How long has XP been using Skull Icons???

Man, my memory must really being going. I guess they've been doing this for a while. Here is a screenshot from my Add and Remover programs so you can see what I mean. It's pretty cool, but it just doesn't seem very MicroSoftish, does it? What do they mean anyway?








- HandsOff

 

I don't look there very often but i just checked mine and there is no sign of skull and crossbones on any hotfixes(and i have a lot of them).

So i'm not sure what is going on HandsOff.



snowbound

 

Hi HandsOff,

I see you have quite a few 135MB Hotfixes as well .

Nick

 

I've seen that type of behavior before, where it will use an icon from one program for a bunch of different programs.. perhaps you installed something with that icon, and the cache got corrupted.

Here's how you can repair the cache:
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/1153/

 

Nice article, Notok. I've had trouble with that before and hadn't a clue as to how to fix it. BTW, sorry we had trouble a few weeks ago in the PM and I was such an &^%hole. Things have been tough lately (personally) and sometimes I have taken it out on perfectly nice people. I'm sorry.

 

Hi Nick,

I was sort of wondering about that Nick. I have 11 skull icons and for each one the size is exactly 135 mb. I have depart for a while, but before I do i will do a quick look at the culprits in their native habitat.

hmmm there is this:






[KB890175.log]
1.063: ================================================================================
1.063: 2005/02/23 15:09:17.109 (local)
1.078: C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download\S-1-5-18\981593429475ef0704f5014344a18469\update\update.exe (version 5.5.33.0)
1.094: Service Pack started with following command line: /si /ParentInfo:093fd7bf689c1246a16ab4ac9cf8e61b
1.360: DoInstallation: CleanPFR failed: 0x2
1.360: SetProductTypes: InfProductBuildType=BuildType.IC
1.360: SetAltOsLoaderPath: No section uses DirId 65701; done.
1.375: CreateUninstall = 1,Directory = C:\WINDOWS\$NtUninstallKB890175$
1.375: LoadFileQueues: SetupGetSourceFileLocation for halaacpi.dll failed: 0xe0000102
1.469: ref tag c:\windows\system32\sp4.cab does not exist
1.469: ref tag c:\windows\system32\sp3.cab does not exist
1.469: ref tag c:\windows\system32\sp2.cab does not exist
1.469: ref tag c:\windows\system32\sp1.cab does not exist
1.469: ref tag c:\windows\system32\driver.cab does not exist
1.469: ref tag c:\windows\system32\fp40ext.cab does not exist
1.469: ref tag c:\windows\system32\fp40ext1.cab does not exist
1.469: ref tag c:\windows\system32\wms4.cab does not exist
1.469: ref tag c:\windows\system32\wms41.cab does not exist
1.469: ref tag c:\windows\system32\ims.cab does not exist
1.469: ref tag c:\windows\system32\ims1.cab does not exist
1.469: ref tag c:\windows\system32\ins.cab does not exist
1.469: ref tag c:\windows\system32\ins1.cab does not exist
1.469: Starting AnalyzeComponents
1.469: AnalyzePhaseZero used 0 ticks
1.469: No c:\windows\INF\updtblk.inf file.
1.469: OEM file scan used 0 ticks
1.547: AnalyzePhaseOne: used 78 ticks
1.547: AnalyzeComponents: Hotpatch analysis disabled; skipping.
1.547: AnalyzeComponents: Hotpatching is disabled.
1.547: FindFirstFile c:\windows\$hf_mig$\*.*
1.594: AnalyzeForBranching used 16 ticks.
1.610: AnalyzePhaseTwo used 16 ticks
1.610: AnalyzePhaseThree used 0 ticks
1.688: AnalyzePhaseFive used 78 ticks
1.688: AnalyzePhaseSix used 0 ticks
1.688: AnalyzeComponents used 219 ticks
1.688: Downloading 3 files
1.688: bPatchMode = TRUE
1.688: Inventory complete: ReturnStatus=0, 313 ticks
1.688: Num Ticks for invent : 313
1.766: [dumpDownloadTask] Update.exe posting request file to download a total of 247783 bytes (247783 bytes in patches and 0 bytes in fallbacks)
1.766: [dumpDownloadTask] Returning 0xf200
1.766: dumpDownloadTask returned 0xf200 (more files to download)
1.781: KB890175 installation did not complete.
1.781: Update.exe extended error code = 0xf200
1.063: ================================================================================
1.063: 2005/02/23 15:09:20.937 (local)
1.063: C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download\S-1-5-18\981593429475ef0704f5014344a18469\update\update.exe (version 5.5.33.0)
1.078: Service Pack started with following command line: /si /ParentInfo:3bdac016c86943419176830f38bd6b2e
1.297: DoInstallation: CleanPFR failed: 0x2
1.297: SetProductTypes: InfProductBuildType=BuildType.IC
1.297: SetAltOsLoaderPath: No section uses DirId 65701; done.
1.313: Express: 247,783 bytes were downloaded.
1.500: [PatchFilesFromResponseBlob] returning STATUS_READY_TO_INSTALL
1.516: KB890175 installation did not complete.
1.516: Update.exe extended error code = 0xf201
1.063: ================================================================================
1.063: 2005/02/23 15:11:14.062 (local)
1.063: C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download\2f4e3173d752bc7e745d290c2317bc46\update\update.exe (version 5.5.33.0)
1.063: Failed To Enable SE_SHUTDOWN_PRIVILEGE
1.063: Service Pack started with following command line: -q -z -er /ParentInfo:0928f277a1a5cc4dba32c736854adda6
1.297: DoInstallation: CleanPFR failed: 0x2
1.297: SetProductTypes: InfProductBuildType=BuildType.IC
1.297: SetAltOsLoaderPath: No section uses DirId 65701; done.
1.328: CreateUninstall = 1,Directory = C:\WINDOWS\$NtUninstallKB890175$
1.328: LoadFileQueues: SetupGetSourceFileLocation for halaacpi.dll failed: 0xe0000102
1.360: ref tag c:\windows\system32\sp4.cab does not exist
1.360: ref tag c:\windows\system32\sp3.cab does not exist
1.360: ref tag c:\windows\system32\sp2.cab does not exist
1.360: ref tag c:\windows\system32\sp1.cab does not exist
1.360: ref tag c:\windows\system32\driver.cab does not exist
1.360: ref tag c:\windows\system32\fp40ext.cab does not exist
1.360: ref tag c:\windows\system32\fp40ext1.cab does not exist
1.360: ref tag c:\windows\system32\wms4.cab does not exist
1.360: ref tag c:\windows\system32\wms41.cab does not exist
1.360: ref tag c:\windows\system32\ims.cab does not exist
1.360: ref tag c:\windows\system32\ims1.cab does not exist
1.360: ref tag c:\windows\system32\ins.cab does not exist
1.360: ref tag c:\windows\system32\ins1.cab does not exist
1.360: Starting AnalyzeComponents
1.360: AnalyzePhaseZero used 0 ticks
1.360: No c:\windows\INF\updtblk.inf file.
1.360: OEM file scan used 0 ticks
1.422: AnalyzePhaseOne: used 62 ticks
1.422: AnalyzeComponents: Hotpatch analysis disabled; skipping.
1.422: AnalyzeComponents: Hotpatching is disabled.
1.422: FindFirstFile c:\windows\$hf_mig$\*.*
1.438: KB890175 Setup encountered an error: The update.ver file is not correct.
1.438: KB890175 Setup encountered an error: The update.ver file is not correct.
1.453: KB890175 Setup encountered an error: The update.ver file is not correct.
1.453: KB890175 Setup encountered an error: The update.ver file is not correct.
1.453: KB890175 Setup encountered an error: The update.ver file is not correct.
1.453: KB890175 Setup encountered an error: The update.ver file is not correct.
1.485: AnalyzeForBranching used 32 ticks.
1.532: AnalyzePhaseTwo used 47 ticks
1.532: AnalyzePhaseThree used 0 ticks
1.532: AnalyzePhaseFive used 0 ticks
1.532: AnalyzePhaseSix used 0 ticks
1.532: AnalyzeComponents used 172 ticks
1.532: Downloading 0 files
1.532: bPatchMode = TRUE
1.532: Inventory complete: ReturnStatus=0, 204 ticks
1.532: Num Ticks for invent : 204
1.578: Allocation size of drive C: is 4096 bytes, free space = 14463762432 bytes
1.625: AnalyzeDiskUsage: Skipping EstimateDiskUsageForUninstall.
1.625: Drive C: free 13793MB req: 11MB w/uninstall: NOT CALCULATED.
1.625: CabinetBuild complete
1.625: Num Ticks for Cabinet build : 93
1.641: LoadFileQueues: SetupGetSourceFileLocation for halaacpi.dll failed: 0xe0000102
1.797: Num Ticks for Backup : 172
1.860: Num Ticks for creating uninst inf : 63
1.860: Registering Uninstall Program for -> KB890175, KB890175 , 0x0
1.860: LoadFileQueues: SetupGetSourceFileLocation for halaacpi.dll failed: 0xe0000102
1.953: Copied file: C:\WINDOWS\System32\spmsg.dll
1.969: PFE2: Not avoiding Per File Exceptions.
2.969: GetCatVersion: Failed to retrieve version information from C:\WINDOWS\System32\CatRoot\{F750E6C3-38EE-11D1-85E5-00C04FC295EE}\KB890175.cat with error 0x57
3.094: ProcessSetupContentSection: PROCESS_SETUP_CONTENT_OP_INSTALL: Copied c:\windows\softwaredistribution\download\2f4e3173d752bc7e745d290c2317bc46\update\update_SP2GDR.inf -> c:\windows\$hf_mig$\KB890175\update\update_SP2GDR.inf.
3.110: ProcessSetupContentSection: PROCESS_SETUP_CONTENT_OP_INSTALL: Copied c:\windows\softwaredistribution\download\2f4e3173d752bc7e745d290c2317bc46\update\update_SP2QFE.inf -> c:\windows\$hf_mig$\KB890175\update\update_SP2QFE.inf.
3.125: ProcessSetupContentSection: PROCESS_SETUP_CONTENT_OP_INSTALL: Copied c:\windows\softwaredistribution\download\2f4e3173d752bc7e745d290c2317bc46\update\update_SP2GDR.inf -> c:\windows\$hf_mig$\KB890175\update\update_SP2GDR.inf.
3.125: ProcessSetupContentSection: PROCESS_SETUP_CONTENT_OP_INSTALL: Copied c:\windows\softwaredistribution\download\2f4e3173d752bc7e745d290c2317bc46\update\update_SP2QFE.inf -> c:\windows\$hf_mig$\KB890175\update\update_SP2QFE.inf.
3.157: ProcessSetupContentSection: PROCESS_SETUP_CONTENT_OP_INSTALL: Copied c:\windows\softwaredistribution\download\2f4e3173d752bc7e745d290c2317bc46\spuninst.exe -> c:\windows\$hf_mig$\KB890175\spuninst.exe.
3.157: ProcessSetupContentSection: PROCESS_SETUP_CONTENT_OP_INSTALL: Copied c:\windows\softwaredistribution\download\2f4e3173d752bc7e745d290c2317bc46\spmsg.dll -> c:\windows\$hf_mig$\KB890175\spmsg.dll.
3.188: ProcessSetupContentSection: PROCESS_SETUP_CONTENT_OP_INSTALL: Copied c:\windows\softwaredistribution\download\2f4e3173d752bc7e745d290c2317bc46\update\spcustom.dll -> c:\windows\$hf_mig$\KB890175\update\spcustom.dll.
3.188: ProcessSetupContentSection: PROCESS_SETUP_CONTENT_OP_INSTALL: Copied c:\windows\softwaredistribution\download\2f4e3173d752bc7e745d290c2317bc46\update\KB890175.CAT -> c:\windows\$hf_mig$\KB890175\update\KB890175.CAT.
3.219: ProcessSetupContentSection: PROCESS_SETUP_CONTENT_OP_INSTALL: Copied c:\windows\softwaredistribution\download\2f4e3173d752bc7e745d290c2317bc46\update\update.exe -> c:\windows\$hf_mig$\KB890175\update\update.exe.
3.219: ProcessSetupContentSection: PROCESS_SETUP_CONTENT_OP_INSTALL: Copied c:\windows\softwaredistribution\download\2f4e3173d752bc7e745d290c2317bc46\update\update.ver -> c:\windows\$hf_mig$\KB890175\update\update.ver.
3.235: ProcessSetupContentSection: PROCESS_SETUP_CONTENT_OP_INSTALL: Copied c:\windows\softwaredistribution\download\2f4e3173d752bc7e745d290c2317bc46\update\updatebr.inf -> c:\windows\$hf_mig$\KB890175\update\updatebr.inf.
3.235: ProcessSetupContentSection: PROCESS_SETUP_CONTENT_OP_INSTALL: Copied c:\windows\softwaredistribution\download\2f4e3173d752bc7e745d290c2317bc46\update\eula.txt -> c:\windows\$hf_mig$\KB890175\update\eula.txt.
3.235: ProcessSetupContentSection: PROCESS_SETUP_CONTENT_OP_INSTALL: Copied c:\windows\softwaredistribution\download\2f4e3173d752bc7e745d290c2317bc46\update\branches.inf -> c:\windows\$hf_mig$\KB890175\update\branches.inf.
3.297: Copied file: C:\WINDOWS\System32\hhctrl.ocx
3.407: Copied file: C:\WINDOWS\System32\DllCache\hhctrl.ocx
3.469: Copied file: c:\windows\$hf_mig$\KB890175\SP2GDR\hhctrl.ocx
3.578: Copied file: c:\windows\$hf_mig$\KB890175\SP2QFE\hhctrl.ocx
3.688: Num Ticks for Copying files : 1828
3.703: Num Ticks for Reg update and deleting 0 size files : 15
8.266: UpdateSpUpdSvcInf: Source [ProcessesToRunAfterReboot] section is empty; nothing to do.
8.282: RebootNecessary = 0,WizardInput = 1 , DontReboot = 1, ForceRestart = 0

 

just a follow up, I do not specifically remember anything with a skull icon, though I do have a large collection of icons from the days when keeping my computer running took a much smaller fraction of my time!


- HandsOff

 

I see a few errors in my KB890175.log, including a "KB890175 installation did not complete" near the top. There are quite a few more in yours. One option is to uninstall the KB890175 hotfix and see if it is the cause of what you see in Add/Remove Programs. You could always reinstall it via Windows Update. If you Google "KB890175 errors", others have had issues installing it as well.

Nick

After more research, I see there are known issues with both installing and uninstalling KB890175 (MS05-001: Vulnerability in HTML Help could allow code execution):

"Known issues
• Before you install security update 890175 (MS05-001), you must install critical update 811630 for some operating systems. For these operating systems, installing critical update 811630 after installing security update 890175 might cause reduced functionality in HTML Help if security update 890175 is later uninstalled.

Note The reduced HTML Help functionality occurs only if security update 890175 is uninstalled. For additional information about this issue, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 892641 HTML Help files do not work correctly after you uninstall security update 890175 (MS05-001)

• Certain kinds of Web-based programs may not function correctly after you install security update 890175. For additional information about this issue, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 892675 You cannot access HTML Help functionality on some Web sites after installing security update MS05-001"

I also see that Microsoft Security Bulletin MS05-002 Vulnerability in Cursor and Icon Format Handling Could Allow Remote Code Execution (891711) was also part of the January Security Bulletin.

 

Once upon a time you had to watch those exe & com files
then came problems with .scr
the .doc
I thought I'd seen everything when a doctored jpeg could execute code.
now an icon can?

okay, now that that's out of the way, thanks for the info, and it also rings a bell. Not too long I decided to run bugoff. I heard there were some issues with it that sound sort of similar.

could it be that one should not bugoff during an update installation? Let me get out my crystal ball...Yep, it's a problem!

To be honest I don't know what is ment by "html help", or "web based help". Could that referr to the guides some programs include that have to be viewed though your browser instead of a .pdf or other document? BTW, i much prefer a regular document. I recently installed a program that I thought had all of the help files on the web. It turns out most of them are on the web, but some of them are installed in my Program Files directory. So here I am on the internet proper going through the help files and one of the links says "detailed help for your installed codecs". I am thinking, really? you know which codecs I have installed? then I click on the link, and instead of seeing text in my browser window i see i windows explorer window with two folder for the codecs that I have installed. I'm thinking, no, cant be...I click up level arrow and I see its true! they are my folders, suddenly I am in my program files. Directly, seemlessly from internet help file to my personal folders on my hard drive. I AM NOT LIKING THIS!

enough on that, you've given me some ideas to look at. The good news is that none of the scans I have done indicate a malware presence. That may also be the bad news!

back to the old drawing board,

- HandsOff

 

Just a thought (shot in the dark) HandsOff - Have you ever removed those XP hotfix Backups?

I think there was a PC World Article suggesting to do this to save a little space ... I wonder if this could be a result of that? As I don't believe the article said anything about removing entries from add/remove programs.

 

Skull icons!? Did pirates hijack your computer?
I hope this is not a case of the pirates flashing their skulls and crossbones flags... I've never got any icons like these myself. There might be a registry error with those hotfix entries in add/remove programs.

 

Just an update, No I did not remove the updates yet. I have in the past, but I hadn't gotten to it yet for this latest installation...however, after trying this and that, and lacking any better ideas, and being irritated by continuously having those dead empty sockets looking at me i decided to delete them hoping that that would make them dissappear.

Well of course it didn't, since I deleted them, and didn't uninstall them they are still there. The good news is that there is a way to get rid of items in your add and remove programs list. The bad news is that I forgot how you do it. I don't think it is in tweak UI...wait...this could be an idea...I bet I CAN delete them...gotta go!

- HandsOff

 

Maybe it's just Bill, trying to tell you something Mate......have you been doing something you shouldnt??.......


Cochise,

 

I think you and Mr. Bill both know the answer to that!