Changes to files/registery to install HP printer - can't view videos now

[HartsVideo]

Hi,

I have Windows XP Pro SP2, IE7.

I installed a Hewlett Packard 5610 All-In-One printer a few weeks ago. After installation, I was constantly asked to insert the installation disk for AppTray. When I did, I could continue as usual, but since this isn't normal, I wanted to fix it. I had a Live Chat with a tech at HP and they sent me a new/updated installation disk. When I uninstalled the old program and installed the program on the new disk, I continued to receive the TrayApp message and I received an additional message that said

"Microsoft .NET Framework

An unhandled exception has occurred in a component in your application.
Click continue and application will ignore this error and attempt to continue.

Object reference not set to an instance of an object.

Details:

See the end of this message for details on invoking
just-in-time (JIT) debugging instead of this dialog box.

************** Exception Text **************
System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.

at HP.CUE.Video.PlaybackControl.UpdateProgressBar()

I started a new Live Chat at Hewlett Packard and I was given two guidelines to follow. The first guideline was to rid all files in my computer that were associated with printers and faxes. The first part of the guide was to uninstall the software for the printer. The second part required registry and other changes/deletions:

"C. Windows Registry:
====================

Before modifying registry, take a backup of it.

1. Click Start and click on Run.
2. Type Regedit and from File menu, click on Export Registry.
3. Select "All" option for backing up every key of registry.
4. Give a destination file (say Regbackup) and save it on to the Desktop.
5. Now, click "+" beside HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM
6. Click "+" beside CurrentControlSet
7. Click "+" beside Control
8. Click "+" beside Print
9. Click "+" beside Environments
10. Click "+" beside Windows NT x86
11. Click "+" beside Drivers
12. Under this key, there will be the keys Version-2 and Version-3 (some may
be absent, which is normal)
13. Click on each Version key to find contents in the right-window pane.
14. Delete all the sub-keys inside Version-2 and Version-3, but not these
keys themselves.
15. From File menu, click exit.

D. Deleting Folders:
====================
1. Click Start, Run and type "cmd" (without quotes).
2. Key-in the following commands:

net stop spooler
net start spooler

3. Type exit.
4. Open Windows Explorer and navigate to:

%systemroot%\system32\spool\drivers\w32x86

NOTE: %systemroot% is usually C:\Windows, but it might be "winnt" or
something else; this is set when the OS is installed.

5. Inside w32x86, there will be folders with the names 2 and 3 (some may be
absent, which is normal)
6. Delete all of the files and sub-folders in each of the 2 and 3 folders,
but not the folders themselves.
7. Inside w32x86, there may be other folders with names starting with
"hewlett_packard", "hphp" or something else; delete these folders also.
8. Restart the print spooler (as in 2nd step, above)
9. Restart the computer.

At this point, the system should be pretty well back to the way it was
before any printers were installed. The printing subsystem is then "clean"
and ready for printers to be added using printer drivers. Install the
all-in-one software, now."


A few hours ago, I followed the directions to a T. I haven't had the original problems reoccur but I constantly receive another message from Microsoft when I try to play a video:

"Windows Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close . . ." More information showed:

Error signature
AppName: explorer.exe
AppVer: 6.0.2900.2180
ModName: mpeg2dmx.ax
ModVer: 2.0.80.30327
Offset 0000d823

Viewing technical information about the error report shows:

Exception Information
Code:0xc0000005
Flags:0x00000000034ed823

System Information
Windows NT 5.1 Build: 2600 (I HAVE WINDOWS XP SP2 INSTALLED)
CPU Vendor Code: 68747541 - 69746E65 - 4444D4163
CPU Version: 00000631
CPU Feature Code: 0183F9FF
CPU AMD Feature Code: C1C7F9FF

And then there are approximately 400 Modules and thousands of lines of threads.
I've tried several different video players and I have the same problem with all of them except VLC Media Player. I can watch the video using VLC but the audio and video are out of sync.

What caused damage to my video programs/ability to view videos and how can I fix it?

[Krispy Kritter]

You can try to perform a system restore back to a time when the machine was running properly.

Otherwise, I would download and install SP2. After it has completed, use windows update to download and install all of the security and file updates. I would also install DirectX 9.0c and then the latest video drivers.

[JohnnyMalaria]

The error points to mpeg2dmx.ax

I believe this is the Elecard MPEG2 demultiplexer and, as I far as I know, is installed in the system32 directory.

You can disable this demultiplexer by doing the following:

Launch a command prompt window (cmd) and type the following:

c:
cd \windows\system32
regsvr32 -u mpeg2dmx.ax

You should get a message stating that the file was successfully unregistered.

See if you have the same problem playing videos.

If so, you might as well re-register that file:

regsvr32 mpeg2dmx.ax

[HartsVideo]

Hi Krispy,

I already have SP2 and all of the updates. I wound up doing a System Restore and it solved the problem so I can watch videos on my pc again, but I continue to get the error messages.

I just read your reply and downloaded and installed DirectX . . . not sure what the outcome will be but I'll let you know.

Thanks for your help. . .

[HartsVideo]

Hi Johnny,

I searched my computer for mpeg2dmx.ax (using hidden files/folders and system files) but there were no results.

I was able to registere the dll for mpeg2dmx.ax though . . . isn't that unusual?

Since I don't have .NET Framework 2.0 installed in my pc, I've read that I can turn off ASP.NET and JIT Debugger with no change in the way my programs run since they ran without it in the first place. Is this true?

[Bjs]

You should confirm that the hp software requires the net framework package first .

And you might want to check out microsoft for the installer clean out tool ... some program installer's leave filth behind that cause problem's like this to appear ... run the tool , then reboot and see if the issue re-appears .

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301