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Windows Forum / Windows Me / General Topics / May 2006CDRTC.DLL cannot start
From one start to the next I lost the icon for my 'Direct CD' (Adaptec) in the Systray and with it the ability of the 'CDROM' drive to recognize its contents. The error message at start-up reads: "CDRTC.DLL file cannot start. Check the file to determine the problem." I did check the file and it is there intact, as it seems. Also the CDROM drive checks out ok. in Device Manager. A System Restore and a "scanreg /restore" were not successful either. The other 'Easy CD Creator' icon is still present and active. What could have triggered this and how can it be resolved? Harry Either uninstall DirectCD and throw it away or if you use it reinstall. I know which of those two options I would choose but the solution to your problem is just a few keystrokes away whichever of the two options you choose to take.  SignatureMike Maltby mike.maltby@gmail.com > From one start to the next I lost the icon for my 'Direct CD' > (Adaptec) in the Systray and with it the ability of the 'CDROM' drive [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Harry. That's short'n sweet, Mike, thank you. It doesn't activate my CDROM drive, though. When I open the drive after inserting a disk, it tells me the drive isn't formatted and asks whether I would like to do it now. If I choose yes, I'm told it can't be formatted. Also the "eject" option doesn't work. Yet when I check the properties, everything is supposed to be working. At one time I got the message that "a device attached to the system isn't functioning". I think that was after I had un- and reinstalled the CDROM drive. I'm at a total loss here. Hopefully I don't have to go through another reinstall again. > Either uninstall DirectCD and throw it away or if you use it reinstall. I > know which of those two options I would choose but the solution to your [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > > > Harry. Try this, Harry: http://www.roxio.com/en/support/kb/ecddvdc/ee6000061.jhtml Roxio CD's would probably work well in a skeet machine, maybe as good or better than Symantec CD's... John > That's short'n sweet, Mike, thank you. > It doesn't activate my CDROM drive, though. When I open the drive after [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] >>> >>> Harry. JJ, if memory serves me right, Harry is using an even more out of date version of Direct CD......version FOUR (4). Harry.....toss that in the garbage and buy a more up to date program. That one was old in 2001 when it came on my WinME computer!! Try eBay if you don't want to disturb the moths in your wallet. I got Roxio 6 for $10 Cdn. OEM version, but who cares?? It works. Figgs > Try this, Harry: > http://www.roxio.com/en/support/kb/ecddvdc/ee6000061.jhtml [quoted text clipped - 44 lines] >>>> >>>> Harry. > Try this, Harry: > http://www.roxio.com/en/support/kb/ecddvdc/ee6000061.jhtml > Roxio CD's would probably work well in a skeet machine, maybe as good > or better than Symantec CD's... Especially those written using Roxio's UDF/packet writing software DirectCD. SignatureMike Maltby mike.maltby@gmail.com John: I appreciate your input very much, as well as everyone else's. Downloaded the "roxizap", but my problem doesn't seem to be with Easy CD Creator, it is with my CDROM drive. When I open it, the message says: "The disc in drive E is not formatted, you want to format it now?" Clicking on either Yes or No results in "The disc in drive E can't be formatted". According to Roxio and Plextor there's more to it than just uninstalling the Easy CD Creator and Direct CD. One must get rid of all the Adaptec remnants. Roxio has a little easier way than Plextor. Are you suggesting that the use of 'roxizap' will bring my CDROM back to life? Of course I wouldn't have any problem with discarding my "Teac" Adaptec software, if this turns out to be the real culprit. What actually happened to my CDROM? I forgot to mention that I also lost my SMART drive ability, with the Western Digital Diagnostics refusing to function. The "SMARTVSD.VXD" file is missing and I am supposed to copy it from "WINDOWS\SYSTEM to WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SUBSYS". How is that done? Where is the 'SUBSYS' file to be found? I hope someone has an answer, please. Harry. > Try this, Harry: http://www.roxio.com/en/support/kb/ecddvdc/ee6000061.jhtml > [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > >>> > >>> Harry. Hi Harry; Adaptec was bought out and merged with Roxio some time ago. When you go to the Roxio site and are instructed to remove Adaptec components you are in fact being instructed to remove Roxio components. If you found instructions to remove the components on the Roxio site then follow these instructions, you have not posted a link to the instructions so we have no way of knowing what it is you are to do. The Roxizap utility is a utility to use for stubborn cases, it is supposed to remove Roxio software and information in the registry and release your cd/dvd drives from the Roxio grip. But in true Roxio fashion, even after using Rozizap there will still be tons of Roxio crud left in the registry. The error messages and problems that you are receiving with your cd/dvd is typical to the kind of errors received when the cd/dvd burning software is damaged or improperly installed. At times simply uninstalling and reinstalling the burner software is not sufficient and you must go a bit deeper to untangle the operating system and cd/dvd's from the burner software. Almost all burner software takes a hold on the cd/dvd drives and all of a sudden thinks that it is the master of all to do with the drives, most often if problems happen with these devices the software is at fault. As far as I am concerned these cursed burning applications are a real PITA! Some more than others... CD/DVD burning technology and burning software changes with times and I would recommend that you permanently ditch the now outdated Adaptec software. As far as Roxio goes I will just say that it is not my favorite. With regards to the WD SMART drive problem that is another issue completely. I seriously doubt that Roxio or Adaptec has anything to do with that problem. Without doing more research I can't suggest anything to remedy that problem, but I believe that SMARTVSD.VXD should be in the Windows\System\Iosubsys folder, as explained here: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=265854 John > John: > [quoted text clipped - 70 lines] >>>>> >>>>> Harry. John: Your in-depth analysis is remarkable and quite helpful. It sort of rounds out Mike's comments, thus enabling me to deal with this effectively. Thanks a whole lot. Harry. > Hi Harry; > [quoted text clipped - 106 lines] > >>>>> > >>>>> Harry. You're welcome, Harry. That is very good advice that Mike gave you in his other post, about DirectCD/InCD. These applications are nothing but trouble! John > John: > [quoted text clipped - 133 lines] >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Harry. Only now I discovered that this CD belongs with the CDROM drive, John. Eventually I'll have things sorted out. Amazing how many other issues were uncovered while working on this one. I'm talking about 'Google's records and found everything being discussed in this newsgroup from the beginning, incl. some of my own queries from years before, in answer of my most recent. Thanks for your involvement. Harry. > You're welcome, Harry. That is very good advice that Mike gave you in > his other post, about DirectCD/InCD. These applications are nothing but [quoted text clipped - 139 lines] > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> Harry. The message you mention indicates that you still have Roxio's DirectCD installed. I would strongly suggest that you remove this application and until you have done so you will continue to have problems. > The "SMARTVSD.VXD" file is missing You can extract a new copy of smartvsd.vxd from Win_20.cab. You can do this using MSConfig. SignatureMike Maltby mike.maltby@gmail.com > John: > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > How is that done? Where is the 'SUBSYS' file to be found? > I hope someone has an answer, please. As always, you have been extremely helpful, Mike. I am much obliged, thank you. Harry. > The message you mention indicates that you still have Roxio's DirectCD > installed. I would strongly suggest that you remove this application and [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > > How is that done? Where is the 'SUBSYS' file to be found? > > I hope someone has an answer, please. Harry, You should note that packet burning CD software where you can simply drag and drop a file onto a CDRW such as Roxio's DirectCD and Ahead's InCD are particularly intrusive applications as they have to be running all the time unlike normal "mastering" applications such as Roxio's EasyCD and Ahead's Nero where the application is only running when in use and for this reason adds far less to the registry. Unless you really want to use drag and drop with your CDs I would strongly advise you against installing such software in future. Personally I have always found it to be pretty unreliable and the resulting CDs can often only be read on the writer on which they were created, even when "finalised". SignatureMike Maltby mike.maltby@gmail.com > As always, you have been extremely helpful, Mike. > I am much obliged, thank you. Mike: Thanks to your tip I can now use my WDDIAG again and the SMART drive is restored, as indicated in BelarcAdvisor. As an additional bonus I did recover the previously "unallocated" space of ca. 30GB's.with the help of WD's Data Lifeguard Tools, which would let me partition it. There's only one small error, as reported by PM8, it missed the cylinder head number by two (254/252). Do you think I can live with that? My SMART drive info says "Pass" for my hard drive. The only problem left now is the CDROM drive. It still asks me to format disc and drive, only to tell me it cannot be done. When I scan the drive with Avast, the message is "a device attached to the system is not functioning". All I can think of is, that there are still some remains of the CD Creator in the registry and I am awfully leery to tackle that. On my last shutdown "Cthelper has caused an error in MFC42.DLL" came up. Harry. P.S.: I did want to mention the trouble with the CD Creator was sudden and never had any problemms with it for over five years. Also "Adaptec" shows up as part of my DOS program at startup. > Harry, > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > As always, you have been extremely helpful, Mike. > > I am much obliged, thank you. > The only problem left now is the CDROM drive. It still asks me to > format disc and drive, only to tell me it cannot be done. This is because you have yet to fully remove DirectCD. Until you do so you will continue to have problems but then you know that as this is the third or fourth time that I have made this statement. <g> > Also "Adaptec" shows up as part of my DOS program at startup As you know this is a NG for those running Win Me. If you want to run DOS then I'd suggest you start a new thread and make it clear you are referring to DOS or alternatively post to a NG supporting those still running 1980s vintage systems. :-) Win Me has no "DOS program" at startup. I can't help you with problems with your hard disk since these go back a year or more and I know nothing as to their origin (and no, don't bother posting a refresher just for me as I'm unlikely to read or at least respond to it). > On my last shutdown "Cthelper has caused an error in MFC42.DLL" came > up. Cthelper is a Creative file. Try uninstalling and then, if required, reinstalling the apps that came with your sound card. I just wish I knew how it is that you manage to so regularly and thoroughly destroy your system. Your posts contain a catalogue of errors and problems that over a year probably amount to more than most users might expect to experience in a life time. SignatureMike Maltby mike.maltby@gmail.com > Mike: > Thanks to your tip I can now use my WDDIAG again and the SMART drive [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > On my last shutdown "Cthelper has caused an error in MFC42.DLL" came > up. That's the part I don't understand, Mike, I did remove 'everything' I know of a long time ago and ran the 'roxizap' at least twice. What are you referring to specifically when you say "fully"? BTW I also realized just now that the CD software came with the drive as part of it. Does that mean I have to get rid of the drive too? I was thinking of uninstalling it, un- and re-doing the connections and then let windows detect it again, because simply deleting it in Device Manager isn't doing the trick. Let's forget the 'DOS' affair, I just mentioned it casually. Harry. > > The only problem left now is the CDROM drive. It still asks me to > > format disc and drive, only to tell me it cannot be done. [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > I just wish I knew how it is that you manage to so regularly and > thoroughly destroy your system. Your posts contain a catalogue of errors > and problems that over a year probably amount to more than most users > might expect to experience in a life time. [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > On my last shutdown "Cthelper has caused an error in MFC42.DLL" came > > up. > Does that mean I have to get rid of the drive too? No, it means you have to get rid of DirectCD. You're still loading a DirectCD driver each time you boot your system. SignatureMike Maltby mike.maltby@gmail.com > That's the part I don't understand, Mike, I did remove 'everything' I > know of a long time ago and ran the 'roxizap' at least twice. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Device Manager isn't doing the trick. > Let's forget the 'DOS' affair, I just mentioned it casually. How do I find out, Mike, it's not in "Startup" under 'msconfig'? > > Does that mean I have to get rid of the drive too? > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Device Manager isn't doing the trick. > > Let's forget the 'DOS' affair, I just mentioned it casually. Drivers aren't loaded from the Startup registry keys that appear in MSConfig | Startup. The Roxio uninstall utility should have removed both the files and registry entries but apparently not. I can't help more as I've never used Roxio software having moved away from EasyCD or DirectCD since before Adaptec spun it off to Roxio. I don't currently have access to a Win Me machine with a CD writer so it is a little difficult to do any useful research however using Windows Explorer what files do you have that include either of the strings CDR or UDF in their filename? SignatureMike Maltby mike.maltby@gmail.com > How do I find out, Mike, it's not in "Startup" under 'msconfig'? This is what I came up with, Mike: CTAUDFX.DLL WAUDFLT.AX BTCDROM.SYS OAKCDROM.SYS MSCDROM.INF mscdrom.PNF CTACDRes.dll. Some of the files, like 'cdrtc.dll' and 'cdral.dll', I already renamed to 'old' with old replacing the 'dll', according to "Plextor". But my CDROM drive is still 'lame' and I plan on removing the drive from the Device Manager, disconnecting inside and reinstalling the entire drive, hoping that this will remedy the situation, but only after I have your response in my hands. Harry. > Drivers aren't loaded from the Startup registry keys that appear in > MSConfig | Startup. The Roxio uninstall utility should have removed both [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > > How do I find out, Mike, it's not in "Startup" under 'msconfig'? Nothing there Harry that might be the culprit. I'm sorry but I really don't think I can help more because, as I mentioned earlier, I no longer have a Win Me PC with a burner nor do I have any version of DirectCD to use for testing. Best of luck with removing the drive, uninstalling etc. and then reinstalling. SignatureMike Maltby mike.maltby@gmail.com > This is what I came up with, Mike: > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > entire drive, hoping that this will remedy the situation, but only > after I have your response in my hands. Not to worry, Mike, if that doesn't work, I'll have to get a new one. Something good came out of it after all. Thanks for your help, it's much appreciated. Harry. > Nothing there Harry that might be the culprit. I'm sorry but I really > don't think I can help more because, as I mentioned earlier, I no longer [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > entire drive, hoping that this will remedy the situation, but only > > after I have your response in my hands. Getting a new drive will NOT help, if it's a software problem, Harry - as you should well know by now!! SignatureNoel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2006, Windows) Nil Carborundum Illegitemi http://www.crashfixpc.com/millsrpch.htm http://tinyurl.com/6oztj Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's > > Not to worry, Mike, if that doesn't work, I'll have to get a new one. [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] >> > entire drive, hoping that this will remedy the situation, but only >> > after I have your response in my hands. Now you got me confused, Noel. After I deleted everything I could find? What must I then be looking for, if you don't mind telling me? I definitely would like to know, because right now the drive is useless, even though it shows to be working properly in Device Manager. Beside the format messages, both for the disk and the drive, it also don't want to eject anymore. Desperate, Harry. > Getting a new drive will NOT help, if it's a software problem, Harry - as > you should well know by now!! [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > >> > entire drive, hoping that this will remedy the situation, but only > >> > after I have your response in my hands. Reboot to Safe Mode Open Device Manager Remove ALL CD/DVD devices check for duplicated entries for the IDE channels - remove all instances it they exist close DM remove ALL Adaptec/Roxio DirectCD stuff from Add/Remove Programs reboot to normal mode DO NOT reinstall software, but allow Windows to install drivers... see if that helps SignatureNoel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2006, Windows) Nil Carborundum Illegitemi http://www.crashfixpc.com/millsrpch.htm http://tinyurl.com/6oztj Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's > > Now you got me confused, Noel. [quoted text clipped - 44 lines] >> >> > entire drive, hoping that this will remedy the situation, but only >> >> > after I have your response in my hands. Noel: Executed exactly as you instructed and nothing changed. When I place a disk in the drive, the light flickers about 5-6 times and then it stops. The message is still the same also: disk and drive cannot be formatted and no ejection with the browser. When I rebooted after the removal of the CD-ROM drive in Safe Mode, the usual search for and installation of the "new" drive in Windows didn't occur. Should I be looking into the registry or somehow find the drivers and delete them manually? Will a new drive solve my predicament? Harry. Harry. > Reboot to Safe Mode > Open Device Manager [quoted text clipped - 55 lines] > >> >> > entire drive, hoping that this will remedy the situation, but only > >> >> > after I have your response in my hands. run a scan with AIDA32 (or Everest) - save as an HTML file, and email it to me, Harry SignatureNoel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2006, Windows) Nil Carborundum Illegitemi http://www.crashfixpc.com/millsrpch.htm http://tinyurl.com/6oztj Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's > > Noel: [quoted text clipped - 86 lines] >> >> >> > only >> >> >> > after I have your response in my hands. Thanks, Noel and hope it'll get us there. Harry. > run a scan with AIDA32 (or Everest) - save as an HTML file, and email it to > me, Harry [quoted text clipped - 88 lines] > >> >> >> > only > >> >> >> > after I have your response in my hands. Amongst other things, Harry wrote :- > .... The message is still the same also: > disk and drive cannot be formatted ... ASS-U-M(E)ing that 'the message' really is as above [and *drive* cannot be formatted?? - the word 'drive' makes me suspicious] then I would deduce that in spite of what Noel asked you to do, you still have remnants of Nero/Adaptec/Roxio or other manufacturer's burning utility still active on your pc, Harry. > .... Should I be looking into the registry or > somehow find the drivers and delete them manually? Well, first you should be certain to have done exactly as Noel suggested and deleted ALL CD burning software in Add/Remove Programs - whatever brand!! OR recheck the exact wording of the error message. You should have already deleted (the drivers) manually when you removed the CD-ROM(s) in Device Manager in Safe Mode - as per Noel's instructions. > Will a new drive solve my predicament? Maybe you should be checking and confirming that your old CD-ROM's are properly recognised and play (are readable) in Real Mode DOS before you go any further. Then we can worry about a new drive or WinMe. Mart > Noel: > [quoted text clipped - 85 lines] >> >> >> > only >> >> >> > after I have your response in my hands. Appreciate your input, Mart. I am sure there are no remnants of any CD-burning software. But I noticed that the Teac CDROM drive is not listed as 'R/W' anymore, as it was before if I'm not mistaken, it is simply 'W'. How was the R (readable) removed from it? Could WinSafe 2001 or a backup program (Cobian Backup 7) have anything to do with it? Cobian is still there, but WinSafe 2001 was removed prior to the incidence. Harry. > Amongst other things, Harry wrote :- > [quoted text clipped - 113 lines] > >> >> >> > only > >> >> >> > after I have your response in my hands. Jeepers Harry, you never fail to amaze me with amount of 'stuff' that you either have, or have had, crammed on you computer - I suspect that your main hobby is 'collecting things' <g> What doesn't amaze me though, are the amount of 'problems' you appear to suffer. With the impending July deadline looming and against Noel's better judgement, I sometimes wonder Harry, if a complete 'Clean Install' would not be such a bad idea - particularly as you have so many 'back-up' utilities <g> but I digress. I don't have any knowledge or experience of either Winsafe or Corbian but I suspect that neither are 'burner' utilities, in which case they are not relevant to your current CD-ROM issues. ALL CD-ROM drives, whether readers, writers, dvd drives, etc., are only recognised and perform as readers by Windows Explorer until or unless 'burner' software has been installed. You can't write to a burner with the basic WinMe software - which raised my comment (to which you didn't address) :- >> .... The message is still the same also: >> disk and drive cannot be formatted ... > > ASS-U-M(E)ing that 'the message' really is > as above [and *drive* cannot be formatted?? > - the word 'drive' makes me suspicious] How can it want to format a (blank?) CD (disk) - let alone a drive!! - if there's no (remnants of) CD burning software? But then, you are sure that you were looking at the correct drive?? However, regarding your previous question :- >> Will a new drive solve my predicament? I repeat the suggestion I made before :- >> Maybe you should be checking and confirming >> that your old CD-ROM's are properly recognised >> and play (are readable) in Real Mode DOS before >> you go any further. Then .. worry about a new drive! If you're not sure how, come back and I'll post instructions. Mart > Appreciate your input, Mart. > I am sure there are no remnants of any CD-burning software. [quoted text clipped - 141 lines] >> >> >> >> > only >> >> >> >> > after I have your response in my hands. First of, Mart, thank you for bearing with me on this. No cause for alarm where 'backup' is concerned, I had WinSafe 2001, but liked the 'Cobian' better. Therefore I uninstalled the one and replaced it with the other. Now to the real issue, my cd drive: I was concentrating on drive 'C', where the OS is installed and somewhat neglected to look 'in the corners', meaning drive 'D', which also has some 'Adaptec' files installed, including drivers and dll's. Not sure what you mean by "looking at the correct drive"? Isn't that the one with the OS installed, in my case 'C'? My question now is, can I safely delete anything with the name 'Adaptec' in it? I'd be glad to do so, in conjunction with Noels instructions. Hoping you'll stay with me... we're almost there. Harry. > Jeepers Harry, you never fail to amaze me with amount of 'stuff' that you > either have, or have had, crammed on you computer - I suspect that your main [quoted text clipped - 187 lines] > >> >> >> >> > only > >> >> >> >> > after I have your response in my hands. Re-try!! - I can't seem to reply to your later post Harry (Error 441 ?), so I've tagged this one onto mine. Just hope it works this time. Harry wrote :- > ... we're almost there. Mmm, a little while to go yet Harry, but I don't know whether it's you or me who is confused here. > Not sure what you mean by "looking at the correct drive"? The 'suspect' CD-ROM drive! Somewhere further up this thread you stated :- > When I place a disk in the drive, Again, I can only ASS-U-ME you are referring to a CD ("a disk") in the CD-ROM ("the drive") and - assuming that if you have both a CD-ROM reader and a CD-ROM burner - you are referring to the CD-ROM burner. > the light flickers about 5-6 times and then it stops. > The message is still the same also: disk and drive > cannot be formatted and no ejection with the browser. Then you went on to ask :- > Will a new drive solve my predicament? The answer to that specific question is what I, Mike, Noel and JJ (who alluded in his reply regarding your comment that "right now the drive is useless") are trying to get you to prove, that the drive - one way or the other - is 'good' or 'bad'. And this, under the present circumstances, is easiest done in Real Mode DOS. Then, and only then, can you decide whether "a new drive solve my predicament?" Mart <snipped (as it's getting V E R Y long)> Mart: Trying to answer your last reply, I encountered the same error message twice, so I am attempting this, to see if it works. Testing...... Harry. > Jeepers Harry, you never fail to amaze me with amount of 'stuff' that you > either have, or have had, crammed on you computer - I suspect that your main [quoted text clipped - 187 lines] > >> >> >> >> > only > >> >> >> >> > after I have your response in my hands. > Mart: > Trying to answer your last reply, I encountered the same error message [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Harry. OK Harry, - Maybe time to begin yet a new thread if this one is starting to fail. Mart <snipped> The drive not wanting to eject is usually another sign of burner software gone amuck. It could be that the drive has gone south but I have a suspicion that it's still a software problem. John > Now you got me confused, Noel. > After I deleted everything I could find? [quoted text clipped - 46 lines] >>>>>entire drive, hoping that this will remedy the situation, but only >>>>>after I have your response in my hands. I seem to be unable to uninsstall/remove the drive, Safe Mode or not, John. How'n the world do I find "the culprit"? Harry. > The drive not wanting to eject is usually another sign of burner > software gone amuck. It could be that the drive has gone south but I [quoted text clipped - 52 lines] > >>>>>entire drive, hoping that this will remedy the situation, but only > >>>>>after I have your response in my hands. Actually, Mike, InCD doesn't need to run at Startup, nor have I found it particularly intrusive. Not that I use (or recommend) it anymore And as you were spot on about UDF/packet writing, I'll take your word about Roxio's! Shane > Harry, > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >> As always, you have been extremely helpful, Mike. >> I am much obliged, thank you. |
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