[SOLVED] MSCONFIG problem

[billp]

Perhaps I am misunderstanding; If I say YES to the "Do you want to scan & fix ESP Z:?" question, the
results are the same. It immediately pops up the "Windows was unable to complete the disk check".

 

[xilolee]

Yes, I understood.

We can't do a more aggressive repair with chkdsk or other tools, given that you don't have the tools to repair your system in the case something will go wrong...

See my 16th post for checking your SSD with some of the tools listed in the link.

 

[billp]

Unfortunately, anything risky isn't worth the benefit as the machine generally "just works fine every day".

While it bugs me to have something wonky like this going on, I may just need to live with it.

I had run the SSD tools, but no problems were found (image below). One thing I didn't mention previously
is that SFC had some issues:

Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.
Details are included in the CBS.Log windir\Logs\CBS\CBS.log. For example
C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log

Again, given the "works every day" nature of this older machine, I don't think I want to hunt down the
SFC issues unless you suspect they may have some relevance to the MSCONFIG problems.

Please let me know if we've exhausted all non-risky approaches. Thanks!

 

[xilolee]

Try also gsmartcontrol, please.
A new version is available, 1.1.4.
(The instructions to use it are still in that previous link I sent you)

If the disk is still good like it seems, you can work with the Windows update experts in the Windows update forum (of sysnative).

I can't tell if the corrupted files are the cause of your problems, given that I didn't see SFC results.
But it could be!

 

[billp]

gsmartcontrol didn't report any issues in the error log on the SSD (or HDD also) when running the short self-test.
I'll run the extended as well, but if there is any specific statistic you think I should be looking for, please let me know.

Thanks!

 

[billp]

Extended self-test on SSD reported no issues

 

[xilolee]

Then open a new thread in the windows update forum and provide the logs: Windows Update Forum Posting Instructions

 

[billp]

Thank you for the help... unfortunate that this one was so tricky. I appreciate the guidance!

 

[PeterJ]

Are you being helped on any other forum at the moment ?
Different helpers working on the same issue should be avoided at all time.

If not, we can have a look further:
FRST Scan:

1. Download the Farbar Recovery Scan Tool and save it to your Desktop:
   64-bit: Downloading Farbar Recovery Scan Tool
   Note: Your antivirus program may report FRST incorrectly as an infection. If so, disable the real-time protection when downloading and running FRST.
   
2. Right-click to run the tool as administrator. When the tool opens click Yes to disclaimer.
3. Note: Ensure that the Addition.txt check box is checked at the bottom of the form within the Optional Scan area.
4. Press the Scan button.
5. Please wait for the tool to finish. It will produce two logfiles called FRST.txt and Addition.txt in the same directory the tool is run from (which should be the desktop)
6. Post the logfiles FRST.txt and Addition.txt as attachment in your next reply.

 

[xilolee]

Hi!

Does the msconfig procedure (selective startup) work now?

 

[billp]

xilolee: Unfortunately, this didn't fix the startup (MSCONFIG) issue. I tried that as soon as we got a clean SFC as I was curious to see
if the issues were related.

PeterJ: I do not think the Fallout76 game problem is related to anything on my machine. The reported error "NoRegionPing" is addressed
with various fixes on several websites (none of which work for me). One that worked for people was "moving the game from one HDD to
another" (which I tried, but didn't work).

This appears to be a networking issue that I've debugged with the game's support folks. Unfortunately, I don't think the folks doing the
support work with the programmers as they don't seem to treat the reported error with any kind of testing. Most of the attempts have
been in the "did you turn power off & on" type (or similar, but more in depth like a memory test, HDD test, SFC, etc.). They finally gave
up stating that my GFX card is below the standard... however, noting also that the NoRegionPing error is PRIOR to any graphics being loaded

Given that the developers have code that spits out "NoRegionPing" as an indication of the problem, I was expecting them to not focus
on a memory or HDD problem, but instead the internal condition that actually CAUSED that specific error to be displayed.

I mention all of this detail just to ensure that I don't further waste your time. My initial concern was finding issues with SFC mainly for
the case of "hey, I used to have a clean SFC"... yeah, if it fixed the game, cool. I'm just happy that I'm getting a clean check.

Yeah, I'm still concerned over the MSCONFIG issue that xilolee was assisting me with, but we worked it to a point where anything further
(messing with boot record location) might be dangerous.

To directly answer your questions, no I'm not working the game issue with anyone else. And I did run FRST and the two log files are attached.

Thanks again!

 

[PeterJ]

Step 1: Update Java
Open this web page to download the latest version. Click 'Free Java Download' and then 'Agree and Start Free Download'.
Download the installer jxpiinstall.exe and run it.
Click Install and then Install>.
Warning: You may get a choice to install additional software and/or allow to change your browser settings. Uncheck all that!
If you get a pop-up saying "Out-of-date Java versions detected.", click Uninstall>. This will remove the outdated Java versions.

Step 2:
You have 2 anti-virus programs installed which is not good. They may conflict with each other.
Uninstall either "Microsoft Security Essentials" or "ZoneAlarm Free Firewall".

Please report which one is removed.

 

[billp]

I updated Java and terminated ZoneAlarm... still have the problem getting the "NoRegionPing" error.
Note that I do not have the ZoneAlarm anti-virus enabled. I use ZA as a means of detecting who is reaching
out to the internet and allowing or not allowing it on an app by app basis (firewall only, no anti-virus).

I have the Windows Firewall disabled, but MSE is active.

 

[PeterJ]

Okay. Perform a new scan with FRST as you did in message #10.

 

[billp]

Attached.

 

[PeterJ]

Step 1:
There is a WAN Miniport device present by "America Online, Inc.". It is disabled. Do you still use that ?

Step 2:
Warning: This script was written specifically for this user, for use on that particular machine. Do not run this script on another machine.

1. Download the attachment fixlist.txt and save it to your desktop.
2. Right-click on FRST64.exe and select "Run as administrator".
3. Press the Fix button.
4. The tool will now process fixlist.txt.
5. If for some reason the tool needs a restart, please make sure you let the system restart normally. After that let the tool complete its run.
6. When finished, a log called Fixlog.txt will appear in the same directory the tool is run from.
7. Attach the logfile Fixlog.txt to your next reply.

 

[billp]

That AOL thing must be 10 years old... wouldn't things like that show up in the device list such that I could have removed it long ago?
In any case, it's no longer used.



Fixlog.txt is attached - thanks!

 

[PeterJ]

That AOL thing must be 10 years old... wouldn't things like that show up in the device list such that I could have removed it long ago?

Dunno.
You screenshot and the logs also show that the device "TAP-NordVPN" is disabled. Why not just uninstall "NordVPN network TAP" ?

Step 1:
Warning: This script was written specifically for this user, for use on that particular machine. Do not run this script on another machine.

1. Download the attachment fixlist.txt and save it to your desktop.
2. Right-click on FRST64.exe and select "Run as administrator".
3. Press the Fix button.
4. The tool will now process fixlist.txt.
5. If for some reason the tool needs a restart, please make sure you let the system restart normally. After that let the tool complete its run.
6. When finished, a log called Fixlog.txt will appear in the same directory the tool is run from.
7. Attach the logfile Fixlog.txt to your next reply.

Step 2:
Do you notice improvement about the Fallout76 game issue ?

 

[billp]

>> Why not just uninstall "NordVPN network TAP" ?

I have a bunch of things turned off at the moment to ensure they're not the reasons that the game won't connect to the servers.
I do use Nord VPN, but I turned it off, turned the ZoneAlarm service off, and the Windows Firewall just to test game connectivity.

Unfortunately, the game still refuses to connect to their servers. I connect enough to log in, but that's all. I immediately get their
"NoRegionPing" error.

The new fixlog is attached - thanks!

 

[PeterJ]

I have a bunch of things turned off at the moment to ensure they're not the reasons that the game won't connect to the servers.

It is sometimes not enough to disable parts of a security program to be fully in-efective.
I 'd suggest to fully uninstall all thrid-party security products, in this case "Microsoft Security Essentials", "ZoneAlarm Free Firewall" and "Malwarebytes version 4.5.12.204".
Please restart the machine when being asked to do so during uninstall.