posts: 57
- Joined: Thu Jan 27, 2011 10:45 pm
- Location: Centre of the universe (Yorkshire)
Re: IT Help Required
Not much progress on removing Service Pack 3.
I looked at the relevant page on Microsoft's website and it said to go to "Add or Remove Programs" and click on Show Updates. I did this but SP3 did not appear in the list of currently installed programs and updates.
I tried the second method suggested which is to go to Run and put c:\windows\$NtServicePackUninstall$\spuninst\spuninst.exe but this just gives me an error message saying that this refers to a location that is unavailable.
Does this mean that I don't have SP3 on my PC? But I have found the Windows XP CD that came with the PC and it says "Includes Service Pack 3" on it.
I looked at the relevant page on Microsoft's website and it said to go to "Add or Remove Programs" and click on Show Updates. I did this but SP3 did not appear in the list of currently installed programs and updates.
I tried the second method suggested which is to go to Run and put c:\windows\$NtServicePackUninstall$\spuninst\spuninst.exe but this just gives me an error message saying that this refers to a location that is unavailable.
Does this mean that I don't have SP3 on my PC? But I have found the Windows XP CD that came with the PC and it says "Includes Service Pack 3" on it.
Re: IT Help Required
ahh, if it came with SP3 streamlined in to the install you will have to do an inplace upgrade to reload windows. If you do this you will have to re-apply all your updates.
Bung the CD in and press install then upgrade and follow the steps. it will re-install windows and leave all your programs as they were
Bung the CD in and press install then upgrade and follow the steps. it will re-install windows and leave all your programs as they were
Understeer: when you hit the wall with the front of the car.
Oversteer: when you hit the wall with the back of the car.
Horsepower: how fast you hit the wall.
Torque: how far you take the wall with you.
Oversteer: when you hit the wall with the back of the car.
Horsepower: how fast you hit the wall.
Torque: how far you take the wall with you.
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EricTheRed
- Posts: 57
- Joined: Thu Jan 27, 2011 10:45 pm
- Location: Centre of the universe (Yorkshire)
Re: IT Help Required
I put the CD in and selected install and upgrade. It seemed to be doing something and then the PC rebooted and displayed a black screen with the message "A disk read error occured. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete to restart."
Now every time the PC boots up I get this black screen. If I press Ctrl+Alt+Delete I get another black screen asking me to either select Windows XP or Windows Set Up. If I select Windows XP then Windows loads up as usual, if I select Windows Set Up then it goes back to "A disk read error occured. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete to restart."
While I was running Windows, ZoneAlarm said that it had found a virus called HEUR:Virus.Win32.Generic in avgcorex.dll and it proceeded to remove it. Now that I think about it I'm pretty sure that this is what happened a few days ago before all these problems started.
Now every time the PC boots up I get this black screen. If I press Ctrl+Alt+Delete I get another black screen asking me to either select Windows XP or Windows Set Up. If I select Windows XP then Windows loads up as usual, if I select Windows Set Up then it goes back to "A disk read error occured. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete to restart."
While I was running Windows, ZoneAlarm said that it had found a virus called HEUR:Virus.Win32.Generic in avgcorex.dll and it proceeded to remove it. Now that I think about it I'm pretty sure that this is what happened a few days ago before all these problems started.
Re: IT Help Required
disc read error means that it is having problems reading the CD. if you pop the disc out and give the bottom a clean and blow hard in to the CD-Rom to blow out any dust that will give it a better chance.
Understeer: when you hit the wall with the front of the car.
Oversteer: when you hit the wall with the back of the car.
Horsepower: how fast you hit the wall.
Torque: how far you take the wall with you.
Oversteer: when you hit the wall with the back of the car.
Horsepower: how fast you hit the wall.
Torque: how far you take the wall with you.
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megadethmaniac
- Posts: 417
- Joined: Sun Jun 12, 2011 1:53 pm
- Location: Essex
Re: IT Help Required
Bit of soap andwater always helps a cd or DVD, or at least I find it to be the case. Must be all those grubby little paw prints from my 7 and 10 year old!
Usually, its a build up of scratches that finish off most disks so check the under side.
If it is a OEM disk then even if scrap you can pick up a replacement for a few quid on the bay. If original Microsoft you may consider upgrading as when I built my machine last year the price of a new disk was horrific. Think I have a DELL CD somewhere myself and suspect that if you asked around the forum Hewlett Packard and the like will also be able to be found.
Usually, its a build up of scratches that finish off most disks so check the under side.
If it is a OEM disk then even if scrap you can pick up a replacement for a few quid on the bay. If original Microsoft you may consider upgrading as when I built my machine last year the price of a new disk was horrific. Think I have a DELL CD somewhere myself and suspect that if you asked around the forum Hewlett Packard and the like will also be able to be found.