Hi all: I hope someone can make some suggestions. I have been running the free version of Ad-Aware 2007 without issues. Yesterday when I connected to update definitions, a window popped up saying that new components were available. I clicked "OK" and my version was updated to Ad-Aware 2008 seemingly without a hitch. When I restarted my computer I got this message:

Stop: c0000145 {Application error} The application failed to initialize properly (0xc0000142). Click on OK to terminate the application.

The only way to get out of this screen was to hit the power button and shut the pc down. Now when I turn the pc on I receive this message:

Stop: c000021a {Fatal system error} The Windows logon process system process terminated unexpectedly with a status of 0x00000080 (0x00000000 0x00000000). The system has been shut down.

This last message now appears whenever I start the pc - Normal and Safe mode and last known good configuration. I'm assuming that Ad-Aware had something to do with this since this happened right after the switch from the 2007 to the 2008 version and it's the only change made to the pc in quite a while.

I'd like to try to uninstall it and see if the error still appears which brings me to my real question. How can I uninstall it if I can't get the pc to boot up? I have a hard drive enclosure and another pc available so I can hook the drive up as an external slave drive to the working pc and access the files. Can I just delete the Lavasoft folder or are there files in other locations that I have to worry about too? How can I uninstall the program if I can't use it's uninstall program and can''t access "Add/Remove Progams" in the control panel?

The pc that is down is a Compaq Presario, 1g mem, 1.4 cpu running WindowsXP Home. I would appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks in advance.

Hi,

if you plug in the drive as a slave drive, then can you run the uninstaller.

To do this, go to

The slave drive > then \ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware (for vista, xp is similar)

**basically what you are doing here is to find the shortcut, which is normally on your start menu, which launches the lavasoft uninstaller**

the click on the uninstaller, hopefully that should remove ad-aware form that drive...

post back and let me know,

Casey

Thanks for the reply. I had some issues using the hdd enclosure. My laptop wasn't recognizing the slave, but I got some advice from the enclosure manufacturer that I'm going to try and hopefully I'll be able to try the uninstall then.

One question that concerns me though. If I am able to run the uninstall program while the drive is hooked up as a slave, won't that still leave the registry entries or won't that cause a problem? It seems as though once the drive is back in the pc as the master drive it'll be looking for files that are no longer there.

hopefully you'll get it fixed when you do, let me know,

yeh that might be true about the reg entries, not sure?? but even if that were to happen, then you should be safe with a reg cleaner, as long as the files are removed and you know what you're doing (you sound like you do )

let me know how you get on,

Casey

No luck yet. I hooked up the hdd as a slave and tried running the uninstaller. A window popped up saying that Ad-Aware has to be installed in order for the uninstaller to work - quite logical, but frustrating. I'm assuming it's looking not only for the program files, but also for things in the registry. Just for fun I went ahead and deleted the Lavasoft folder (saving a backup of course) and tried to boot the pc. I received the same "application initialization" fatal error that occured the first time the pc failed to boot. When trying safe mode, the boot up process actually went a little further along before hanging.

I think if it's possible, I'd like to try to edit the registry and delete the references to the program. Any advice from people who have tinkered with the Windows XP registry? Please keep in mind that this is a registry that's not loaded - if that matters.

This is becoming a quest now

hi pat797,

I think a manual uninstall would be hard, especially as if as ad-aware is the problem it would be a registry issue.

Have you tried using revo i'm not sure if it would be able to uninstall and remove the reg entries on a slave drive, but it might be worth a try.

If not as a last resort, do you have a win xp disc or recovery disc?


I'm gonna get back to you on this, will post in the VM forum for some advice. Although, I must admit I do not think ad-aware is the cause, more likely is a hardware fault.

Casey

When you boot the computer, do you get an option for a which operating system you wish to use?

Well, what a mess we have here. I am going to set up some instructions for you to follow. It will take me a bit of time. I run XP HOME SP3 so that will be of some help. I have also dug into the registry at times. Just hang in there and I will post again as soon as I can.

Here is removal procedure for you.

To remove Lavasoft folders and files.

They are located at:
X:\program files\lavasoft and
X:\documents and settings\all users\application data\lavasoft
where 'X' is the hard drive.
Application Data is a hidden file.
To see hidden files in XP

1. On the 'Tools' menu in Windows Explorer, click 'Folder Options'.

2. Click the 'View' tab.

3. Under 'Hidden files and folders', click 'Show hidden files and folders'.


Also download the following package to back up and optimize registry.

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/Registr...k/Erunt-g.shtml

This package will only work on the prime (system) drive. It will not optimize registries on other drives.

I would not advise you fiddle around with the registry as the Lavasoft entries can be safely left there.

Post back with results please.

I would suggest booting the computer to the "Last Known Good Configuration". You get that option if you begin jabbing the F8 key during the fairly early boot stages.

If you catch it at the right time, you will see a whole DOS-like screen (Black Screen with White Text) and a number of Boot Options such as Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Command Prompt, etc. Amongst them will be "Last Known Good Configuration".

Arrow down to that and press Enter. That should boot Windows to the state it was at the last time it booted successfully and properly.

Last Known Good Configuration here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307852

Details of all the options in the Windows XP Boot Menu:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222

Screenshot of the F8 Boot Menu:
http://www.microsoft.com/library/media/103...-known-good.gif

Hopefully this will work for you.

If the Last Known Good Configuration fils, and if you know that you have a VERY recent System Restore Point, then you can use the steps in this page to run system restore from the command prompt and restore it to that recent state when it was working OK:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304449

You would have to reinstall any software, including Windows Updates, that were installed since the date of the System Restore Point, so only do this is the date is very recent, eg. a few days at most.


Mod.Edit/problem seems to be solved/closed and moved/Raziel