System Error - File Access ERROR

I am trying to fix a friend's PC which is a Windows ME Celeron based PC.
The computer has AVG and Zone Alarm running.

The problem is an error message that appears at startup referring to
access to a file because another program is using the file - I do not
know what the "file" being accessed is.

This computer is running PC Tattletale, a parental controls program. The
friend wants to continue using PC Tattletale to protect her children.

The program uses winload32.exe which will show up as a spyware program
if you check it using Google. That's partly true as the software does,
in fact, monitor activity (on the web, keyboard, sites visited, IM
chats, etc). This program, however, is NOT the nasty program that comes
up in the Google search. I have been assured by the software tech
support staff of this fact. They are also working on this problem but so
far no useful info has developed on this problem.

The problem is that an explorer error is received at start up. This
error appears ONLY if winload32.exe is called out in the HKLM run key.

If I uncheck that file using msconfig, the system starts fine and no
errors are present. But after the program runs and resets the winload32
file back in the startup, the error appears again at the next startup.

The error is as follows:
*********************************************
Run-time error '-21479024882(8007000e)'

System Error &H80070020(-2147024864) The process cannot access the file
because it is being used by another process.
*********************************************

This error appears with Zone Alarm and AVG antivirus not installed, and
not running as well as when running - so they do not appear to play a role.

The error doesn't seem to be more than an annoyance as clicking on the
popup "OK" eliminates the error message with no issues until the next
startup when it appears again.

I would appreciate any comments and/or suggestions.

Thanks, Fred S

Hello, Fred,

You have done a fine job investigating the symptoms of this problem.

IMHO, the PC Tattletale is improperly coded and is causing the problem.

I suggest installing SysInternals "Process Explorer", a free process viewer,
and confirming that the winload32.exe, and most likely other processes
associated with PC Tattletale, are actually executing after startup.
Parental Control may actually NOT be running!
I would also test whether you see the same symptoms, if you clean boot, and
then manually launch winload32.exe.

If the vendor of PC Tattletale is unable, or unwilling, to help you resolve
this issue, I suggest obtaining an alternative Parental Control program - if
conversations with the children do not seem able to resolve the fears. See
some of the numerous reviews of such software to find the one your friend
desires.
--
Jack E Martinelli former 2002_06 MS MVP / DTS
See www.microsoft.com/protect
--------
"Fred S *****" "Fred wrote in message
...
I am trying to fix a friend's PC which is a Windows ME Celeron based PC.
The computer has AVG and Zone Alarm running.

The problem is an error message that appears at startup referring to
access to a file because another program is using the file - I do not know
what the "file" being accessed is.

This computer is running PC Tattletale, a parental controls program. The
friend wants to continue using PC Tattletale to protect her children.

The program uses winload32.exe which will show up as a spyware program if
you check it using Google. That's partly true as the software does, in
fact, monitor activity (on the web, keyboard, sites visited, IM chats,
etc). This program, however, is NOT the nasty program that comes up in the
Google search. I have been assured by the software tech support staff of
this fact. They are also working on this problem but so far no useful info
has developed on this problem.

The problem is that an explorer error is received at start up. This error
appears ONLY if winload32.exe is called out in the HKLM run key.

If I uncheck that file using msconfig, the system starts fine and no
errors are present. But after the program runs and resets the winload32
file back in the startup, the error appears again at the next startup.

The error is as follows:
*********************************************
Run-time error '-21479024882(8007000e)'

System Error &H80070020(-2147024864) The process cannot access the file
because it is being used by another process.
*********************************************

This error appears with Zone Alarm and AVG antivirus not installed, and
not running as well as when running - so they do not appear to play a
role.

The error doesn't seem to be more than an annoyance as clicking on the
popup "OK" eliminates the error message with no issues until the next
startup when it appears again.

I would appreciate any comments and/or suggestions.

Thanks, Fred S

Thanks Jack,

I'll take a look and see what shows up. Will post back with info when I
get a chance.

Fred S


Jack E. Martinelli wrote:
Hello, Fred,

You have done a fine job investigating the symptoms of this problem.

IMHO, the PC Tattletale is improperly coded and is causing the problem.

I suggest installing SysInternals "Process Explorer", a free process viewer,
and confirming that the winload32.exe, and most likely other processes
associated with PC Tattletale, are actually executing after startup.
Parental Control may actually NOT be running!
I would also test whether you see the same symptoms, if you clean boot, and
then manually launch winload32.exe.

If the vendor of PC Tattletale is unable, or unwilling, to help you resolve
this issue, I suggest obtaining an alternative Parental Control program - if
conversations with the children do not seem able to resolve the fears. See
some of the numerous reviews of such software to find the one your friend
desires.

Hi Jack,

I ran Process Explorer and it showed winload32.exe popping up with
explorer32.exe as a sub process, then winload32.exe was gone and
explorer32.exe was there all by itself.

I forgot to mention that the program is indeed working as I can go to
their site and review many functions, such as keyboard entries, screen
shots, etc. etc. all this and winload32.exe never shows in task manager
via CTRL ALT DEL, nor does it show in process explorer. Do they hide it
well.

Lastly, when I click on the error message and hit OK - it goes away and
nothing seems to be affected, that is, the system seems to perform
without any noticeable problems.

Fred

Fred S ***** wrote:
Thanks Jack,

I'll take a look and see what shows up. Will post back with info when I
get a chance.

Fred S


Jack E. Martinelli wrote:
Hello, Fred,

You have done a fine job investigating the symptoms of this problem.

IMHO, the PC Tattletale is improperly coded and is causing the
problem.

I suggest installing SysInternals "Process Explorer", a free process
viewer, and confirming that the winload32.exe, and most likely other
processes associated with PC Tattletale, are actually executing after
startup. Parental Control may actually NOT be running!
I would also test whether you see the same symptoms, if you clean
boot, and then manually launch winload32.exe.

If the vendor of PC Tattletale is unable, or unwilling, to help you
resolve this issue, I suggest obtaining an alternative Parental
Control program - if conversations with the children do not seem able
to resolve the fears. See some of the numerous reviews of such
software to find the one your friend desires.