Access Violations whenever I try to run JJ2

[LittleFreak]

Since my brother re-installed Windows XP on our computer, I can't play JJ2 anymore. The installation works completely fine, but when I click on "Jazz Jackrabbit 2" in the start menu I get an access violation right after the small purple picture. Normally the Epic logo would appear, but I get this access violation instead. I've tried a lot of things like activating the compatibility mode or running the game in windowed mode, but nothing works. Re-installing doesn't solve the problem either.

Last christmas, we bought a new computer and JJ2 worked fine on it. However, that computer somehow crashed pretty often when starting Windows, until the whole computer died and my brother had to do anything again. He re-installed Windows and made all that stuff like downloading and installing Direct-X, etc. The PC now doesn't crash anymore when starting, but instead from time to time just freezes, and hangs so I have to reboot it (I hate my PC). But while JJ2 worked fine before the big crash, it doesn't since my brother re-installed Windows. I just keep getting Access Violations right at the start, whatever I do.

Like I said, I'm using Windows XP (Home Edition) and a Radeon 9800 graphics card. I have JJ2 1.24 aswell as 1.20, but installed both in the same directory. I have installed Direct X 9.

I have performed a search on the word "access violation", but I found nothing that helped me.

Did anybody face that problem before or does anyone have an idea how to fix it?

[cooba]

Well, I can only guess what is causing it... perhaps one of the Logo.j2v files got corrupt/is missing?

[LittleFreak]

Hm.. possible. Could someone send me the first logo (the Epic Megagames thing) via e-mail?

My address is (e-mail adress)

[cooba]

Done.

[LittleFreak]

I received it and replaced the old files, but that changed hardly anything.

However, instead of an access violation half of the screen is black (I tried getting a screenshot, but failed). I think the black part is just the size of the windowed game.

I remember I had that before though.

Still, thanks for your efforts.

*edit*

I tried it again and this time I just get an access violation again, like before. So the logos are not corrupted it seems.

[Xobim]

A guess... Could it be possible that the 1.24 files have been overwritten by 1.20?

[LittleFreak]

Possibly. I'll try to install TSF only, maybe that will work.

*edit*

Didn't fix it.

I also tried opening a level using JCS (save & run), but that doesn't seem to work out either.

[cooba]

Jazz2.exe corrupt? That's the only thing which I can think of right now.

[LittleFreak]

Can you send me yours?

But how could an exe file get corrupted? I'm using the same CD as I always used.

[NinJazz]

Well maybe the CD you installed from got a lil scratch, and file datas are corrupted..

..

or something.

[LittleFreak]

I don't think it's possible to scratch two CDs (1.20 and TSF) in a way exactly the same files get corrupted.

But thanks anyways.

[Sonyk]

This is a weird idea, but have you tried running it under an administrator account?

[LittleFreak]

I'm administrator at the moment.

But maybe I should run it under a not-administrator account? =P

[blurredd]

I'm guessing you have already tried running levels directly, but I can't tell for sure.

[LittleFreak]

Do you mean using JCS or programms like Captain Cook (or how that one thing was called)? The latter I have yet to try out.

*edit*

With Captain Cook I got until the loading screen of the level, then I got an access violation again. I guess using the bat-files that come with FSP won't work either.

I think there is yet another way to start JJ2, using something called command line. How do I do that?

[cooba]

Command lines are actually what the FSP .bat files are about, I think.

[Stijn]

Could you post the JJ2 log file?

[LittleFreak]

Erm.. how to?

[cooba]

1. Open your Jazz folder.
2. Jazz2.log.
3. Post its contains here.

[LittleFreak]

I don't have such a file. I'm guessing I first have to download one of those log problems, right?

[cooba]

Hmm... launch JJ2, and when it crashes look if the .log file is there. Also you could try launching it with the spy window/a log program on.

[LittleFreak]

W00t. A Stack Overflow error. That's something new I guess.

It's pretty much like the access violation error though - a small window with lots of code.

The log file is still not there. I'll try downloading one (I remember such a programm got uploaded not long ago).

*edit*

This is a screenshot of the log after trying to run JJ2 with Captain Cook (this time I got an access violation again instead of a stack overflow):

http://people.freenet.de/liljulez/phil/jj2%20log.JPG

I used this (http://www.jazz2online.com/J2Ov2/downloads/info.php?levelID=3808) log programm by the way.

[blurredd]

My only other guess is something went wrong with the registry for JJ2.

[LittleFreak]

How to fix that? =l

[blurredd]

It's hard to say without knowing what's the exact cause or if it's even the reason at all. What you could do is make some screenshots of the contents of certain JJ2 registry keys (like System or VideoSize) and post them here. Alternatively you could export a registry file of the Jazz Jackrabbit 2 branch.

Edit: It might help to post screenshots of the files in your JJ2 folder in detailed view as well.

[White Rabbit]

If it is the registry, all you need to do is delete everything associated with JJ2 there (unless you've got other Epic games installed) and run JJ2. JJ2 will automatically create new registry settings every time it starts.

WARNING: Do this at your own risk. I know for a fact that JJ2 creates/repairs the registry if there are *missing* things, but I've never ever deleted it all.

[LittleFreak]

When de-installing JJ2, it clearly says that the registry gets deleted.

I'll try to install it yet again now, after deleting everything JJ-related I found. But I doubt that it has any effect.

*edit*

It's hard to say without knowing what's the exact cause or if it's even the reason at all. What you could do is make some screenshots of the contents of certain JJ2 registry keys (like System or VideoSize) and post them here. Alternatively you could export a registry file of the Jazz Jackrabbit 2 branch.

Edit: It might help to post screenshots of the files in your JJ2 folder in detailed view as well.

I have no idea how to do any of the above things. I might get those screenshots, if you tell me what detailed view is. Shame on me for my lack of technical abilities.

[FQuist]

I had a problem for a while that starting Jazz2 would immediatly crash it with an AV. Big difference is, if I recall it correctly, it also would break my computer if I did it. Breaking, that is, it messed up my registry. I had this problem for a long time, but found that it disappeared by downloading and installing the latest drivers for my NVIDIA graphics card.

This may not be the same situation at all, but parts of the situation are the same and this may help.

Detailed view: go to one of the menus in explorer and click on detailed view.

[LittleFreak]

There is a "select details" option where you can check everything you want to view. Checking everything resulted in nothing useful. I didn't find an option called detailed view.

As for drivers, my brother would have to do that, I'm not allowed to do such things (he fears I'd mess up the computer). We should have the newest drivers though.

[blurredd]

Just find your JJ2 folder, right click somewhere in the folder, go to View, then click Details. If it's not exactly that, it's probably something similar.

[LittleFreak]

Found it.

I had to make four screenshots to get the whole folder.

http://people.freenet.de/liljulez/phil/JJ2%20folder1.JPG
http://people.freenet.de/liljulez/phil/JJ2%20folder%202.JPG
http://people.freenet.de/liljulez/phil/JJ2%20folder%203.JPG
http://people.freenet.de/liljulez/phil/jj2%20folder%204.JPG

The files seem to all look normal though.

*edit*

The quality of the pictures is not really high sadly.

[White Rabbit]

Are we looking for missing files or corrupted ones? I they are corrupted, then there's no way we can know, unless there's a really big difference in file size. I can create a PAR2 file using QuickPAR (it checks for differences between supposedly identical files, and can fix minor corruptions) for you, but you'll also need the program yourself: http://www.quickpar.org.uk/

[blurredd]

I probably should've asked you to display your JJ2 folder by filetype. Oh well.

Edit: And in the second screenshot, I'm assuming your log file is just above your Jazz2 application (it helps to always display file extensions).

[LittleFreak]

V_V

*goes make screenshots again*

*edit*

http://people.freenet.de/liljulez/phil/JJ2%20folder%205.JPG
http://people.freenet.de/liljulez/phil/JJ2%20folder%206.JPG
http://people.freenet.de/liljulez/phil/JJ2%20folder%207.JPG
http://people.freenet.de/liljulez/phil/JJ2%20folder%208.JPG

Thanks for your efforts and patience by the way.

[blurredd]

If you're going to do that, you don't have to make screenshots of the entire folder. You can skip over the levels, tilesets, and music files.

[LittleFreak]

Too late. ;D

[White Rabbit]

Are we looking for missing files?

[blurredd]

Not so much as corrupted files, but I like your idea more (although it could get more complicated than expected). I wanted to put an emphasis on a corrupted registry though.

[White Rabbit]

What the...? I wouldn't have posted that if I had found my previous post (which I couldn't 5 mins ago).

[LittleFreak]

So... in case my registry would be corrupted, how would I check that? :|

[blurredd]

I hope by Direct X 9 you really meant DirectX 9.0c (unless I'm incorrect, certain versions of 9.0 caused problems with some applications).

For the registry thing (I'll be a little lazy here):


Go to the start menu.
Go to run.
Type in "regedit" with no quote.
Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER.
Go to SOFTWARE.
Go to Epic Megagames.
Go to Jazz Jackrabbit 2.
Go to your Jazz 2 version.

After that, you can just export the file (right click -> export or File - > Export). You can then either upload the .reg file somewhere or open that file with Notepad and copy the text.

[LittleFreak]

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Epic MegaGames\Jazz Jackrabbit 2 Special Edition\1.24]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Epic MegaGames\Jazz Jackrabbit 2 Special Edition\1.24\General]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Epic MegaGames\Jazz Jackrabbit 2 Special Edition\1.24\System]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Epic MegaGames\Jazz Jackrabbit 2 Special Edition\1.24\VideoSize]

Either I did something wrong or that's it. Thanks for the decription, by the way.

[White Rabbit]

Yes, that's what should be there. Player 0, 1, 2, etc and Game should be added when you start playing JJ2 multiplayer. Tell us what's inside. ;P

[LittleFreak]

Player 0, 1, 2, etc and Game should be added when you start playing JJ2 multiplayer. Tell us what's inside. ;P

...

sorry, what?

[White Rabbit]

I meant, tell us what is inside these 3 keys:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Epic MegaGames\Jazz Jackrabbit 2 Special Edition\1.24]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Epic MegaGames\Jazz Jackrabbit 2 Special Edition\1.24\General]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Epic MegaGames\Jazz Jackrabbit 2 Special Edition\1.24\System]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Epic MegaGames\Jazz Jackrabbit 2 Special Edition\1.24\VideoSize]

The keys that are missing, because they only come up if you play multiplayer games, are

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Epic MegaGames\Jazz Jackrabbit 2 Special Edition\1.24]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Epic MegaGames\Jazz Jackrabbit 2 Special Edition\1.24\Player0]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Epic MegaGames\Jazz Jackrabbit 2 Special Edition\1.24\Game]

[LittleFreak]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Epic MegaGames\Jazz Jackrabbit 2 Special Edition\1.24]

3 folders: General, System and VideoSize (like shown below)

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Epic MegaGames\Jazz Jackrabbit 2 Special Edition\1.24\General]

A REG_SZ file named (Standard), nothing else.

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Epic MegaGames\Jazz Jackrabbit 2 Special Edition\1.24\System]

Same as above.

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Epic MegaGames\Jazz Jackrabbit 2 Special Edition\1.24\VideoSize]

Same as above.

Is it that what you meant?

[blurredd]

I'm wondering what will happen if you installed the JJ2 registry file of someone else who has no problems...

You could try deleting the Epic MegaGames key and then see what happens. I recommend you back up your entire registry first.

[Grytolle]

I'm wondering what will happen if you installed the JJ2 registry file of someone else who has no problems...If he dares trying, I happened to be backing up all my jj2-fiels, including registry today...


(NO THIS NOT WAREZ IT LESS THAT AN MEGABYTE PLZ DONT BAN ME ;<)
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=RDOT3FZX
Note: It includes keys for many jj2 versions, so... er... just deal with that.

[LittleFreak]

I'd like to try that. Which files do I have to backup then?

[Grytolle]

Everything by Epic megagames that you can find?:P

[LittleFreak]

Let's give it another try. d=

So, seriously, which files would I have to backup so I don't screw up my registry?

[White Rabbit]

Hm, you should only need to back up your Epic (Mega)Games registry settings. Use regedit, go to the Epic (Mega)Games key, and select it. Then select Files, Export, and type in a name for your .reg file. You should now have backed up your registry settings and are free to delete the existing ones. If something does go wrong (it really shouldn't), you can just use the newly created xxx.reg file (xxx for the name you gave it ... I recommend xxx in order to lessen confusion) to restore all your keys.

[LittleFreak]

Hm.. that's all so confusing.

First off, what's regedit? :(

[blurredd]

It's usually recommended to backup the entire registry. I don't know if you're serious about not knowing what regedit is, but if you are, see my 41st post at the top of this page.

Also, here is a site that (http://www.greyknight17.com/registryBackup.htm) should help.

[White Rabbit]

Isn't the whole registry like...20MB large? :p

[LittleFreak]

I backed up the Epic Megagames folder like described on the website. That should do it.

What to do now? ^^

By the way, when I open the Jazz Creation Station folder in regedit there's a subfolder called 1.00. However, we all know a 1.00 JCS doesn't exist. Is that a bug or something?

[cooba]

IHowever, we all know a 1.00 JCS doesn't exist. Is that a bug or something?1.00 as in JCS's version number, not JJ2's.

[LittleFreak]

Ah. I already guessed something like that. It would be awesome to see a beta JCS though. d=

[blurredd]

There was MLLE, but that's off-topic.

Isn't the whole registry like...20MB large?
It's around that size, but you'd be really glad you made the backup if anything bad ever happened to your registry.

Anyway, what I was suggesting before was deleting the Epic MegaGames keys manually then trying to run the game.

[LittleFreak]

Epic Megagames keys?

I know even less about computers than I thought.

Sorry about being an annoying nerd, but I'd like a .... step for step explanation of what to do.

Unless you mean deleting the whole Epic Megagames folder with regedit, but I don't think that's it, right?

[cooba]

Unless you mean deleting the whole Epic Megagames folder with regedit, but I don't think that's it, right?That's it.

[LittleFreak]

Oh. OK.

(I take that as you're not joking now)

*edit*

I still get an access violation. =l

[blurredd]

I have some ideas of what to do next, but it would be easier to do walk-throughs with MSN.

[LittleFreak]

I can't install MSN since my brother took admin power from on this PC and he won't get it for me either (fears to get spammed with Microsoft stuff).

Would either #jj2 or ICQ be possible too?

[blurredd]

Not a problem. (129948993)

[Vegito]

or delete the "Epic megagames" registry thingy, and reinstall jj2 :|
Thats how I got jj2 to work again

[LittleFreak]

Already tried that. =l

It doesn't seem to be the registry.

[cooba]

When was the last time it worked for you on that computer?

[LittleFreak]

Before my hard drive died off and the computer crashed. We then had to re-install Windows XP and since then the game doesn't work anymore.

[Sonyk]

This is probably unrelated to the current conversation in every way, but when Faw was trying to get JJ2 to run under Wine, he told me he got AV errors in the same place.

The errors might be related, so you might not be the only one.

[LittleFreak]

Seriously? Another reason to bug Faw on ICQ. Maybe he can tell me how he got it fixed.

Or did he get it fixed after all?

[blurredd]

I'm of course no expert, but if it's not the Registry (though I'm not ruling it out just yet), and it's not the JJ2 files, I guess it has something to do with the other files JJ2 uses like the DLL files.

You could try downloading Dependency Walker (http://dependencywalker.com/) and following the steps up to 12 on this site (http://www.mozilla.org/quality/help/dependency-walker.html) (replacing mozilla.exe with Jazz2.exe). If you can' t find specifically where the problem is (look for red after you start profiling), then you should PM the entire log as opposed to just posting the problem files here. I hope this helps.

[Sonyk]

Seriously? Another reason to bug Faw on ICQ. Maybe he can tell me how he got it fixed.

Or did he get it fixed after all?
No, he didn't. At least, he didn't tell me and to my knowledge he just runs it on Windows 98.

[cooba]

Maybe running Jazz2.exe in 95/98 compatibility mode would help?

Jazz2.exe -> File Properties -> Compatibility -> Windows 98/Me compatibility

[LittleFreak]

I asked Faw, he can't help me either.

I also tried out the compatibility mode, but no results.

I used the programm Blur suggested yesterday and got multiple errors which always seemed the same.

GetProcAddress(0x00000000, "CtfImmCoUninitialize") called from "c:\windows\system32\MSCTF.DLL" at address 0x746A2753 and returned NULL. Error: Die angegebene Prozedur wurde nicht gefunden (127).

GetProcAddress(0x00000000, "CtfImmLastEnabledWndDestroy") called from "c:\windows\system32\MSCTF.DLL" at address 0x746A2790 and returned NULL. Error: Die angegebene Prozedur wurde nicht gefunden (127).

GetProcAddress(0x00000000, "CtfImmSetCiceroStartInThread") called from "c:\windows\system32\MSCTF.DLL" at address 0x746A27D3 and returned NULL. Error: Die angegebene Prozedur wurde nicht gefunden (127).

GetProcAddress(0x00000000, "CtfImmIsCiceroStartedInThread") called from "c:\windows\system32\MSCTF.DLL" at address 0x746A2818 and returned NULL. Error: Die angegebene Prozedur wurde nicht gefunden (127).

GetProcAddress(0x00000000, "CtfImmIsCiceroEnabled") called from "c:\windows\system32\MSCTF.DLL" at address 0x746A285D and returned NULL. Error: Die angegebene Prozedur wurde nicht gefunden (127).

GetProcAddress(0x00000000, "CtfImmIsTextFrameServiceDisabled") called from "c:\windows\system32\MSCTF.DLL" at address 0x746A2899 and returned NULL. Error: Die angegebene Prozedur wurde nicht gefunden (127).

GetProcAddress(0x00000000, "CtfImmEnterCoInitCountSkipMode") called from "c:\windows\system32\MSCTF.DLL" at address 0x746A28E0 and returned NULL. Error: Die angegebene Prozedur wurde nicht gefunden (127).

GetProcAddress(0x00000000, "CtfImmLeaveCoInitCountSkipMode") called from "c:\windows\system32\MSCTF.DLL" at address 0x746A2926 and returned NULL. Error: Die angegebene Prozedur wurde nicht gefunden (127).

GetProcAddress(0x00000000, "ImmGetDefaultIMEWnd") called from "c:\windows\system32\MSCTF.DLL" at address 0x746A296A and returned NULL. Error: Die angegebene Prozedur wurde nicht gefunden (127).

GetProcAddress(0x00000000, "ImmReleaseContext") called from "c:\windows\system32\MSCTF.DLL" at address 0x746A29A3 and returned NULL. Error: Die angegebene Prozedur wurde nicht gefunden (127).

GetProcAddress(0x00000000, "ImmNotifyIME") called from "c:\windows\system32\MSCTF.DLL" at address 0x746A29DD and returned NULL. Error: Die angegebene Prozedur wurde nicht gefunden (127).

GetProcAddress(0x00000000, "ImmSetConversionStatus") called from "c:\windows\system32\MSCTF.DLL" at address 0x746A2A10 and returned NULL. Error: Die angegebene Prozedur wurde nicht gefunden (127).

GetProcAddress(0x00000000, "ImmGetConversionStatus") called from "c:\windows\system32\MSCTF.DLL" at address 0x746A2A4E and returned NULL. Error: Die angegebene Prozedur wurde nicht gefunden (127).

GetProcAddress(0x00000000, "ImmGetProperty") called from "c:\windows\system32\MSCTF.DLL" at address 0x746A2A8A and returned NULL. Error: Die angegebene Prozedur wurde nicht gefunden (127).

GetProcAddress(0x00000000, "ImmGetOpenStatus") called from "c:\windows\system32\MSCTF.DLL" at address 0x746A2ABE and returned NULL. Error: Die angegebene Prozedur wurde nicht gefunden (127).

GetProcAddress(0x00000000, "ImmGetContext") called from "c:\windows\system32\MSCTF.DLL" at address 0x746A2AF4 and returned NULL. Error: Die angegebene Prozedur wurde nicht gefunden (127).

GetProcAddress(0x00000000, "ImmSetOpenStatus") called from "c:\windows\system32\MSCTF.DLL" at address 0x746A2B29 and returned NULL. Error: Die angegebene Prozedur wurde nicht gefunden (127).

GetProcAddress(0x00000000, "ImmInstallIMEA") called from "c:\windows\system32\MSCTF.DLL" at address 0x746A2B60 and returned NULL. Error: Die angegebene Prozedur wurde nicht gefunden (127).

GetProcAddress(0x00000000, "ImmGetDescriptionA") called from "c:\windows\system32\MSCTF.DLL" at address 0x746A2B96 and returned NULL. Error: Die angegebene Prozedur wurde nicht gefunden (127).

GetProcAddress(0x00000000, "ImmGetDescriptionW") called from "c:\windows\system32\MSCTF.DLL" at address 0x746A2BCE and returned NULL. Error: Die angegebene Prozedur wurde nicht gefunden (127).

GetProcAddress(0x00000000, "ImmGetIMEFileNameA") called from "c:\windows\system32\MSCTF.DLL" at address 0x746A2C06 and returned NULL. Error: Die angegebene Prozedur wurde nicht gefunden (127).

GetProcAddress(0x00000000, "ImmGetIMEFileNameW") called from "c:\windows\system32\MSCTF.DLL" at address 0x746A2C3E and returned NULL. Error: Die angegebene Prozedur wurde nicht gefunden (127).

GetProcAddress(0x00000000, "ImmSetHotKey") called from "c:\windows\system32\MSCTF.DLL" at address 0x746A311C and returned NULL. Error: Die angegebene Prozedur wurde nicht gefunden (127).

These, and a few more that look the same. It seems my dll files are messed up (dll is some game library stuff I think). For non Germans, the line at the end means something like "The procedure was not found."

I don't know if that info matters, but the above errors are in a whole "block". After that normally coloured text appears, and then some scattered error lines with the same error (127).

[cooba]

MSCTF.DLL corrupt.

[blurredd]

Apparently MSCTF.DLL belongs to Internet Explorer, so I'm not sure if JJ2 actually needs it or not. I can't recall if this was answered already, but is your version of XP up-to-date?

[LittleFreak]

What do you mean by up-to-date? In case you wanted to say DirectX and accidentally typed XP, yes, I have the newest DirectX version (9.0c).

[Sonyk]

He probably meant Windows XP, which you should update regurlarly at Windows Update. (http://www.windowsupdate.com) And if that doesn't work, you might be better off repairing your Windows XP install.

[LittleFreak]

Are you sure updating XP will solve anything though? Like I said, it worked fine before the system crashed. My brother, who re-installed XP after we got a new hard drive, knows enough about computers to remember installing the newest updates.

[blurredd]

It wouldn't hurt to check though.

[LittleFreak]

Dependency Walker says I have Service Pack 2.

[blurredd]

You possibily have this version (http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/1079736044/1) (Windows XP SP2 Release Candidate 2) of the XP update, which could explain some things. If anyone thinks they have this version of SP2, some input would be appreciated.

I'm assuming this RC2 version is what accounts for the difference in MSCTF.DLL, the file I believe is the main problem. Unless somebody has version 5.1.2600.2575 of MSCTF.DLL (as opposed to version 5.1.2600.2180 on the XP computer I was using) and can run JJ2, it would appear your version has to be downgraded for JJ2 to work. Either you can try uninstalling your version of SP2 and download the currently available one on the Microsoft (simple, but could take a while), or you could replace your MSCTF.DLL version with this one (http://www.jazz2online.com/d3/msctf.zip) (more complicated, but could save time).

[LittleFreak]

I guess as downgrading SP2 isn't an option for me (my brother'd kill me =P) replacing the MSCTF.dll file with the other one would be a good thing to do. Now the only thing I need would be assistance as how to replace it, as I don't exactly know where the MSCTF.dll actually is.

I'll wait for you to be on ICQ Blur. =P

[cooba]

as I don't exactly know where the MSCTF.dll actually is.Start Menu -> Search :rolleyes:

[LittleFreak]

I didn't do a search because I didn't await to find anything (I didn't now that I tried it). As far as I understood, the MSCTF.dll is part of the JJ2 library or some other file that affects JJ2 and no single file, thus it can't be found using the search function. Correct me if I'm wrong though.

[cooba]

As far as I understood, the MSCTF.dll is part of the JJ2 library or some other file that affects JJ2 and no single file, thus it can't be found using the search function.MSCTF.dll is a .dll file affecting Internet Explorer and (unintentionally) JJ2 as well.

[blurredd]

LF, you could also use Dependency Walker to find where MSCTF.DLL is. Just look for the dll in the same place I told you to find the last time, right-click -> Properties (or whatever equivalent).

You could use CopyLock (http://findsoftonline.com/copylock_download_9391.html) to make the replacement if the dll is in use. When you go to Add -> Files to replace, make sure the file you add (Source) is the MSCTF.DLL file I gave a link from before and the destination folder is the same as for the file you want to replace (you may want to make a backup first). You may also need to check Allow downgrades.

[LittleFreak]

^^;;;;

Right-click on what? I tried to right-click on MSCTF.dll after loading the JJ2 thing I saved, but the properties field is grayed out so it can't be that.

I need to learn writing down such things so I can see what to do next time and people don't need to tell me everything a hundred times. ;)

[blurredd]

Ugh... I just remembered this:

GetProcAddress(0x00000000, "CtfImmCoUninitialize") called from "c:\windows\system32\MSCTF.DLL" at address 0x746A2753 and returned NULL. Error: Die angegebene Prozedur wurde nicht gefunden (127).
So the destination folder for you is c:\windows\system32\.

[LittleFreak]

I asked my brother about it. He said I should send him the downgraded MSCTF.dll file (the one you gave me the link to) and he'll have a look at what it changes. If it doesn't change anything important, I'm allowed to replace it. Otherwise, goodbye JJ2. ;(

[LittleFreak]

My brother says he doesn't have any idea what the MSCTF.dll actually does, and what replacing it with an older version would change.

Does anyone of you computer experts have an idea of what it does and/or what difference it makes to downgrade it?

[Birdie]

i have no idea :(

[blurredd]

It would seem the version that you have serves no extra purpose. If you still don't want to downgrade the dll manually, you should just install a different version of SP2 like the current one from microsoft.com (You might not even have to uninstall your current version).

I've been making a lot of assumptions though, so I'm curious as to when and where your brother got your SP2 update.

[LittleFreak]

I'll send him an e-mail and ask him.

It's possible that it's some file that fixes a security hole of Windows though, so that's difficult to say.

[Torkell]

If I remember correctly MSCTF.dll is something to do with alternative input systems (voice recog, handwriting). I would make sure you've got the correct version, otherwise it could cause problems with patches and updates.

[blurredd]

It's possible that it's some file that fixes a security hole of Windows though, so that's difficult to say.
I doubt that since from what I can tell the dll version isn't the same as in the latest SP2 release. I'm making more assumptions though. My advice would be to just install the newest microsoft.com version of SP2 since it couldn't hurt to try.

By the way, have you heard anything from your brother?

[LittleFreak]

Well, he told me to find out what the thing does. If it really fixes a security hole, I could forget it. =/

I still have to find a source of what the thing does.

[blurredd]

It appears you don't have to reinstall SP2 after all (sorry about that, although it would not have hurt if you did). I found this forum (http://www.pc-work-forum.net/viewtopic.php?t=83), which has a link that leads to Microsoft's Download Center with a Windows XP update (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=a5be0aed-6c32-4b49-9a4c-a5c458b5b984&DisplayLang=de) (KB890831). You should note that this update isn't a security fix (or else it would say so in the title) and it's optional.

Unless if I'm mistaken, you should be able to uninstall this update through Add/Remove in your Control Panel. MSN Messenger should be the only thing affected if you remove this update, and unless you're using IME (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Input_method_editor) you won't notice any difference.

[LittleFreak]

I got my brother to sit down and look through this with me. He says he doesn't want to replace anything, except inside the JJ2 folder, in which case it won't influence the rest of the PC. So we placed the correct msctf.dll in the JJ2 folder, but it had no effect (logical, there aren't any other dll files either so JJ2 reads them from somewhere else).

Nothing more can be done. Thanks for all the input anyways.

[blurredd]

Well, my last post was all you really needed to interpret. I don't see any problem with uninstalling one optional update, unless someone in your household did in fact occasionally type with Japanese, Chinese, Tibetan, or Korean characters (or in another language requiring complex characters and symbols).

If your brother thinks it would be unsafe to uninstall that update (it is from Microsoft after all, of which he had to trust in the first place), a valid reason for why would be appreciated as the uninstallation would only affect MSN Messenger and it would still work as usual. Although if it's because the update can't easily be uninstalled from where I specified, that's a different story.

I don't know what else to say if your brother won't change his mind. I'll try to find another solution in the meanwhile.

[LittleFreak]

I told him the same, but he doesn't change his mind.

[blurredd]

Maybe you had to register the dll in your JJ2 folder first. You can try going to Start -> Run and typing REGSVR32 C:\(path of your JJ2 folder)\msctf.dll. I can't say it will work, but it's worth a try.

[LittleFreak]

No effect. =/

[blurredd]

Maybe you could try running JJ2 while your computer is in Safe Mode.