Executables won't execute
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Thread: Executables won't execute

  1. #1
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    Executables won't execute

    Ok Guys,

    Here is a problem that has recently developed on my system (Windows 98) that I have no idea how to fix.

    While doing my Taxes using Taxcut, updates have to be downloaded into the program. In my case once the update is downloaded it's suppose to automatically execute and update the program. Instead I get this message "Could not initialize installation, File size expected=1972043840 size returned=1412593"

    No clue what so ever on what is wrong and how to fix it. Also had a similiar error recently trying to download a Hex editor off the internet. Even worst, while trying to upgrade Napigator to the latest version, this executable gave me a 'illegal operation' error.

    I assume that at this point in time, something has gone terribly wrong with my Windows 98 system. Also can not in anyway shape or form run Defrag or Scandisk.

    Anyone got a clue other than "shooting the damn thing"? or should I say.....Re-format!

    Thanks

    Glenn

  2. #2
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    If you got a message saying that the file size expected=1972043840 but the size returned=1412593 there's probably nothing wrong with your system the problem is you didn't get the complete file.
    Try downloading it again and see if you can get the entire file.

    ------------------
    There are no dumb questions only dumb looks....

    If it doesn't work hit it with a hammer. If hitting it fixes it great! If it breaks, oh well it didn't work anyway.
    There are no dumb questions only dumb looks....

    If it doesn't work hit it with a hammer. If hitting it fixes it great! If it breaks, oh well it didn't work anyway.

  3. #3
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    Thanks for the reply.

    I actually downloaded the file a total of 4 times. I watched to make sure that every last bit was downloaded. With the Napigator problem, I proved it wasn't the file since I was able to run it on another computer. I also know that when I tried to run the executable file for the hexeditor program that the file size downloaded matched the file size listed on the internet site.

    At this point in time, I can only conclude that I have something corrupted within my Windows operating system. I just don't know what and how to fix it. Specially when the system refuses to let me run either Scandisk or Defrag.

    Thanks Again!

    Glenn

  4. #4
    WhitPhil Guest
    If these are self extracting exe's, try opening them with WinZip and see what happens?

    Also, what problems are you having with Scandisk and Defrag?

    And, have you run a full antivirus check with uptodate definitions lately?

  5. #5
    Rog's Avatar
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    What happens when you try to run scandisk or defrag? Will they run in safe mode? If so, then you have something running in the background which may be causing problems.

    Done an up-to-date virus scan?

    ------------------
    What the Dormouse said

  6. #6
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    One thing that I haven't tried is the full Virus scan. That very well could be the culprit. I signed onto McAfee for a year, but that expired several months ago. I'll will give that a try. Any suggestions to another online Virus scan?

    As far as running Scandisk and Disk frag. I've tried running them from Safe mode and every other way suggested without much success. Even re-installed Norton System Works and was able to run the Disk defrag, but machine locked up as soon as it completed.

    Yes..I did try running the self extracting exes from Winzip without success. The more I think about it, there's a good chance that its the Antivirus program that is the culprit.

    Proves that many brains is better than one.

    I'll let you know.

    Thanks

    Glenn

    [This message has been edited by gwthompson (edited 03-14-2001).]

  7. #7
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    Here's the latest with my system. I renewed my subcription to McAfee's online Clinic. Was able to upgrade all the virus scanning definitions. Ran Virus Scan and discovered tons of infected .EXE files with the 'W95/Spaces.1445 virus'. Good news is that McAfee cleaned most of them. Bad news is that it couldn't clean them all, and the ones that couldn't be cleaned are such files
    as 'Explorer.exe', Systray.exe', Spool32.exe.
    etc, etc.

    If I attempt to delete them, Windows won't let me. I also can't override them from either Dos or Windows. Not a good sign.

    Even worst, my fear is that something else is going on within my system that McAfee isn't picking up. This virus that I have appears to effect only .EXE files and is most noticeable when downloading .EXE files from the internet. So far, every program that I have on my system appears to run ok. I just can't run anything that I download from the internet. Simply......They don't run. Without McAfee on, the files show the right file size, but won't execute showing the errors that I pointed out in my first post. With running McAfee and trying to download a .EXE file, it will download to the end and then the Virus Scan picks up the Virus 'W95/Spaces.1445' and then if you clean it, the file size turns into a size just a fraction of what it should. Of course it doesn't run.

    Looks like I am up sh*ts creek without a paddle. The McAfee site has no suggestions, so my question is......Does anyone know how to resolve this problem without a complete reformat????? Is there a better Virus detection and cleaner program then McAfee???

    Thanks

    Glenn

  8. #8
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    Here is the link to InoculateIT PE it's a free program that many here at VDR use, myself included. I also have Mcafee. I NEVER let Mcafee run in the background (System Scan). I do use Mcafee's download and internet filter at the same time that Inoculate runs, and have had no problems.

    ------------------
    Please post back.
    Thanks.

    [This message has been edited by POPPY4 (edited 03-17-2001).]

  9. #9
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    Poppy, Thanks for your suggestion of trying
    the Inoculate Antivirus software. I actually like the way their site is setup as opposed to McAfee's.

    Unfortunately, this isn't going to work for me. The Inoculate software is downloaded as a .EXE file. And as I have come to discover, anything that I try to download from the internet that is an .EXE is immediately becomes corrupted.

    The Win95/Spaces virus that I have on my computer loads inself into a reserved portion of memory. And according to the info on this virus, if the file being open is an .EXE file the virus will infect it before allowing it to be run. In other words the file is turned into "MUSH".

    Unless someone has found a way or has any suggestion on how to purge this
    $&%@*&^ thing from my system, then it looks like I have no choice but to reformat the hard drive and start over. That's going to be very time consuming considering the number of files on my system that need to be kept. I really have no one to blame but myself since I allow TEENAGERS to use my computer. :-(

  10. #10
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    John,

    Thanks for your reply. I did run the Antivirus scan from the site you had linked.
    It found all the ones McAfee found plus a half dozen others that McAfee didn't pick up.
    I still couldn't clean them however. I did notice that the name of the virusus was called 'pe/spaces.1445' instead of 'W95/spaces.1445 which is what McAfee called it.

    I am not familiar with the command 'fdisk /mbr. Will this wipe out what is on my hard drive or just infected files. I have a clean w98 floopy to boot from but I am very reluctant to use it. I previous had copied clean .exe files from another computer to replace the infected files on my computer. As soon as I put the floppy into the 'A' drive on my machine, every .exe on the floppy became infected with the virus.


    I am starting to think that the only way I can get rid of this pain in the @ss virus is from booting up into DOS and getting rid of it that way. But so far I haven't come across any instructions on how to do that. Any suggestions?

    Glenn

  11. #11
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    oops,
    typed a message and mus have forgot to click submit

    fdisk /mbr from clean floppy
    rebuilds master boot record.
    (you do not see much happening...)

    but.....
    do NOT run fdisk /mbr if you have one of the following conditions.

    more than four partitions on the drive
    a disk bios overlay
    a boot manager for Multi OS selection
    or you are using GOBACK (first unistall goback if you must do this)

    I sent CIH_KILL
    gotta be renamed on floppy you first copy it to

    do NOT boot from the floppy
    boot from another clean one
    then pop in the floppy with CIH_kill.aaa

    copy cih_kill.aaa cih_kill.exe

    then execute cih_kill


    ------------------
    If what I heard was free advice, would I take it? Jaak
    Kind regards, Jaak.

    When I pull my bootstraps, why don't I load Windows?

  12. #12
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    Hi, took a while to find it back
    (stupid setting in browser favourites wipe non used links sometimes. you bet I again set it to not do this... Ahh, the fine tweaking one needs to do after a clean install)

    anyway, RMBOX tools may be of help here http://home.earthlink.net/~rmbox/Reticulated/Toys.html

    exefix08 (it's a zip) and look at the rest...

    ------------------
    If what I heard was free advice, would I take it? Jaak
    Kind regards, Jaak.

    When I pull my bootstraps, why don't I load Windows?

  13. #13
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    Glenn, try this link and download the trial program. Hope it helps.

    ------------------
    Education does not eradicate ignorance. It just makes it more dangerous.
    Education does not eradicate ignorance. It just makes it more dangerous.

  14. #14
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    First, I appreciate everyone's efforts and suggestions in helping me solve this virus thingy. However, this is turning into the undesired project from hell.

    JtDoom, I tried the cih_kill file that you had sent me. I followed the instructions as I interpreted them. I ran the cih_kill executable and got the message "This program can not be run in DOS mode". HUH! Of course trying to run it in Windows mode won't work either. Maybe I mis-interpreted how to run this file. I booted the computer from a boot disk into DOS. I copied the file kill_cih.aaa cih_kill.exe. This created the file cih_kill.exe on the floppy. Then when executed, I got the can't run in dos message.

    Johnking,

    I have yet to try creating Dos Anti-virus boot disk. I will try creating that from my work computer when I have a chance. I believe that first, I will need to find a workable program that will kill the virus before I can clean the infected files. I've tried to manually delete the infected files from dos and replace them with 'clean' .exe files off of another computer. As soon as I boot back into the Windows, the files become immediately infected. For some reason my system will not reckonize the fdisk /mbr command. This system is a IBM Aptiva, but its possible that I might have mistyped it. But I ran out of time last night to continue.
    Anyways, I don't have any problem booting into my system, or running any programs that exist on my PC, It's all .EXE files that I either try to download from the internet or try to read from another other drive on the system.

    I am to the point where I am getting frustrated and feeling stupid. This should not be a big deal. I've had both Trojans and backdoor viruses show up before and have easily got rid of them. If I didn't have tons of valuable files on my hard drive, I would be very tempted to just type 'FORMAT C' and nuke the little B*stard!

    Any other suggestions would be most appreciated.

    Thanks

    Glenn

  15. #15
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    Hi Glenn,

    Doggone it. I surely regret to see the straits that you are in at this point. I read back through the thread at the things you have tried. I'm not sure if this will help you, or not. But I note you mentioning that when you try to dowload the EXE file from the Innoculate site, it gets corrupted. It may be worth a shot to try renaming the file you're about to download to <filename>.COM and see if that will get past the issue of the EXE getting hosed.

    Pulling hard for you here in western Oregon!

    Limerick




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