Conflicting library files are halting game's installation
By JOHN TORRO
Published August 23, 2004
Q. My son bought a computer game on CD called: Hard Truck: 18 Wheels of Steel. When trying to load the program using Windows 98 Second Edition, it bogs down about halfway through the installation process and gives the following error code: "Error No. 0x80070725 Description: Incompatible version of the RPC stub." Is there any kind of Web site that error codes can be looked up on?
A. This is a known issue caused by any program that installs different versions of the Oleaut32.dll, Olepro32.dll, Asycfilt.dll and Stdole2.tlb files, among others. These are program library files that are shared with calling programs.
Since there is a mixed file version issue, they are not compatible with each other.
Microsoft recommends two options for resolving this problem:
- If Microsoft Office 2000 is installed on your computer, install the Office 2000 Service Release 1a SR-1a, which can be downloaded from www.microsoft.com/downloads
- If Microsoft Office 2000 is not on your computer, install the Mcrepair.exe tool, which also can be downloaded at www.microsoft.com/downloads Run the Mcrepair.exe program and restart your computer.
What is Ocraware?
Q. I run Windows 98 SE and have Norton SystemWorks 2004 Antivirus along with Ad-aware and Spybot, which are run at least weekly. For a while and for now obvious reasons, my computer, when the desktop comes up, shows a box with the title "Ocraware." The message area says: "This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down. If the problem persists, contact the program vendor." When I close this box, I usually have to reboot, the box reappears, I close it out again, and then I usually can continue without further problems. Could you please explain Ocraware and how I can possibly fix this problem?
A. It's not as scary as it sounds. Ocraware is scanner software usually included with the OmniPage product. Something in your startup is trying to initiate it. Find and delete it in one of the following ways:
1. Edit win.ini and ensure that ocraware.exe is not being started by the run= keyword.
2. Run the OmniPage application, click Tools, Options and Select the Ocraware tab. Make sure the Ocraware checkbox is not checked.
3. Run MSCONFIG and check the Startup tab for any OmniPage products that may be starting ocraware.exe.
4. Finally, you may need to find it in the Registry using RegEdit (Start, Run, REGEDIT). Locate the following registry key:
Click the Ocraware application to select it, then from the menu bar, Edit/Delete. Exit REGEDIT and reboot.
Copying several files in one step, part 2
Q. A question on Aug. 2, "Copying several files in one step," concerned the use of Microsoft Outlook, as was clearly stated three times in the question. However, you gave an answer that applies only to Microsoft Outlook Express. Your answer to the question is totally useless to me or any other person who uses Outlook rather than Outlook Express. There are significant differences in the two programs.
A. You are correct. The original question involved a reader wanting to switch to the Mozilla browser and Eudora e-mail client from Internet Explorer and Outlook. I assumed Outlook Express since that is normally the e-mail client associated with Internet Explorer, since in this context it would make no sense in switching from Microsoft Outlook.
The file used by Microsoft Outlook is called a Personal Storage file (Outlook.PST) and usually is found in the c:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\folder. It is sometimes a hidden file, so you would need to change that setting (Tools, Folder Options, View tab) to make it visible. As long as the .PST file extension is kept, this file can be moved, renamed and still opened with Microsoft Outlook to view its contents.
I always try to be as specific as I can based on the information given by the reader's question. If I tried to cover all possible combinations of Windows versions and e-mail clients, there would not be enough ink left for the rest of the paper.
- Send hardware and software questions to personaltech@sptimes.com or Personal Tech, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731. Questions will be answered only in the column. John Torro is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and Microsoft Certified Solution Developer. He has been writing for Personal Tech since 1997.
