Cannot create performance counter log file

Question

Somehow, creating a Data Collector Set from Performance Monitor is not currently working on my machine. I get an immediate "file not found" error, even though no file specification has yet been requested. I am not doing anything wrong; this works fine on other machines, but I believe there is some kind of required initialization file (for pla.dll, probably) that is somehow missing on this machine. I don't know what it is, how to identify it, or what happened to it. This error also affects the logman.exe command line utility, so that a simple "logman /query" command immediately fails with the error: "The system cannot find the file specified."

Does anyone know what file the library is trying to open that is causing this failure?

Answer 1

"GeekyGeezer" wrote in message news:484d4101-0801-4876-9c25-eea015beb9ab...

> As I have mentioned, this HP machine did not come with a Vista DVD. It so

> happens that I do have an upgrade copy of Windows Vista Ultimate which I

> have never been able to use, because it aborts with the warning that the

> existing operating system (Vista Home Premium, Service Pack 1) is newer

> than the upgrade OS.

>

> If I understand you correctly, it may be possible for me to roll back my

> current operating system to pre-SP1 and then apply the Vista Ultimate

> update? This seems a little risky, so I am wondering if setting a restore

> point will enable me to return to the starting point should things go

> terribly wrong?

>

> There have been 211 Updates to Microsoft Windows installed on this

> machine, many of them since SP1 (which I am assuming is the one listed as

> "Service Pack for Microsoft Windows (KB936330)". Must I also uninstall all

> updates that were subsequently installed after SP1?

>

> Thanks.

>

Yikes! I'd NEVER attempt to roll back a system that's been that heavily

updated (and presumably used)! - it's simply asking for trouble.

Do you know anyone with a Vista Ultimate Upgrade disk with SP1 or SP2

already on it? - if so, simply borrow their disk, copy it, and use that, in

combination with your Product Key.

--

Noel

Answer 2

As I have mentioned, this HP machine did not come with a Vista DVD. It so happens that I do have an upgrade copy of Windows Vista Ultimate which I have never been able to use, because it aborts with the warning that the existing operating system (Vista Home Premium, Service Pack 1) is newer than the upgrade OS.

If I understand you correctly, it may be possible for me to roll back my current operating system to pre-SP1 and then apply the Vista Ultimate update? This seems a little risky, so I am wondering if setting a restore point will enable me to return to the starting point should things go terribly wrong?

There have been 211 Updates to Microsoft Windows installed on this machine, many of them since SP1 (which I am assuming is the one listed as "Service Pack for Microsoft Windows (KB936330)". Must I also uninstall all updates that were subsequently installed after SP1?

Thanks.

Answer 3

Hi GeekyGeezer,

If it's possible try to arrange an installation disk of Windows Vista so that you can perform in-place upgrade.

In-place upgrade will install Windows Vista and retain your applications, files, and settings as they were in your previous edition of Windows.

NOTE: To perform an upgrade or the “in-place Upgrade” you must roll back to whatever Service Pack is on the installation DVD i.e. if you have no Service Pack on the DVD, and there shouldn't be any Service Pack on the machine before trying these steps.   To upgrade the current Windows operating system on your computer to Windows Vista, follow these steps:

1. Start the computer and make sure that the current version of Windows has started.
2. Click on Start and then click on Control Panel.
3. Click on Program and then click on Turn Windows Features On or Off under Programs and Features.

4.Uncheck –

a) Microsoft .Net framework 3.0

b) Remote Differential Compression

c) Windows DFS Replication Service

5. Once done, restart the computer and follow the rest of the steps.
6. Insert the Windows Vista DVD into the DVD drive and then close the drive tray. Wait a moment for the Setup program to start automatically.
7. If the Setup program does not start automatically, follow these steps:

Click Start and then click Run.

Type Drive:\setup.exe and then click OK.                        

Note: Drive is the drive letter of the computer’s DVD drive.

8. When the Setup program starts and the Install now screen appears, click Install now.

Note: When you receive with the Get important updates for installation message, click on Go Online.

9. Click Upgrade when the "Which type of installation do you want?" screen appears.
10. Follow the instructions to install Windows Vista.

Hope the information helps. Please post back and let us know.

Regards

Debleena S

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

Answer 4

I had already run an SFC check. It did report some "unfixable" files, but they do not appear related to this issue (they all concern oledb). The SFC run did not repair any files that fixed the underlying problem. This HP machine came with Vista pre-installed and no Vista DVD included. The HP diagnostic and recovery disks were not helpful in resolving the problem, and the only remaining option was to restore the machine to factory installed condition, which is not an acceptable solution. There are no available restore points in which this functionality (perf logs) is operational.

Answer 5

HiGeekyGeezer,

Let’s run a System File Checker [SFC] scan on the computer which will replace the missing or corrupt files.

To do this, follow the steps given below:

1. Click the Start button.
2. From the Start Menu, Click All programs followed by Accessories.
3. In the Accessories menu, Right Click on the Command Prompt option.
4. From the drop down menu that appears, Click on the 'Run as administrator' option.
5. If you have the User Account Control (UAC) enabled, you will be asked for authorization prior to the command prompt opening. You may simply need to press the Continue button if you are the administrator or insert the administrator password etc.
6. In the Command Prompt window, type: sfc /scannow and then press Enter.
7. A message will appear stating that 'The system scan will begin'.
8. Be patient because the scan may take some time.
9. If any files require replacing SFC will replace them. You may be asked to insert your Vista DVD for this process to continue.
10. If everything is okay you should, after the scan, see the following message "Windows resource protection did not find any integrity violations".
11. After the scan has completed, close the command prompt window, restart the computer and check.

For further reference check the link given below:

How to repair the operating system and how to restore the operating system configuration to an earlier point in time in Windows Vista

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936212

Hope the information helps. Please post back and let us know.

Regards

Debleena S

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.