Windows Secrets

Subscribers: Sign in

Enter your e-mail address to get a free subscription.
We guarantee your privacy
Skip to content
  • Home
  • Newsletter Archives
    • Current
    • LangaList Plus
    • Patch Watch
    • Wacky Web Week
    • Security Baseline
    • Polls
  • WinDeals
  • E-Books
  • Lounge
  • About us
    • Refunds
    • Privacy Policy
    • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Your Account
    • Upgrade
    • Preferences
    • Bonus Download
    • Unsubscribe
Home>LangaList Plus>Vague error messages complicate troubleshooting

Vague error messages complicate troubleshooting

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Fred Langa in LangaList Plus
Tweet

Fred langa By Fred Langa

Here’s what to do when unknown and uncommunicative software tries — and fails — to launch at boot.

Any of three different approaches, including careful use of Windows’ built-in selective startup, should get to the root of the problem.


Experiencing Java failure at boot time

Reader Owen Krist’s PC is experiencing a hard-to-identify error at startup.

  • “Whenever I boot up, the very first thing that shows up are four small windows, each with the message ‘Java virtual machine launching.’ Right below that it says, ‘Unable to access jarfile C:Documents,’ and below that is a small button that says, ‘OK.’

    “I’m hoping you can advise me about getting rid of these windows. It was never like that in the past. It started about a month ago.

    “Please be very specific with your reply, as I am not an expert.”


My sympathies, Owen. That’s not much to go on — no meaningful error message, hardly more than an OK button to work with!

This article is part of our paid content. Subscribe.

Already a paid subscriber? Click here to login.

Related posts:

  1. Free Tool Easily Decodes MS Windows Error Messages
  2. Oddball Hardware Troubleshooting Tip
  3. Error messages orchestrate beautiful music
  4. Bogus “No Floppy” Error
  5. Finally! Your Windows error messages decoded
= Paid content

All Windows Secrets articles posted on 2012-01-26:

  • Top Story Ready or not, you’re getting IE 8 or 9
  • Lounge Life Do e-readers need antivirus protection?
  • Wacky Web Week Waltz of the crashes in snowy Seattle
  • Windows Secrets Learn to use the versatile Microsoft OneNote
  • LangaList Plus Vague error messages complicate troubleshooting
  • Best Practices Hard-drive partitioning gives better protection
  • Patch Watch Waiting for more information on fallen updates
  •  Show all articles on a single page
Fred Langa

About Fred Langa

Fred Langa is senior editor. His LangaList Newsletter merged with Windows Secrets on Nov. 16, 2006. Prior to that, Fred was editor of Byte Magazine (1987 to 1991) and editorial director of CMP Media (1991 to 1996), overseeing Windows Magazine and others.
View all posts by Fred Langa →

WinDeals

WinDeals offers subscribers regular discounts — of up to 50 percent off — on software and technology products. Read moreยป

View current deals
Top-scoring articles in the past 12 months
  • Leaving long cookie trails throughout the Web 5.00
  • Windows-like security for Android devices 5.00
  • Win7′s no-reformat, nondestructive reinstall 4.55
  • LizaMoon infection: a blow-by-blow account 4.46
  • RPV: Win7′s least-known data-protection system 4.35
  • Recovery: the last step in total data security 4.31
  • The sorry tale of the (un)Secure Sockets Layer 4.30
  • Time for a .NET update we can’t ignore 4.30
  • Is your free AV tool a ‘resource pig?’ 4.27
  • Getting the most from Windows Search — Part 1 4.25
  • Revising printing habits saves money and trees 4.25
  • Upgrades end in erratic, partial hangs 4.25
  • Get wired performance from your Wi-Fi network 4.24
  • Caution: Bumps in the road to IPv6 4.23
  • Patch Watch adds problem-patch update chart 4.23
  • ZeuS Trojan reinvents itself as bots rock on 4.22
  • Pros and cons of a ‘keyfile’ password 4.21
  • April brings showers of browser patches 4.20
  • Readers comment on the LizaMoon infection story 4.20
  • Office 2007 gets its final service pack 4.19
  • Putting Registry-/system-cleanup apps to the test 4.19
  • One year and 99 security bulletins later 4.18
  • Don’t pay for software you don’t need — Part 3 4.17
  • The advanced system-recover toolkit 4.17
  • What to do when Windows refuses to boot 4.17
  • Certificate cleanup for most personal computers 4.17
  • Make the most of Windows 7′s Libraries 4.16
  • Internet Explorer gets another round of patches 4.15
  • Vacation’s over; it’s a big round of patches 4.15
  • Keeping you up to date: say no to .NET — again 4.14
Connect with us Follow us on Twitter Connect with us on Facebook View our RSS Feeds
  • Home|
  • Newsletter|
  • About Windows Secrets|
  • Advertise with us|
  • Unsubscribe|
  • Sitemap|
  • Affiliates|
Trademarks: Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. The Windows Secrets series of books is published by Wiley Publishing Inc. The Windows Secrets Newsletter, WindowsSecrets.com, WinFind, Windows Gizmos, Security Baseline, Patch Watch, Perimeter Scan, Wacky Web Week, the Logo Design (W, S or road, and Star), and the slogan Everything Microsoft Forgot to Mention all are trademarks and service marks of iNET Interactive. All other marks are the trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.
iNET Interactive Copyright © 2011 iNET Interactive.
All rights reserved.
Terms of Use  |  Privacy Policy
Internet Services
  • Web Hosting Talk
  • HostingCon
  • Hosting Catalog
  • Host Voice
Web Development
  • Hot Scripts
  • DB Forums
Digital Marketing
  • ABestWeb
  • Search Marketing Standard
  • PayPerClickUniverse
  • SEMCompare
Consumer Tech
  • Windows Secrets
  • Overclockers
  • Mac Forums

Learn more about
advertising opportunities across the iNET Interactive Network.

LiquidWeb