3 replies to this topic

[Francis S.]

Recently, when running ArcView 9.2, the ArcToolbox tool ceased to function. When a tool is accessed, it's dialog won't open. All that happens is a hourglass or nothing. Won't work in ArcCatalog either.

ESRI Support tried everything they could, including, in order:

Installing MS XML Parser 3.0 SP7 (which sometimes refused to install due to a 'Network Error' but would finally appear to install)
Installing MS XML Core Services 4.0 (with problems as above)
Recreating the ArcToolbox.dat file
Getting rid of any third party software for GIS
Getting rid of the program called Quickeys 1.0 (a macro utility) which was causing Shutdown problems
Ran a repair of ArcGIS
Upgrading to Service Pack 3
Uninstalled and reinstalled ArcGIS (won't work in Safe Mode either)

Now I'm faced with reinstalling Windows (something I have done by expert$ as there is so much for me to screw up). Also, weirdly, both my bay CD drives (different makes & vintages) won't open up, but will light their access LED's. All other programs appear to be functioning normally.

Any advice or suggestions before I haul the box off to the shop?

Thanks,
Francis

[frax]

Installed anything recently? I would try to start a tool with a monitor running, such as Sysinternals' procmon, I have solved some issues in ArcGIS with that.

[Francis S.]

The only thing recently installed besides some persistent Java updates is a small utility called CanOpener 1.0 PC. This is a text search utility which looks into files on the hard drive (originally for the Mac - great for searching out long forgotten things). Perhaps CanOpener corrupted some .dll files or drivers.

Thanks for the tip about the system monitor; I tried it out but couldn't decipher the 20,000+ (literally) lines of information and what was really happening however....

Francis

[frax]

For procmon, you have to have a filter so that you only see events for ArcCatalog (if you access the tools through the toolbox there), then see what fails, especially disk/library access.