Software/Registry Geeks: Weird prob. running Shopbot on H.P. Vista computer

[Mayo]

I just got my v4g upgrade and installed 3.6.0.46 on the Vista computer I had.
All desktop icons run properly except for the Shopbot program Sb3.exe
I also installed the latest ver. of Shopbot software with the same results.

When I click to run the Shopbot program, Windows InstallShield tries to run an installation for Roxio MyDVD Premier v9. Evidently that program came pre-installed on this H.P. computer but 99.99999% of it has been deleted.

If I then click on Task Manager and right click that process, it shows the Sb3.exe software running it. I end that process and the "Please wait while Windows InstallShield configures Roxio MyDVD Premier v9" goes away.

After a short time it pops up an error message saying it (Roxio) can't install because it's missing a certificate file. I click OK and then if I again double click on the Shopbot icon, it runs the Shopbot program.

Roxio has a listing in my Control Panel when I try and uninstall it from there but it won't uninstall because the previous owner of this computer tried to delete it and it's missing a certificate so it won't uninstall.

I went into the registry and deleted hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of Keys, Values and Data all relating to Roxio and it's related programs (MediaCapture9, Sonic, Videowave, MyDVD, Cinemagic, RC_Desktop, and others which I forget). I also deleted tons of shared .dll files which mentioned any of those names. I also found one mention of it in the system files, which I deleted by going to a CMD prompt. Kind of brought back the old DOS operating system days!

Still no luck and no clue as to why this computer tries to install Roxio only when clicking the Shopbot desktop icon.

I found a program on Microsoft's Fixit web page that is supposed to fix problems just like this where the wrong program runs when clicking an icon but it didn't solve this problem.
I've tried an old version of RegCure registry cleaner but that also didn't work.

Any suggestions other than reformatting the hard drive and installing Windows 7 Pro?

[Brady Watson]

I couldn't recommend anything better than wiping the drive and reinstalling win7.

-B

[jerry_stanek]

will it start from the start program menu. If it will you can dump the icon go to the start programs and right click on the sb3 and send to desk top

[harryball]

I was administrator at a company when we upgraded from XP to Vista Business and later to W7. Based on my experience with all Vista versions I would never try to run the shopbot from it. Only a few weeks ago did I swap out my control PC from XP to one running W7 skipping over Vista. I won't go into all the deficiencies of Vista but when installing W7 on the same hardware Vista was running on was like getting new computer that actually ran fast and worked.

If you persist, it sounds like your file associations are screwed up and some file that is called triggers a call to the partially missing Roxio which then triggers the installer to install the missing components you need to read the file you tried to call. There used to be a Microsoft uninstaller tool (MSICUU2.exe) that did a fairly good job of removing corrupted program installations that won't uninstall. As I recall, I used it often when maintaining all those Vista systems. MS discontinued it in favor of their MrFixit **** which never seems to be as effective.

I'd try to reset all my file associations to the default and see what happened.

Honestly though... start with a fresh install of W7. I think in the long run you'll be happier and I predict even if you recover this Vista system you'll be doing it in the future anyway.

/RB

[David Iannone]

Mayo,
Congrats on the 4g board. Sounds so much better don't it?

I just upgraded mine to 4g middle of last year. Was running on an old Dell with XP on it since the beginning. Was having comm issues though over the last few months. Just installed a new/old Tigerdirect parts PC that I had a local IT guy wipe clean, do memory test, HD test, etc. Load Win 7 Pro without any other software on it, turn off all the things in the background that will mess with the bot, put a powered usb hub in between control PC and SB control box. Runs perfect now. Been air cutting for days different files, old and new, long and short. No problems. Also, my control PC is dedicated to only run the SB, no internet, no antivirus. I use a thumbdrive to transfer files to it.

Many on here use the "Blackviper" website to stripe the system down and you could do that yourself. But after just going through issues I would have to agree with others, reformat and load win 7 Pro. Also, stay with sb3.6.46 for the control software.

Dave

[Brady Watson]

Since you 'hacked' the registry, you really can't tell if there are dependencies between Windows and certain programs. Editing all of those entries took WAY longer than wiping it and installing 7 fresh.

I agree - Vista is junk. As a general rule, MS has a 'good' version every other release. E.G. - 98SE good, Millenium junk; XP good, Vista junk; Win7 good, Win8 junk; Win10 *should* be a good one...(there is no Win9 because 9 is an unlucky number in Asian cultures - or at least that's what I heard)

Don't shoot yourself in the foot - Just wipe it and start with a known quantity. A refurbished computer is NOT the same as one off of CL that someone filled up with junk programs to justify having a computer.

There is such a thing as loving yourself enough to hook yourself up...

-B

[tri4sale]

I agree - Vista is junk. As a general rule, MS has a 'good' version every other release. E.G. - 98SE good, Millenium junk; XP good, Vista junk; Win7 good, Win8 junk; Win10 *should* be a good one...(there is no Win9 because 9 is an unlucky number in Asian cultures - or at least that's what I heard)[/U]

-B

And never buy MS hardware until they release the third version, takes them 3 tries on hardware to get correct. If you have Win7 run it.

Microsoft is skipping Win 9 name due to a programming cheat used in many programs by developers. When installing / running programs will check Window version number, and a programming short cut was to look for Win9 (for Win 95 / 98 / etc.) so if they called it Win 9 a lot of software would not install on it. Big deal in corporations that use custom, older software, MS does not want bad press of people having issues installing programs.

[harryball]

I don't know where you got that information, the truth is that MS is going to Windows 10 because 7 8 9.

Ok, I apologize for that.

My only other theory is that every other OS is good, like Brady said, and when alpha testing W9 they realized it was horrible and had to skip to W10.

/RB

[tri4sale]

I don't know where you got that information, the truth is that MS is going to Windows 10 because 7 8 9.

Ok, I apologize for that.

My only other theory is that every other OS is good, like Brady said, and when alpha testing W9 they realized it was horrible and had to skip to W10.

/RB

After it took me longer than it should have to understand your joke, I've decided I've been in front of my computer too long today and am headed out to the garage to clean up and get ready to cut tomorrow on the bot.