windows xp searches for journal viewer.msi via Adobe (pdf) reader
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written Aug16,2006 by Carpediem2100
updated Sep21,2006
On Aug02/2006, I tried a registry cleaner on my windows-xp
computer. The app.
used is RegSeeker 1.45. I had used this app earlier on my windows-98
computer
and it seemed very "slick". (As far as the registry aspect of
cleaning was
concerned, it "appeared" to be easier/better than EasyCleaner
2.06.380.; As I
write this my windows-98 machine seems fine.)
Last week, I noticed that I could not open .pdf files by clicking on
them or
by opening Adobe PDF Reader (v6.0). Windows-XP reported an
error and asked
to be directed to the folder containing Microsoft Windows Journal
Viewer.msi.
The message would not disappear even if you kept pressing the "cancel"
button.
Finally I had to kill the process by using the task manager.
I started to suspect that cleaning the registry could have been the
cause.
I searched hi & lo, and in system & hidden files and in
archives for files
resembling the naming of "journal" or "viewer" and/or "msi".
No such match
could be located.
I did not get a chance to uninstall or reinstall journal viewer.
Now, today, I had problems opening a Microsoft Access®
Database file. Now I am
convinced that the registry had a problem.
Fortunately, I had a backup of the "system state" (via Microsoft NTBackup),
made prior to the registry cleansing. I restored it; it took
about 15 minutes.
Now Adobe Reader and Microsoft Access seems to be working properly.
(I suppose I could have tried a windows-xp system restore point but it
was older
than my "system state" backup above.)
[Off Topic Note: I don't know if it's my
imagination but I may have a missing
system restore point. maybe not; maybe i am crazy.
Would the registry cleaners
un-intentionally erase a system restore point?
A while back, I used file shredders and freespace wipers,
and they seem to
delete, system restore points. I will write more on this if
I notice a stronger
correlation (with a weaker association to imagination).]
<update 2006-09-21>
I seen first hand where this error will not let you Un-install or
Re-install Windows
Journal Viewer 1.5, even though you have downloaded the Journal Viewer
setup.exe,
and you point Windows to the .msi file! I do not know how to
fix this.
I can only think of a fresh re-install of Windows XP, followed by
un-installing Journal
Viewer before this error gets a chance to occur. When you
have un-installed Journal
Viewer, set a System Restore point and/or backup your System State.
Morals of this Story
--------------------
1) Don't clean the registry if you don't know what you are
doing.
(I still think
EasyCleaner and RegSeeker are fine products; I only used
them
because I don't know how to clean the registry)
2) Make frequent backups
3) Use NTBackup
or other
4) Make use of XP's System Restore feature (It certainly
can't hurt)
5) Uninstall Journal Viewer before this error gets a chance
to occur
