Problems with Win 98 SE and ddhelp.exe

[GMWolfie]

Can anyone enlighten me as to why I get constant "not responding" errors for ddhelp.exe? This occurs when attempting to use and open Internet Explorer, dxdiag, and any number of applications. What happens is the system bogs way down, with the cursor barely moving, then pressing ctrl, alt, del, I see the ddhelp.exe (not responding) message. This is a newly reformatted machine with a clean install of Win 98 SE. I've run adaware, Spybot, and Norton anti-virus to no avail.

Any ideas? I'm totally perplexed and not looking forward to reformatting again just to get rid of the problem.

Gerry

[Tom]

Hi GMWolfie,

Any info I have found similar to your issues with ddhelp.exe indicate a need to get updated video drivers. There is one specific MS reference that a Matrox Millennium II video driver must have a date 5-13-99 or later, if you happen to have this installed. You can get updated driver files from the card manufacturers site, or go here (http://www.driverguide.com/) (free, but requires doing a registration).

Hope this is the info you need, and please post back with your progress.

Good luck,

Tom

[Nick Grana]

Try downloading and installing latest version of DirectX on your system.:cool:

[GMWolfie]

The update of DirectX was done. There was no difference. I also attempted to remove the file, but that just messed everything up worse. Reinstalling DirectX v 8 includes it, DirectX 9 was installed but to no avail.

Gerry

The vid card in the machine is a nVidia MX 400 and has the latest and last driver.

[Tom]

Interesting. Would have thought between Darth's suggestion or a driver update there would be a fix. nVidia does have quite an array of available drivers that would work with your card, which would support issues of compatibility. However, if this (http://www.nvidia.com/object/win9x_71.84.html) is the driver currently installed it should have resolved the problem.

[GMWolfie]

Yup...that's the one, had a hell of a time installing it too. Immediately after installation, as well as another install of directx 9.0c, while booting up, guess what? You got it!! ddhelp.exe (not responding) why? because the nvidia control software was attempting to run in the background! So, I had to go to safe mode, run msconfig and disable all the nividia references. So, I'm basically back to square one. This is truly amazing.

I also ran both adaware and spybot again.

So, directx 9.0c and version 71.84 device driver, spyware search...no results.
I just don't know!!!

Totally appreciate the help! If anyone thinks of anything else, please, let me know.

Thanks again...

Gerry

[Tom]

Hey Gerry,

I can tell from your info that you have done a fair bit of net search on this, and see the same fixes (or lack of). This may not be a fix, but possibly a workaround to get things running - http://msdn.microsoft.com/archive/default.asp?url=/archive/en-us/directx9_c/directx/intro/tools/killhelp.asp

Tom

[GMWolfie]

Great!!! Where and how do I get it???

Gerry

[Tom]

Hey Gerry,

Here's a killhelp.exe download site, but as you might guess there is no way of determining if this is a good copy.

http://safariexamples.informit.com/0672325969/DirectX%20SDK/Utilities/

Since you know you aren't the only GeForce customer with this problem, do post back with results.

Thanks. Tom

[GMWolfie]

You know, I hadn't though of that. I guess that's the last time I go with nVidia, well...maybe not.<G>

Radeon looks good right about now...