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General discussion

mozilla/error message

Jul 12, 2004 3:53AM PDT

Could switching my browser to mozilla 1.7
cause the error C:/WINDOWS/system 32/smss.exe
to pop up? I have xp and just noticed the change.
Not sure what other info. to post. Any help
is appreciated.

Discussion is locked

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Re: mozilla/error message
Jul 12, 2004 4:18AM PDT

Lex,

What is the EXACT error and when does it occur? Here's a brief description of smss.exe:

Process File: smss or smss.exe
Process Name: Session Manager Subsystem
Description: Application that is used to start, manage, and delete user sessions or client sessions under Terminal Server.
Company: Microsoft Corp.
System Process: Yes
__________

Are you attempting to use a shortcut when the problem occurs?? If so, make sure that the shortcut is directing you to the correct location.
____________

Since it's a system file have you tried running the System File Checker??

Click on Start-Run , type: sfc /scannow and Press the "Enter" key. Have the Windows XP CD handy,just in case it's requested.
________

Hope this helps and let us know more about that error.

Grif

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Re: mozilla/error message
Jul 12, 2004 9:11AM PDT

Sorry to take so long; it's my friend with the problem.
She said this is the error message
"C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\smss.exe application cannot be run in WIN32 mode
and it responds that way when she tries to open any existing notepad.doc that she's made in the past.
I told her to run the sfc tool. She did, and she says notepad is working. Any suggestions? Thanks

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Lex, Notepad.doc ??
Jul 12, 2004 10:35AM PDT

Is the file a .doc file which would open with Microsoft Word, or do you mean a "Notepad/text" document which would open with Notepad.exe?

Here's a link about such an occurrance:

Solution Title: Notepad C:/WINDOWS/system32/smss.exe error

It appears like Notepad.exe may have become corrupted and replacing the existing "Notepad.exe" files with a good copy should fix the issue.

Hope this helps.

Grif

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Re: Lex, Notepad.doc ??
Jul 12, 2004 11:11AM PDT

Yes, notepad was damaged. I recommended that
she use the sfc tool, and replace notepad.exe
(putting it back into windows dllcache and system32.)(Found that info. on this site.)
and if that didn't work to download a new copy on Merijn's site. Apparently, she didn't follow my
advice(although, she says she did!) or something else
is wrong. The link you gave is not free advice...you have to sign up for $9.95 a month...she can fix it herself! lol Thanks anyway.
P.S. maybe she needs to download smss.exe somewhere. Can that even be done?

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Lex, Try The Link Again....
Jul 13, 2004 7:44AM PDT

The link, and it's advice are free. (It doesn't appear like you explored that link correctly...) In my case, all you need to do is scroll to the bottom of the page after reading the post at the top. The discussion from other advice givers is listed there.

I don't think the problem is with "smss.exe" although there should be a copy on the Windows CD or installed on the hard drive. Unfortunately, although this appears to be a Windows XP machine, you have yet to tell us which operating system is being used....as that would certainly help us some.

Hope this helps.

Grif

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Re: Lex, Try The Link Again....
Jul 15, 2004 5:54AM PDT

Thanks, I hadn't scrolled down far enough. I saw
the "Sign up to see the solution" message and figured I wasn't going to get anywhere. However, I still didn't find a solution there.
In my first post, I did say that I have xp and just
noticed the change.
(And, as I said, it's my friend's p.c. and we can't
figure it out.)
I tend to agree with you that this stems from another
source besides smss.exe. My friend maintains that
the system is virus/spyware free and that now notepad is working. She says she ran the sfc. The only diff. is the switch to Mozilla.
Is it logical for me to suggest that she copy/paste a good copy of smss.exe
into the windows dllcache and windows system32?
Thanks for your input. If this doesn't work,
I give up. It's starting to become a pain in the kazoo.

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The notepad clue.
Jul 15, 2004 6:06AM PDT

Notepad vanishing is my cluepon that a COOL WEB varient was on the machine. CWSHREDDER is very useful to detect and eject it.

Bob