Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Library Error and Explorer Crashes

Published on July 24, 2004 By CygnusXII In WinCustomize Talk

Ok, Gang I Don't know if this is the Right Place for this, so I am going to email it to Brad and Co. as well as Share it Here, and the Newsies. Hope it helps, someone else besides myself, should they run into the same problem.

Ok, here's the deal.
I started having a problem with windows explorer.exe. Being the curious type that I am I wanted to see if I could find out what
was / is causing the issue at hand. I had recently installed several Applications, one right after the other so, I figured I was going
to have to step through them one by one and remove, tiddle and tinker, to see if I could narrow the issue down. I have traveled
the web search route also. The CAPS are on purpose I am not Yelling but emphasising commands or choices.

Initial Symptoms
-I have a folder on MY DESKTOP called SKINZ CURSOR XP
-In this folder are all the CursorXP Themes I downloaded tonight, in extracted form
-like they would be in the Themes folder of CursorXP when it is installed.
-The folder contains 363 objects.
-My intentions are to CTRL+A / SELECT ALL Objects, RIGHT CLICK, and then ADD TO ARCHIVE (via rar's / object zip / context menu choice)
-Once the RIGHT CLICK CONTEXT MENU opens, and I proceed to SCROLL DOWN about 5 items
-I receive an Error Message
"Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Library
Buffer overrun detected!
Program C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe
A buffer overrun has been detected which has corrupted the program's
internal state. The program cannot safely continue and must
now be terminated"
-Clicking the OK BUTTON provided, causes Windows Explorer to Exit, and RESTART

Now this is frustrating, but gets my curiosity. I am used to dealing with alot of files at once, and have been doing so
as recently as this morning. So I figure that I have done something o cause this, but what? I figure a little
experimentation is in order.
Now I begin thinking to myself what is the problem? Application causing error, some corruption, or maybe replaced files?
-OK, so I remove Object Zip, CursopXP, SysmetriX my most recently Installed Programs.
-REBOOT
-Go to folder and repeat steps from above and get the same error
-Go to another Directory on my machine with numerous files, and repeat steps from above, and NO Error
-ask myself what is different from Directoy A to B
-I am thinking it has to do with extension of File Types because CursorXP uses the .CurXPTheme extension (or whatever it is)
-I set up an Experiment, to test my theories
-I create a New Folder on MY DESKTOP, and populate it with a series of emty Text files
-I Create them in a series ie...
WORKING001.CurXPTheme to WORKING150.CurXPTheme
-I move them into another Directory 10 at a time until I hit the ERROR POINT
-Once I hit 100 Files and repeat the Steps above, CRASH, BANG! There comes the Error Message
-I remove one file and repeat the steps from above no Error Message, add one file back CRASH!
-This is a Repeatable Error.

System Specifications
-Windows XP SP1 with current patches up to date
-Intel PIV 2.66Ghz
-RAM 512
-All Stardock Object Desktop Apps Current as of Todays Date 072404 / Including Alphas'
-ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 IGP / Pulling up to 128Mbs Ram from System /1280x800 Res @ 32bit
-Windowblind 4.38 build 144

Have Fun and I hope this Help, I would hate to think that this could be exploited somehow.
CygnusXII

Comments

CygnusXII

on Jul 28, 2004

Update

-I have completely wiped out my System and reinstalled the OS, and then all the Stardock OD Subscription apps.
-I get the same error
-I am going to build some MS Virtual PC's to see if I can Incrementalize the Install of Apps, and see if I can find the lynchpin of this.
This is just too Damn Weird. I have been up for two whole nights trying to sort this crap out.

Come on Brad Throw me a bone

CygnusXII

on Jul 28, 2004

OK, I know this is going to sound strange, but I removed Object Edit, and it seems to have cured the problem. I tested it using the same steps as above and the problem is resolved. Just to be sure I deleted the archived copy of the app and redownloaded it, and reinstalled. Once it was reinstalled, the problem came back, take it away and no more "de boom de gasser go crashed!" So now I am going back to de Berry Munch'in and hope this is the lst of my problems.

CygnusXII

on Jul 28, 2004

Oh, BTW I also discovered that it wasn't just the ".CurXPTheme"
extension, it was any combination of files up to 100 total.
Anything over 99 files and the problem manifested.

paxx

on Jul 28, 2004

OK, I just tested and recreated your problem. You're right. I got the same result.

When I first did it, no problem (I didn't have Object Edit). Then I installed Object Edit, then ed my 101 curXPtheme files, right click, and WHAM! Buffer overrun!

Kevin_C

on Jul 28, 2004

Very interesting!! You sound like me in the sense that you take problems like this as a challenge and try to find out EXACTLY what the problem is.. Now it should be relatively easy for the developer to fix the problem because you've given such detailed information about the issue.. Great work!!

IPlural

on Jul 28, 2004

ditto

CygnusXII

on Jul 28, 2004

-Once Object Edit is removed you must reassocaite the Text Files manually
-to do this right click on a Text File and scroll to (open with)
contect menu and then to (choose program), Now you can choose the
Text editor to use that is Native to Windows XP, either Notepad or WordPad.
-This will rebuild the Open file association.

CygnusXII

on Jul 28, 2004

Do I get the Kewpie Doll?

MAybe Brad needs to Hire me for Level II Support and let me Telecommute.
(Blatant Mongering) Since everyone gets to have a position Here.

I mean heck I just wrote a MS KB Article and a Stardock KB article.

When I was @ MS (Don't go there) you had to have five KB's (Knowledge Base Article) in the works at all time. Or at least accounting for them in your time logs.

Anyways I am glad to be of Service, and we'll see what happens now.

CygnusXII looks Ominously about, to see if Sky might be falling!

Thank You very Much. I used to work for a (HELL DESK) Help Desk Outsourcer and was Top Tier for Adobe FrameMaker Base Versin to v6. (Sykes.com Until they shafted their entire North Carolina work Force) I also did support for MS, IBM and a Few Others. (You know how that goes / Chasing The $$$) Then the Collapse came and I began to work as a Carpenter. The Tech Sector in North and South Carolina is very Sparse, if almost non exixtent, and over flooded with MCS (this's and That's.)

[Message Edited]

CygnusXII

on Jul 28, 2004

Not to beat a dead Horse but here is something Interesting as well.
While this has been going on I was also unable to write a Dvd, as I normally do. I use Nero and thought I had a problem with it when I reinstalled my OS, and was putting it Next on my list to sort out. Well, this problem was the indirect cause of my DVD Burning Issue (I think, as it now works properly.)
I was getting a track error on writning the lead in. Like the OS was not able to buffer the Lead in properly. This cost me 2 Dvd blanks, and was soft of ticking me off. Weird Maybe that OEdit problem is affecting how windows is buffering Memeory Somehow, or where? I am not a developer but I would wager a guess that this is the prob. Or is Oedit reserving a memory space and not letting go, or maybe affecting the System environment somehow. (?)

Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:

Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums.
Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
It's simple, and FREE!