Another Cause of Dialog Box Interruption Errors

While a template located in the Startup folder can cause a “The command cannot be performed because a dialog box is open” error, it’s not the only reason. In researching this error message, it turns out that an outdated or corrupt DLL file, Officeav.dll (the Norton Antivirus Office plugin), can also trigger this message.

According to Microsoft’s Knowledge Base article #891986, the solution is to rename the Officeav.dll file to Officeav.old and then reboot your computer. A new DLL file will be generated upon reboot. In order to do this, you will need to search your computer for “officeav.dll,” note the file’s path, navigate to the file via Windows Explorer, and then right-click it, choose Rename, and rename the file with the “.old” file extension. Reboot your computer and the error message should be a problem of the past.

Template in Microsoft Office Startup Folder

For those who missed the original dialog box interference discussion, this error can also be caused when a Microsoft Word template containing an autoexec macro is stored in the Office Startup folder. When this happens, the macro within the template is prompting the user to take action of some sort by generating a dialog box. By removing the template from Office’s startup folder, the template and its autoexec macro will not be loaded each time Office loads. Thus, the macro won’t generate a dialog box that interferes with operations.

Tabbing through Windows in Search of Dialog Boxes

When a dialog box is open, it’s not always apparent as other Windows may be covering it. Closing the dialog box should allow you to continue with whatever process you were trying to carry out, regardless of the cause. In order to find the open dialog box, press and hold the Alt key while quickly tapping the Tab key. Keep Alt held in place and tap the Tab key to cycle through the open windows on your computer. Once you come to a dialog box, release the Alt key and read the dialog box. Click the appropriate button in response to the dialog box’s prompt. Once you’ve answered the dialog box, close it and Alt + Tab your way back to your original program. Now that the dialog box has been taken care of, you should be able to resume operations without interference.

At this point, it’s time to do a little troubleshooting. This type of problem can sometimes occur if something has come ajar internally. If you have recently relocated your computer, perhaps the memory module has become dislodged and needs to be reseated. This problem can also occur if you do not have a legitimate Windows XP OS. If that is the case, the only thing you can do is replace it with a legitimate copy. It can also occur if the reinstallation of Windows that you completed did not go well.

Have you tried booting up in Safe Mode or using the Windows Installation Disk? These are the easiest ways to resolve the issue. If you are hitting the “F8″ key and are still unable to get into Safe Mode, move on to the following suggestions. 

Troubleshooting Computer Loads to Setup: Use Windows XP Installation Disk

If you are still getting the DLL Register Server Error, it is highly likely that things did not go as planned when you reloaded your Windows XP. Errors related to rundll32 are associated with the operating system. It would be a good idea to use the installation disk to repair the problem or simply reinstall it to see if that solves the problem that you are having.

Put your installation disk in the drive and boot up. If the disk starts up, close it and allow it to go to the command prompt. Type in SFC/ SCANONCE. Restart the computer with the disk still in and see if Windows will load. If it does, it should replace any corrupt files.

Troubleshooting Computer Loads to Setup: Boot Sequence

If your operating system has trouble registering rundll32, then perhaps your computer is set to recognize the CD drive for boot up instead of the hard drive. Did you change the boot sequence when you reloaded your Windows XP OS? If you did change it, then you need to switch it back so that the computer boots up from the hard drive.

Troubleshooting Computer Loads to Setup: Check for Removable Media

If you have removable media in any of the computer’s drives, it might be contributing to this problem. Remove all media from the computer including CDs, DVDs, floppy disks, USB flash cards, camera cards, and memory cards.

Troubleshooting Computer Loads to Setup: CMOS Battery

It is possible that you might need to replace the CMOS battery and set the date.

Hmm, this does sound like a problem. The ubiquitous “Google installer error” is an indication that your system is infected with a virus - and the malware is obviously interfering with your attempts to download and install an antivirus program to solve the infection. If you aren’t having any luck with the installations - and Safe Mode offers no assistance, then you are probably looking at reformatting your computer.

The downside of formatting your hard drive is that you will lose any and all data stored in it. This includes and programs and applications that you have installed, personal data and documents, even your operating system. If your computer came pre-installed with an operating system, you might be able to request a backup CD, or you might have made a backup of your hard drive backup program. You are looking at wiping the hard drive clean, then reinstalling an operating system. Before taking this step, you might consider taking your computer to a repair shop and see if they can get anything off it that you don’t want to lose.

Otherwise, the upside of formatting is a fresh start and a clean system to reload with programs, and antivirus software to begin again. Since you don’t have a CD drive, you have two options, you can either use your USB port to connect an external CD drive to load the software, or you can create a flash drive loaded with the operating system and plug it into the USB port to reformat the computer.

Depending on your specific Eee Machine model and make, the process might vary slightly, but these are the general options. The Eee Machine website also offers help about this issue, and tips to create backup CDs and USB drives. Good luck!!

Acer blank screens at startup can occur for any number of reasons. The Acer 5050 notebook seems to be particularly prone to this type of problem. Go through the list of suggestions here, completing each one until you fix the problem.

First, however, you should check your warranty to see if it is still in place. If it is, you might want to consider contacting Acer as this is a common problem for this specific Acer notebook. Some of the following suggestions might void your warranty, so you should check on this first. Additionally, if none of these suggestions work, you need to consider the possibility that the motherboard is bad and should be replaced.

Troubleshooting Blank Display: Boot Up into Safe Mode or the Installation Disc

Try booting up in Safe Mode using “F2,” “F10,” “F8″ “F12″ key to do so. Check your manual. As you power up the notebook, press one of the above several times until you hear the notebook booting up. If this works, you will see Safe Mode instead of a blank screen.

If you have it, use your installation disc to boot up the notebook. Press the “ESC” and “F1″ keys when booting up. If this works, you will see the words “Check System” on the screen.

Troubleshooting Blank Display: Hard Reset

One of the easier strategies that you can try is to complete a hard reset. Disconnect the notebook from the power outlet and remove the cable. Unplug any peripheral devices that you have attached to the notebook including a mouse, speakers, printers, etc. Turn your notebook over gently and remove the battery. Now, hold down the power button for a full minute. Carefully replace the battery and reconnect the power cables and peripheral devices. Power up the notebook to see if this worked.

Troubleshooting Blank Display: Miscellaneous Suggestions

Check to make sure that you hear the fan running in the notebook. Overheating can lead to problems such as this. If the fan is not working, you should have it replaced. Check also to make sure that a buildup of dust does not exist.

Check to make sure that you haven’t inadvertently left a disc in the drive. If you have a DVD or CD in the drive, take it out and try booting up again.

Troubleshooting Blank Display: Recover the BIOS

The Acer Aspire comes with a built in recovery system, but completing this solution could void the warranty so check first.

1)   Format a bootable USB memory stick to FAT.

2)   Next, obtain the latest BIOS from Acer’s website.

3)   Place the BIOS file and the FLASHIT.EXE files into the memory stick’s root directory.

4)   You need to rename the BIOS file to: ZG5IA32.FD.

5)   Turn off the notebook, but keep it connected to power.

6)   Insert the memory stick and press on these keys “Fn” and “Esc” and the power button all at the same time. Wait a few seconds and stop pressing “Fn” and “Esc.”

7)   Press the power button once. The BIOS should flash. Wait until it is finished. You will know that this has worked if the notebook reboots itself.

The Blue Screen of Death

The much dreaded “blue screen of death”, also known as a BSoD, is an all-too-common Windows operating system start error. The BSoD occurs when the computer has encountered a critical error that causes the operating system to shut itself down, in an attempt to prevent too much damage. More specifically, the error is often caused by an illegal operation that causes the computer to freeze and (often) attempt to restart. BSoDs are commonly related to errors during driver or program installation, including Windows automatic updates. A lot of the time a BSoD involves a problem in the computer’s hard drive or file system that requires you to boot from a Windows CD.

Reboot and Uninstall Recent Additions

Before going any further, try to reboot the computer again - sometimes this is all it takes to fix the error. If not, and if you recently installed a device or program, see if you can get into your computer enough to remove it. If you are only getting a BSoD, it might not be possible, but removing the flawed install could take care of it. To try this you can restart the computer and press F8 as the computer boots up to start in Safe Mode. Following the instructions, try to get access to remove recent installations. If this is unsuccessful, you will need to try and repair the operating system installation.

Operating System Recovery Discs

These days, a lot of new computers with pre-installed operating systems don’t come with Windows CDs. You need a CD of the same version as the operating system installed in your computer. If your computer system included a disc, fantastic, if not, you might have made one when you first got your system for an occasion like this. Otherwise, you can borrow one from a friend - but you will also need the product key, printed on a sticker on the box - or you can contact Microsoft for one. If getting a disc is impossible, you might need to take it in for repair, but there are a few things to try first.

Repair your Operating System Installation

If you have the disc, put it in the drive then reboot the computer, turning it off and on. The system should boot from the disc, but if you are prompted click any key to do so. Click Enter to continue - not Repair then, on the agreement, click F8 to accept. Now click the disk partition that contains the operating system - if there are several, it is likely the largest, then click R to Repair to attempt to fix the installation. Follow the on screen directions to complete the repair. When the process is finished, restart the computer and see if your problem is resolved.

Reformat and Reinstall your Operating System

If this isn’t possible, then you might need to reformat the computer and re-install the operating system. If so, you will most likely want to take your system to a repair shop and see if any of your data can be salvaged, because a reformatting will completely erase your system’s contents.

If the netbook won’t start and you get the error message about a missing or corrupt system32ntoskrl.exe file, you definitely need to replace the file. Sometimes normal use of a netbook leads to missing or corrupt files. This can happen when the netbook shuts off unexpectedly, programs fail to close properly, viruses infect the netbook and more. Follow the suggestions listed until you find one that fixes the problem.

Fixing System32ntoskrl Error: Acer eRecovery Management

If you have the option to use the Acer eRecovery Management option, this is probably the quickest and best strategy to use. Boot up your netbook and immediately press the “Alt” and “F10″ keys to access Acer eRecovery Management. Once there, you have the option to select factory restore which should replace the file. However, you will lose any customized settings that you have made.

Fixing System32ntoskrl Error: Boot up in “Last Known Good Configuration”

Boot your netbook into Safe Mode and choose the “Last Known Good Configuration” option.

Fixing System32ntoskrl Error: Set Up Disc

If you still have the original set up disc that came with your netbook, you can use it to replace the missing system32ntoskrl.exe file. If you do not have the disc, you should be able to obtain one from Acer for your netbook free of charge. Using the set up disc allows you to repair any existing errors on your operating system. Follow these directions:

1)   Insert the disc into the netbook.

2)   Depending on your operating system, you might be prompted to press a key on the keyboard in order to boot up from the disc. On some machines, you need to press the ESC key and then the F1 key to change the boot up option to the CD drive.

3)   At the first dialog screen that pops up, select “r” in order to begin the repair task. Pressing the “r” takes you into the recovery console.

4)   Type in the following command:                                                                              ” expand d:\i386\ntoskrnl.ex_c:\windows\system32″

5)   When the prompt appears asking if you want to overwrite the file, type in “Y” and select enter.

6)   Type exit in order to reboot the computer.

Windows Explorer vs. Internet Explorer

First, let’s clarify between Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer. I’m guessing you’re talking about Internet Explorer, but I’ll touch on Windows Explorer as well just in case. Windows Explorer (explore.exe) is the graphical interface of Windows. It is responsible for the desktop, icons, the taskbar, and other graphical elements. When it fails to load, your computer’s screen typically shows just the wallpaper with no icons.

Internet Explorer (iexplore.exe) is Microsoft’s Web browser. It is used for browsing the Internet. When it fails to load, you can’t use it to view Web pages.

Troubleshooting Windows Explorer

If Windows Explorer is failing to load, try the following:

• Open Task Manager by using the Control + Alt + Delete key combination and the arrows on your keyboard
• Go to File > New Task (Run)
• Type: explore.exe (note that there is no ‘r’ at the end of the word; it is explore.exe, not explorer.exe)
• Click OK
• Windows Explore should now load

If the problem continues with subsequent starts, manually load explore.exe and then move on to other solutions such as running the System File Checker, updating Windows, or restoring the system to an earlier point in time with System Restore.

Troubleshooting Internet Explorer

If Internet Explorer is the program that is refusing to launch, check to see if you can open it by using the Task Manager’s File > New Task (Run) trick. This time, enter iexplore.exe into the Run box and click OK. If Internet Explorer launches, then you have a problem with its shortcut. You’ll need to delete the old shortcut and create a new one. To create a new shortcut, right-click Start and choose Explore. Navigate to Program Files > Internet Explorer and right-click iexplore. Choose Create Shortcut and then drag and drop the new shortcut to your desktop.

If Internet Explorer doesn’t launch when you try to run it directly, try launching Internet Explorer with No Add-ons. This is a slightly different version of Internet Explorer that loads only its most basic features and disables add-ons that could be interfering with operations. If so, go to Tools > Internet Options and click on the Advanced tab. Now, find the Reset Internet Explorer area and click on the Reset button. You can also access Internet Options from the Control Panel, so if Internet Explorer with No Add-ons doesn’t work, you can reset it from there.

If resetting Internet Explorer doesn’t work, try updating Windows or downloading the latest version of IE from Microsoft’s website.

What is Bootstrapper?

Bootstrapper is a legitimate computer mechanism that is typically used in conjunction with installation files. Bootstrapping involves an executable file that updates the installation package or installs additional files before the actual installation begins. Bootstrapper errors can occur if the installer is missing files or if the .NET Framework is damaged on your computer.

Repairing the .NET Framework

The .NET Framework is a software framework that is installed as part of the Microsoft operating system. Many computer programs are written specifically for this framework. When the .NET Framework is damaged, applications requiring it may generate errors. If you think that this may be the case, you can repair the .NET Framework on your computer easily enough.

Go to the Control Panel and select Add and Remove Programs (or Programs and Features in Windows Vista) and find the highest version of Microsoft .NET Framework. Click the Change/Remove button and choose the Repair option which will restore the .NET Framework to its original state.

Zone Alarm’s Bootstrapper Error

Since Zone Alarm is a computer security product, the fact that it is warning you about Bootstrapper does sound alarming. What is the exact error message? If it seems to be related to the installation of Zone Alarm or that Bootstrapper can’t find necessary files to complete an installation, then it’s likely a legitimate issue with Bootstrapper or the .NET Framework and not some rogue virus posing as a legitimate Windows file. For example, if a Zone Alarm update failed and generated the Bootstrapper error, this could indicate a problem with the update file. Downloading a new copy of the update file might solve the issue. Without knowing the exact error message, it’s tough to be certain.  

Bootstrapper Malware

On the other hand, it’s not out of the ordinary for malware makers to name their malicious programs after legitimate operating system files, services, or processes. After all, if a user believes the file is legitimate, he’ll leave it alone. Update Zone Alarm with the latest updates and then run a FULL system scan to see if anything unusual is detected. If Zone Alarm quarantines a suspicious file named Bootstrapper, chances are it was malware. As long as it’s quarantined, your computer will be fine.

Of course, this is all fairly speculative. Let us know the exact error message and we’ll be better able to help you solve this mysterious Bootstrapper error.

Windows Startup Issues

It sounds like your computer is having startup issues, which are linked to a few possible causes. The first possibility is often best dealt with off the bat - scan your system for viruses and malware. If your computer is infected with a virus, the destructive code can gradually erode your system files and eventually render your computer inoperable. In this case the problem would most likely get worse with time, and it will eventually make your computer unable to even start up.

Update and Run Full System Virus Scans

To deal with this possibility you need up to date antivirus and malware scans. Some are available for free download like Malwarebytes and Avast, which are really good programs, but many require you to get your updates manually. Paid programs are a little more user friendly since they almost always include automatic virus updates and online customer support. If you don’t already have scans installed on your computer, you should do this right away. Some good programs include AntiVirusPlus and XoftSpySE.

Remove Programs from Startup List

Another reason why your computer might be very slow to start up is if there are too many programs set to run automatically when you turn your computer on. Removing some programs from your Startup list will reduce the amount of work the computer has to do to power up and launch Windows. When you buy or download and install a program, there are often other bits of application or partner programs that are installed at the same time. You can review your list and remove unwanted programs to speed things up. Some programs are important for the startup process, so make sure that you leave programs that you aren’t sure about.

For Vista:

• Click Start, then type msconfig in the search bar then click MSCONFIG when it appears

For XP and older versions:

• Click Start, then Run, then type msconfig in the Search bar and press Enter

All versions follow these instructions:

1. Now, in System Configuration, choose the Startup tab for a list of programs set to launch at start up
2. Uncheck the ones that you want to remove, then click Apply, then OK

If you try both these methods and are still having problems, write again and provide more information and we can take it from there. Good luck!

What is Active Desktop Recovery?

The Active Desktop Recovery message appears on your monitor screen when the Windows boot up has been interrupted. Reasons why this might occur include a power outage, a faulty program, and/ or a virus or multiple forms of spyware. In some cases, having too many anti-spyware/anti-virus applications installed on the computer can even result in this message appearing each time you boot up. Typically all you need to do is to select the button that says “Restore my Active Desktop.” Let’s take a look at how to get past this message.

Active Desktop Recovery: Properties

Try the first set of directions first. If that does not work to get rid of the desktop recovery message, try the second set of directions.

Set 1:

• When the Active Desktop Recovery message appears, right-click on a blank area of the screen and select Properties.
• Select the option for “Desktop.”
• Now, select the option that you want from the list of choices for your desktop.

Set 2:

• As soon as the Active Desktop Recovery message appears, right-click on the screen and select Properties.
• Select the option for “Desktop.”
• Now, select the operating system from the list of choices for your desktop e.g. Windows XP Pro.
• You should be able to switch the display of your desktop to any of the other options now.

Active Desktop Recovery: Scan for Spyware and Viruses

Quite often, problems with the way our computers boot up happen because of a virus or too many spyware applications. Update your anti-virus/anti-spyware application and run a thorough scan of your system. If you don’t have one of these programs, I recommend that you try: Anti-Virus PLUS.

Active Desktop Recovery: Remove Spare Anti-Spyware and Anti-Virus Programs

On the off-chance that you have too many anti-virus/anti-spyware applications installed on the computer, remove or disable any that you are not currently using (unless of course they are ones that you paid to have.)

 Active Desktop Recovery: Remove New Software or Hardware

If you recently added some new hardware or software, then you can try removing it and see if the problem goes away. If that strategy works, check the system requirements and compatibility of the software or hardware with your computer system.

Active Desktop Recovery: Regedit

Make sure that you back up your registry first in case something does not go well with this strategy. You’ll be changing the value of a key and you can always change it back if it does not work.

• Click “Start” and then “Run.”
• Type in “regedit” and press “Enter.”
• Search for the following:
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\ Internet Explorer\Desktop\SafeMode\Components
• Click the value written as “DeskHtmlVersion.”
• Select or click on the “decimal” button.
• Change the value to read “0″ instead of “272.”
• Wait until the screen changes or reboot if nothing happens.