View Full Version : XP Query this time - programme access
I have passed the mis-behaving Vista laptop back to owner.
Now, recently talked a friend through a legit repair of XP Sp2. I have now sent him the Teamviewer module (.exe) for remote access to help with another problem. When he tries to run it he gets "cannot access the specified device, path, or file". Most of the Google refs are to Windows Server which he is not running. I do NOT want to get him into the registry. He is running Mcafee security. He can double click and run iexplore.exe in prog files without a problem. Is this a Mcafee firewall problem?
green granite
20th Jul 2009, 14:43
Are you saying he gets the error when he clicks on the desktop icon but it runs ok when he accesses it from the start menu? If so delete the desktop icon right click on the prog in the start menu and then left click 'send to' then 'desktop as a short cut', hopefully that will cure it.
I asked him to try that this morning - I think he had saved the attachment in 'My Documents'. Didn't work. I do need to double check with this guy that he has actually FOLLOWED my instructions though....................:ugh:
It does not go on the start menu as it is only an exe module and not an install.
No progress - I take it like the rest of Google, no-one here knows what causes it on XP Home, non-networked.. Ah well! Windows......................:ugh:
EDIT: For heavens' sake - now we are going to visit them! I will be expected to sit in front of said machine and produce magic. HELP!
Saab Dastard
21st Jul 2009, 14:46
XP Home, non-networked.
Teamviewer module (.exe) for remote access
How can you do remote access, non-networked? Perhaps the .exe is trying to find a non-existent network stack?
If not that, is he running as an admin equivalent?
If not, it could be causing the errors experienced.
Try Run As, supplying administrator details.
SD
By non-networked - he has no network set up on the machine. Teamviewer does all that over the internet (when you can get the :mad: module to run) - completely transparent to both client and host.
Yes, his profile (the only 'user') is administrator.
Saab Dastard
21st Jul 2009, 15:10
Are we at cross-purposes here?
Non-networked means no network card and therefore no TCP/IP connection, therefore no internet connection.
I'd be surprised if Teamviewer sets up and configures a network stack on the PC !
I think that's your problem.
When you have the network installed and running, then Teamviewer will install and run - not before.
If non-networked means something else to you, please clarify!
SD
Jofm5
21st Jul 2009, 15:36
Non-networked means no network card and therefore no TCP/IP connection, therefore no internet connection.
XP Home is Like Vista Home, in that it does not have the full network features of the Pro edition etc. For example on the Home editions you cannot add to a domain.
I am guessing there is an internet connection available as he has received your email and saved it.
The whole security model on home editions is a bit of a pain as does differ from the other more complete models....
However I would be surprised if this is the problem, I would suggest that if you have only downloaded the TeamViewer.exe application on their machines the chances are that it is trying to use a library that may not exist on that machine e.g. the .Net framework 2 or some networking DLL. I would be very surprised if teamview is statically linked with all its libraries. You may get a hint as to failure from the eventviewer if it managed to get that far.
You could load dependency walker (Dependency Walker (depends.exe) Home Page (http://www.dependencywalker.com/)) and use on the exe you have to see what the application is dependent on and then ensure it is all available on the remote machine. However it may be simpler to find a download/install MSI of the complete application and its dependencies to ensure it is all there to start with.
Yes, we are at cross-purposes. He has no other machines in the house. No computer network. All TV requires is internet access which is obtained via a USB modem connection. The programme will not even start so it does not know if it is sitting in an IBM major hub or on a PDA.
"This is a "single EXE application". You run this application without any installation and therefore without the need for Windows® administrator rights. You can accept incoming requests but cannot start any outgoing requests."
The problem MUST lie somewhere in Windows XP, but none of the usual 'security'/ 'sharing' cures are available. (Bear in mind his machine is a Dell....)
Thanks Jof - by 'being there' the need for the module to run (this time) is negated. The whole TV thing is, I thought, designed to run as a stand-alone module with no significant dependencies. It has always run with no problems in the past.
For those who are not familiar with TV, this from another site:
"The host simply downloads an executable (TeamViewer Quick Support) that they run whenever a connection is to be made to them. No install, no wizards, no configuration, no nothing – just a single executable. The client, in this case me, then runs TeamViewer (which does need to be installed) and connects to the host. This is accomplished by entering in a ‘Partner ID’ code and then a ‘Session Password’ – both of these are supplied via the TeamViewer QS app. Ok, so far it’s pretty standard. But the beautiful part of it is this: no IPs, no firewall issues (it has it’s own ‘dyngate’ routing that bypasses firewall security somehow), file transfer ability, SSL security and a host interface so simple even my Gran would know how to use it. "
As a footnote to that, ZoneAlarm DOES trap it. I have not run it through other firewalls though. My friend has Macafee. It runs on Mac as well.
Sitting in front of it was a good idea! XP Home has a feature I do not see in Pro. The file was flagged in 'properties' as having come from 'another computer' and was therefore 'blocked'. Unblocking did it. What is this feature and why does my machine not produce it? Cannot find anything on Google at the moment.
Next problem is he has(had) no less than THREE firewalls running!!! Windows, MacaFee and BT Yahoo Internet whatever that is. I have turned off Windows FW and left him with the other 2 as I cannot see how to ditch the BT Yahoo one. Is that the correct decision, and if so, how do I kill the Yahoo?
Avtrician
25th Jul 2009, 03:06
You may be able to uninstall the yahoo firewall....not sure. Google doesnt seem to help here. Having multiple firewalls is not a good idea, as they may clash and cause more problems than they prevent....
Jofm5
25th Jul 2009, 06:37
Software firewalls are a pain at the best of times.....
The only time you "need" to run them is if you cannot rely on your local network being somewhat secure - if you have encryption on wireless and a SPI (stateful packet inspection) firewall on your DSL/Cable modem then disable software firewalls.
If you have something to hide which people want then maybe you should protect each and every machine - but if you secure the entry point into the network and your machines on the network are trusted then your just going to complicate matters by securing each individual machine when communicating amongst them.
I have seen so many people being anal about security that they cause themselves no end of problems trying to do basic functions - indeed when I take my laptop into a new company and get presented with anal tied down implementations I just give them the option of me walking away. You can spend too much time worrying about security that it costs more than it achieves.
Security has its place for sure - but to implement C2 compliancy at home is just asking for trouble if you dont understand the reprocussions of how its implemented. So many times I have been asked to work around a C2 compliancy policy and when I explain the whole point of the security is you cant work around it they complain !
Not saying this is the case but buyer beware springs to mind - if you choose to impliment military grade security then dont expect things to be easy to establish connections - this applies to windows/mac/linux - if you dont understand the security model then start at the most laxed and work your way up - you cant "typically" go back down.
This is a simple case of someone 'wanting' a computer, buyng a Dell with XP, bundled with McaFee, upgrading to SP2 and then changing from the 90 day AOL 'bundled' trial to BT 'Total' broadband (now apparently 'BT Yahoo') and all this done 'for him' without any real deliberate input, no real knowledge of computers and now puzzled. Both BT Yahoo 'messenger' AND Windows 'messenger' were installed without real choice.
I need to investigate the BT Yahoo thing a bit more. He 'thinks' he needs the Yahoo stuff to get his emails as BT told him he has 'BT Yahoo Mail', yet it all apparently flows in and out via O Express Pop3. I need to establish whether his (BT supplied) router has a built-in firewall.
It is annoying when all this is taking place without REAL knowledge by the end user, 'bundled AV' and the like, and 'just click here to activate your new BT Yahoo account' etc. I ask 'why do you have this on your desktop' - 'don't know - it just appeared'. At least I 'unlocked' the Teamviewer module so I will TRY access on a trial basis today and can at least try to steer him around the obstacle course from home.:mad: The file 'locking' appears to have sprung from SP2. It appears in a Windows window under file 'properties'. Here (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/883260) is the info and screenshots here (http://www.mssqltips.com/tip.asp?tip=1262). A new one to me.
green granite
25th Jul 2009, 10:51
Boac, I'm with BT Yahoo. The mail can be accessed either through Outlook (express) or using Yahoo mail, the former downloads the mail the latter keeps it on their server.
The BT Yahoo home page is fully customizable to include (or exclude) whatever you want and mail is accessed from there' If you use Yahoo mail which has the advantage of hovering the mouse pointer over the message and you get a preview of it's content.
My BT router does have a firewall built in But the documentation is crap, it doesn't even mention WPA encryption although it's available and suggests that for security you should enter the router's serial number into the WEP box. :ugh:
It is annoying when all this is taking place without REAL knowledge by the end user
Up to a point I would agree with you but the idea is for totally non computer savy people to just put the disc in and then connect without having to do anything technical at all.
Thanks GG - is the yahoo 'firewall' a router or software one? If router, would you recommend the Windows or McaFee firewall on top (I am slowly trying to wean them off 'paid' solutions:). I run ZA 'on top' of my router firewall).
If we 'dump' the ?2? desktop icons relating to BT Yahoo will everything still work via OE and IE?
I quite agree with your last para, but it is not just the 'connection', is it, it is all the other stuff that comes with the machine. Inertia sales on virus protection and the like. It can only get worse as more and more folk are told and decide they need to get a 'puter. Another friend luckily 'phoned a friend' before downloading a Schmittfraud prog (well, to be fair it had blocked his internet access to all but the download -yours for $39.99). Malwarebytes found 87 infections on his machine and HJT another 2 browser hijacks (AV installed) - somewhat more than the 'advertised' Shmittfraud warning -"You have 34 infections"!!!! Its a minefield.
green granite
25th Jul 2009, 12:35
I don't have the Yahoo stuff installed at all, I just have my FireFox home page set to 'My Yahoo.com' so as to access my home page, and mail on the other hand Safari's home page is set to PPruNe and IE to another forum that shall be nameless.
( the mail is a BT function and is on a BT server not a Yahoo one, Yahoo merely supplies the web mail reader)
The router firewall is a hardware one, what the Yahoo one is I've no idea but assume it's a software one.
The BT Yahoo disc modifies IE to include several Yahoo things such as tool bars etc. So if you want an independent browser you'll need to install firefox, safari or opera.
Deleting the Icons wouldn't then cause any problems as you can still access a browser In fact you could probably un-instal yahoo completely with no detrimental effect providing you have your home page set up as a bookmark so you can access it if you want. (it contains all your BT account access links)
Ancient Observer
25th Jul 2009, 16:10
I'm not as technically skilled as you guys, but here's my contribution. I've got BT Yahoo Broadband on XP (3). AVG free for AV and M/S for firewall. (Others caused too many conflicts). In the beginning, BT Yahoo was primarily my source for e-mails. (OExpress in my case). They told me how to set it up, and it has worked fine since. (Thinks - poss. daft thing to say).
Over time, BT Y suggested that I needed more and more of their software on my machine. I duly loaded it. However, it was big and clunky, and one day I removed it all thru Control panel add/remove. (At least that removed it, which is more than can be said for HP software).
I can't remember what prompted this - but it was easy and did not impact either my e-mail or my up-to-2-whatever internet access.
One of the best things about BT's service is that if you do need to ring their BT Software helpline, (which is an 0800 number in the UK), about half the time you get a knowledgeable person who wants to help.
Thus, I'd get rid of all the accretions of software, (other than whatever started up the BT service, of course) but keep the phone number to hand.
I do not use a BT modem/router as one of my previous employers insisted that I use a Netgear. Whilst that has confused one of the engineers on a call once, the others have not suggested that it causes BT any problems.
Hope that helps.
Many thanks guys - good food for thought. It is, however, difficult when it isn't your machine!