Installation problems
Printed From: Aurora
Category: The Vault
Forum Name: 0.7 Pre-Release (Release Candidate 2)
Forum Discription: This is the place to discuss (and report bugs) the 0.7 pre-release edition of Aurora
URL: http://www.aurorashow.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=213
Printed Date: 10 Nov 2024 at 1:44pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.06 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Installation problems
Posted By: Fred S
Subject: Installation problems
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2008 at 10:04am
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I am having trouble with the installation of the latet Aurorua on my laptop. The first time I try to run the program I get the following message. (And yes I rebooted the computer after installing) Aurora encountered unexpected error and will now reset.
339: Component "MSCOMM32.OCX" or one of its dependencies not correctly registered: a file is missing or invalid
WAVspy Resize
Main
I have gotton the same message when trying to install 0.5, 0.6 and 0.6.2. The laptop is a HP running Vista Home Premium. I have installed the program on my home desktop without a problem. The desktop is running Vista Home Premium(64)
I did a search and the mscomm32.ocx file is in the windows system directory.
Any help pointing me in the right direction will be greatly appreciated.
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Replies:
Posted By: LightsOnLogan
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2008 at 10:45am
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I have listed as dependancies for mscomm32: oleaut32.dll and comcat.dll.
I don't usually see problems with mscomm32 as it is one of the older and more stable Windows files (amazingly, on XP it is still the same version from 1998). Vista gets the file from the installer as it is no longer a preinstalled Windows system file. It is possible that another program has replaced MSCOMM32 with an incorrect version or your PC has minor registry corruption. What is the date/time/version of your mscomm32 (right click on it then choose properties)?
What should fix this:
0. Uninstall Aurora
1. In Windows, click Start, then Run
2. Type (without the quotes) "regsvr32 /u c:\windows\system32\mscomm32.ocx" then hit enter
3. Make a note of whether or not you got an "Unregister successful" message
4. Delete the mscomm32.ocx file from c:\windows\system32
5. Reinstall Aurora
This will force Vista to reinstall mscomm32 from the install package. ------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/"> 
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Posted By: Fred S
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2008 at 1:40pm
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I followed your suggestions.
The unregister command indicated that it succeded.
It still does not want to start after reinstall and reboot. I keep getting the same error message.
The mscomm32.dll file information: Version 6.0.81.69, April 03, 2000, 5:52PM
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Posted By: Fred S
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2008 at 10:17pm
| Still having problem. Any other thoughts or suggestions? |
Posted By: LightChristmas
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2008 at 11:52pm
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Something to try.
Click the Windows button (lower left icon), and in the search window, type "CMD". At the top of the search box, a command prompt icon will appear. Right click on this and select "Run as Administrator". At this point repeat the procedure listed in the earlier post.
After deregistering, do a regular uninstall via Contol Panel, then manually delete the Aurora directory in the Program Files directory. Reboot and then reinstall latest version Aurora. ------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/"> 
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Posted By: LightsOnLogan
Date Posted: 17 Aug 2008 at 11:11am
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The version number "6.0.81.69" is correct, however the date doesn't look correct. I'm still trying to figure out what might be going on here. My best guess at this point is that some other piece of software has installed an incompatible system file. It does surprise me that mscomm32 is involved since is is one of the more stable Windows files.
Just on the off chance that something is missing from the installer that used to be there, if what LC suggested doesn't work, you could repeat his instructions but install an older version of Aurora first (e.g. 0.4 or 0.5) and then perform an upgrade install to the latest version. ------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/">
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Posted By: Fred S
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2008 at 1:57pm
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I am still having the installation problem. I followed the directions and uninstalled everything then reinstalled the latest version 0.7, rebooted and received same error message. Repeated the unistall steps, rebooted, reinstalled version 0.5, rebooted. The program ran without error. Installed update to 0.7, rebooted, error message returned.
Any other ideas, or suggestions?
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Posted By: JonB256
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2008 at 6:05am
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Fred, it isn't just you. I'm having the same problem with my Vista Ultimate. Version 0.5 works, 0.7 doesn't. (Haven't tried 0.6)
JonB ------------- JonB - D-Light user |
Posted By: LightChristmas
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2008 at 9:15am
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Will haul out a junk computer tonight and do a clean install of Vista on it. Will see if its Vista or if something else is causing the problem. ------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/">
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Posted By: LightsOnLogan
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2008 at 12:23pm
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Thanks LC... let me know if you come up with a specific file that Aurora is complaining about. For those who say 0.5 works but 0.7 doesn't, please test 0.6.4 and 0.6.0 and let me know what you get. This appears to be the result of something other than the error message (which strangely mentions a COM related error coming from the waveform viewer.... two unrelated parts of Aurora which do not directly talk to each other at all). As I just posted in another thread I've been very sick for 3 days now so progress on issues like this one have been a bit slow. Thank you for your patience. ------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/">
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Posted By: LightChristmas
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2008 at 12:31pm
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Before I get started tonight; those of you with Vista machines - do you have a login (multi-user) setup, part of a domain, etc.? ------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/">
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Posted By: LightsOnLogan
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2008 at 12:35pm
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...moving this thread to the 0.7 forum since it is still an issue in 0.7. ------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/">
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Posted By: crichter
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2008 at 1:03pm
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I have .7 installed on my vista laptop (Dell Precision M4300, Core2Duo T7300 2.0GHz, 2.0GB RAM, Nvidia Quatro FX 360M, Vista Ultimate 32-bit) This is my work laptop and is part of a domain, however I am the only user and admin on the machine. I did not have any problems installing .7.
------------- Curt |
Posted By: Fred S
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2008 at 4:21pm
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The Laptop is an HP with Vista Home Preimum. It is not part of a domain, no login/password required.
I have tried all versions .5 up to .7. Version .5 is the only version that I can get to run. All newer versions have the same error message.
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Posted By: JonB256
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2008 at 5:42pm
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Now I can't get the 0.5 version to run.
I am running a non-domain but multi-user Vista Ultimate 32-bit version on a quad-core Phenom. I always get the MSCOMM32.OCX error now, regardless of Aurora version, even the newest 0.7.1 posted today.
My XP Pro 32-bit has no problems. It is my "production" computer, anyway. The Phenom is my "play" computer.
Should I disable Anti-Virus or anything else before install?
I haven't tried manually registering the OCX file. If I do, should I un-register it first?
JonB ------------- JonB - D-Light user |
Posted By: LightChristmas
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2008 at 5:58pm
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Alt this point, anything is worth a try, Jon. While I have no proof - just a hinky feeling - that there is some 3rd paty application causing the problem. Finally home now, so will throw a computer together after dinner and get Vista installed on it without any firewalls or virus scanners, Java, etc., then start the tedious process of uninstalling Aurora, reboot, add some 3rd party widgets, reinstall Aurora, rinse, and repeat. ------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/">
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Posted By: JonB256
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2008 at 6:09pm
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Here's what I tried:
I unregistered mscomm32.ocx (regsrv32 /u mscomm32.ocx)
Tried Aurora 0.7.1 and got a similar but different message about comdlg32.ocx
I unregistered comdlg32.ocx (regsrv32 /u comdlg32.ocx)
Now, I get a message about changing Aurora to use Direct Show !!!
Aurora starts! It opened an older sequence!!
but when I close it, I get an "problem" message from Windows. (Aurora has stopped working) but it appears harmless.
So, what were those two OCX files supposed to do and what have I killed???
JonB ------------- JonB - D-Light user |
Posted By: JonB256
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2008 at 6:32pm
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Just to complete the loop, I re-registered both mscomm32.ocx nd comdlg32.ocx.
I don't get the error message when Aurora starts (without problem). I'll actually try controlling something later.
It must has something to do with the MSDXM settings in the Playback Settings. Once I got it changed to DirectShow, everything seems fine.
Is that something your installation routine can "pre-set" for Vista? ------------- JonB - D-Light user |
Posted By: LightChristmas
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2008 at 8:11pm
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The deal with MSCOMM32 is it tries to be many things. Primarily its a Visual Basic communications intepreter, but its also used for ActiveX routines - some of which are less than friendly to MSCOMM by altering it.
You cannot use MSDXM in Vista - it doesn't exist and is totally ignored by Vista (if you'e nutty enough to copy it over from XP like I did!:D ). This is why Vista users MUST use DirectShow.
Offhand, I'd say you've licked the problem, and gives me some ideas to try tonight.
The error on exit is a known problem and will be fixed, but its more of a cosmetic issue which doesn't affect normal operation - so its low on the to-do list. ------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/">
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Posted By: LightChristmas
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2008 at 9:00pm
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Update
Just finished installing Vista Home Basic (SP1) without any add-ons. Auroa installs/runs with no probs. Uninstalled Aurora and installed all the MS updates, enabled native firewall, and installed AVG anti-virus. Aurora was reinstalled/run/uninstalled without any problems Then went to one of those "freeware/abandonware" sites, and waddaya know? It wanted to install an ActiveX plugin. Had nothing to lose so allowed the install of the plugin. Rebooted machine and tried installing Aurora. KEEERASH. Thank you, move along, nothing to see here.
Only copy of Vista Ultimate I have is from back when I was beta testing it. We'll see what happens.  ------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/">
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Posted By: JonB256
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2008 at 10:34pm
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The MSDXM usage was definitely a problem, but that was what my install defaulted to in Vista. My install was fresh, not an upgrade. If you can make it default to DirectShow for Vista users, it will help most people. Until I un-registered those two files, I couldn't see the menu screens to make the change to DirectShow. Kind of a Catch-22. ------------- JonB - D-Light user |
Posted By: LightChristmas
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2008 at 5:42am
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Had no luck with Vista Ultimate - my beta test key for it had already expired.
While I'm committed (or should be committed!  ) to beta testing Aurora, I really don't want to shuck out the bucks for Ultimate. I suspect the person(s) experiencing install issues can fix it the same way (unregistering Mscomm32).I'm certain that once the instuction manual is finished, there will be a troubleshooting guide somewhere in it to cover such things.
------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/">
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Posted By: Fred S
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2008 at 11:58am
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After reading the posts this morning I unregestered mscomm32 and then tried to run Aurora 0.7.1. (I did not reregester or reboot computer before opening Aurora) The program opened up with the message about changine to directshow for Vista. I loaded a sequence and then changed the playback to Directshow. I then played the sequence and it seemed to work. I have not tried to edit sequence or control actual lights yet. Later on this evening (after work, or it may have to wait until this weekend) I will try to edit a sequence to make sure things are running correct.
This may be a work around and hopefully the problem can be isolated and correted in the final release.
Thanks for all the help and suggestions. Keep up the good work.
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Posted By: LightsOnLogan
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2008 at 12:45pm
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I need to run this through a Vista box in the lab to be sure, but I am suspicious that the above fix may cause some problems with unreliable output to the COM ports.
I wonder if building an XML manifest for MSCOMM32 and attempting to run Aurora with that file from reg-free com would work? I wouldn't distribute the installer this way, but it might be a suitable support patch for those unusual machines with an incompatible MSCOMM32 installed.
Regarding DS, I've added a support case to have Vista auto-configure to the proper playback engine. ------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/">
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Posted By: LightChristmas
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2008 at 1:18pm
Hadn't thought of that, although I should have! Had "tunnel vision" at the time. Will lug out the junker again, hook a controller to it and see what happens.
Would be best if a few more folks (like those affected) would do the same so we can get a better sampling at getting it all nailed down. ------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/">
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Posted By: LightChristmas
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2008 at 2:23pm
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A few things I've discovered:
Unregistering Mscomm followed by an install of Aurora will work fine - no com errors to a controller. This is ONLY my experience - lets let a few other try before closing the case as it were.
Having the D-Light hardware utility open will cause an installation crash (and vice-versa) as both use Mscomctl. May want to fool-proof the install in this regard.
DirectShow and MSDXM will both run on an XP machine, so you may wish to have it default to Directshow with the option of using MSDXM. May save time with the code tweaking.
Annnd I'm spent..... ------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/">
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Posted By: LightsOnLogan
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2008 at 3:56pm
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Unregistering MSCOMM32 and then installing/repairing Aurora should be safe. I'm still going to look into a reg-free option as the official fix. ------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/">
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Posted By: JonB256
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2008 at 10:18am
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Did some testing today on my XP machine (normal sequencing machine because it has dual monitors) and want to commend you guys on "code efficiency." Playing back a sequence with the visualizer on, I looked at CPU usage. Both cores of my Opteron were averaging 50%. Not too bad, but then I switched to Grid only mode and it runs at 3% to 5% max with just little spikes when it changes screens. That is very impressive. I'll try it on the "now working" Vista with Quad-Cores later. As far as the two files above being "unregistered" I just re-registered them once I got swapped to DirectShow in Vista. I have no more problems. Update - looked at CPU usage in Vista on my Quad-Core. With Visualizer ON, CPU was right at 38% on the total indicator. Not too bad and about where I expected. The odd thing is that CPU#4 was doing all the work, showing closer to 85% with just 5% to 10% on the other 3 cores. ------------- JonB - D-Light user |
Posted By: LightsOnLogan
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2008 at 12:02pm
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There is still some more work that can be done for code efficiency, but "if it isn't broken don't fix it" applies here when we are so close to release.
For instance, right now Aurora is always looping until the next command when output to the lights is enabled. This shows up on the CPU. In a future version a prefetch queue will be applied so that the playback module knows the time index of the next command and can relinquish control of the CPU for a few dozen mS here and there as necessary. It really will not affect actual performance much but it will look nicer on the CPU monitor.
Basically, Aurora is spending a lot of time asking over and over "are we there yet?" about the next event. This doesn't really hurt anything performance-wise but it is not the most polite thing for a piece of software to do. As already witnessed from the grid CPU usage, Aurora is gradually being taught some manners. At some point in the future the 2D visualizer will be also improved to better take advantage of modern video hardware to reduce the visualizer CPU.
------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/">
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Posted By: kennyz06
Date Posted: 01 Sep 2008 at 4:11pm
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FYI. I had this problem as well. Even with 7.1... I FIXED IT
I installed SP1 on vista and the problem is solved.
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Posted By: LightChristmas
Date Posted: 01 Sep 2008 at 4:30pm
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We need a smiley slapping itself on the forehead! Had ass-umed that everyone had SP1 installed! Okay - I'm officially embarrassed now! ------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/">
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Posted By: LightsOnLogan
Date Posted: 01 Sep 2008 at 4:43pm
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Interesting development... I delayed our release by one day to work on this problem (which I am doing now). If SP1 fixes this then I will redirect my attention elsewhere.
Can anyone else confirm that "install SP1" is a valid fix for the problem? ------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/">
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Posted By: LightChristmas
Date Posted: 01 Sep 2008 at 5:01pm
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Will try that tonight when I get home. Gotta reinstall Vista on the test machine anyway. EDIT - Heck with it. In light of "the coup", will do a roll-back on this machine. Will let you know in a few hours. If you don't hear from me by then, send the Marines! Will also test the new installer whenever you're ready. ------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/">
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Posted By: JonB256
Date Posted: 01 Sep 2008 at 6:39pm
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I had SP1 installed long ago but still had the DirectShow problem.
------------- JonB - D-Light user |
Posted By: LightChristmas
Date Posted: 01 Sep 2008 at 7:16pm
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Sorry - SP1 is not a fix. Did an install "crash" sim as described a few posts up. Did an unreg/re-reg of a corrupted MSCOMM32, install worked. Uninstalled Aurora, did SP1 upgrade, replaced MSCOMM32 with the corrupted one, install still crashed. Here is where it gets odd: renamed MSCOMM32 so the system wouldn't see it, and did clean install of Aurora. A fresh MSCOMM32 was added! Install and ops went perfectly. Hmmmmm....... ------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/">
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Posted By: kennyz06
Date Posted: 01 Sep 2008 at 7:22pm
| I installed sp1, then installed auroa.... also, this is not a fix for the direct show message, its the fix for the mscomm32 thing.. |
Posted By: LightsOnLogan
Date Posted: 01 Sep 2008 at 8:05pm
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DS fix is being tested as 0.7.2 right now and will be included in 1.0. ------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/">
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Posted By: LightChristmas
Date Posted: 01 Sep 2008 at 8:16pm
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The DirectShow issue is fixed - in the upcoming release that is. The problem was that Aurora was defaulting to MSDXM on initial install - which Vista does not support or recognize. DirectShow will operate on both XP and Vista machines, so the install now defaults to this setting.
------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/">
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