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V-com PowerDesk Pro remains in memory (by 7 users)

By Riddle - usenet poster


I use V-Comm PowerDesk Pro as an Explorer replacement. I
have been using PDesk Pro for a decade (Win95, NT, 98,
2000) and love it. However, with a recent upgrade to Win XP
Pro, PDesk remains resident in memory when I close the
program. After opening and closing 2 or more times, PDesk
refuses to open until I start Task Manager and kill the
multiple instances of PDesk still in memory.

V-Comm has not responded to my query and there is nothing I
can find on the net via Google.

This sounds like a more general problem ('program fails to
release memory') that should be well known and have some
utilities to trouble shoot.

The problem is consistent on 2 machines running XP Pro, so
I don't think it is an installation-specific issue. The XP
Pro installations were 'clean', not upgrades
--
Murray

This Problem has been added to the Share Your Expertise Page under "My Work Queue".

6 Other Users Have The Same Problem

Comment by Guest, posted on Mar 12, 2008

exact same poblem

Comment by sensor, posted on Mar 11, 2008

PD ran for a while using a w98/wMW compatibility setting, but then started having problems associating documents with Adobe reader and MS word...
Sorry, but my easy solution is still not a solution...
Both associtions work OK with a Wxp association, but then the failure to release the task problem returns..
~!@#$%^ I really like Powerdesk as compared with Windows explorer...
I sure wish VCOMM would fix it... They've had a year now...

Comment by sensor, posted on Feb 22, 2008

Yes I had same problem... Tried reinstall with pd taking place of windows explorer,but that interfered with control panel.
Tried Batch routine, that works... but here's an even easier "work around."

Right click on pdexplo.exe
select Compatibility mode..
select windows ME/98
Problem goes away..

Sensor.

Comment by bossel, posted on Jan 07, 2008

I recently changed to Vista. Powerdesk 6 only starts once and fails subsequent efforts. It appears that in TaskManager-processes PDExplo does not disappear when the program is shut down. A next effort to start the program fails, but adds another PDEx to the processes in Task Manager, etc. What would be the solution? Robert

Comment by Guest, posted on Dec 25, 2007

Yes, I have the same problem with version 6 and older version 4.

The problem exist with a fresh install with no other programs installed.

Version 6 has a problem with the folder icons not showing up.

Best Solution
posted on Jan 29, 2008
FixYa! (100)

OneBigKid


Rank:Apprentice Apprentice
Rating: 100%, 4 votes
I found a simple solution. By creating a simple BATCH file you can terminate the PDExplo.exe process and restart a fresh version of the PowerDesk. From now on, I just execute the batch file to start PowerDesk.

Creating a batch file is very simple. Just open Notepad, copy the text below, and then save the file with a .BAT extension (instead of the default TXT). I named mine PDExplo.BAT but you can call yours whatever you want.

TASKKILL /IM PDexplo.exe /F
START C:\Progra~1\PowerD~1\PDexplo.exe


You may need to tweak the START command a little bit if your executable is in a different directory.

Good Luck

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Solution #2
posted on Aug 11, 2005
Helpful (85)

Ranny

Ranny - usenet poster

Rank:Apprentice Apprentice
Rating: 0%, 0 votes
I had to remove Pro 5 and return to the version in System Suite.  They are
worthless in support.  The folder synchronize function GPFs every time under
XP Pro.  They could care less.  This is what happens when a good product is
bought out by some marketers, which is all V-com is.

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Solution #3
posted on Aug 11, 2005
Helpful (85)

Brad

Brad - usenet poster

Rank:Apprentice Apprentice
Rating: 0%, 0 votes
Thanks Mark.  

Still looking to see if I can find the problem (hook that is keeping the program open).  The wortst part is that I get the same behavior with ExplorerPlus and 2 other file manager programs that I have tried.

Press "Ctrl + Alt + Delete" to bring up task manager, I'll bet that you have processes running!

--
Just my 2?? worth
           Jeff
__________in response to__________

|
| > Which one (if you have the same) is "PreloadApp"?  
|
| None. I only have in one line with the program name PreloadApp:
| c:\hp\drivers\printers\photosm­art\hphprld.exe
| c:\hp\drivers\printers\photosm­art\setup.exe -d
|
| I've no idea where it came from or what it is, it was installed on the laptop
| when I bought it. I don't use Photosmart.
| I have no processes running.
|
| Mark
|
|
|

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Solution #4
posted on Feb 22, 2008
Thanks for Trying (70)

sensor


Rank:Apprentice Apprentice
Rating: 70%, 1 votes
Simplest Solution....
Right Click on PDExplo.exe
select Compatibility
Select Windows ME/98

Problem goes away...


Sensor


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Solution #5
posted on Feb 24, 2008
Not Rated (0)

engbert


Rank:Apprentice Apprentice
Rating: 0%, 0 votes
I used the solution from OneBigKid successfully for a couple of weeks - the batch file with Taskkill.

However, the solution by Sensor looked more elegant, - Run in win98 mode. However, soon after starting to use that I began to have problems especially when double clicking on a file to open in ACDSee or Nikon Capture NX.

I do not know that this is cause and effect or coincidence yet.

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Solution #6
posted on Jan 17, 2008
Not Rated (0)

Guest

Guest

Rank:Apprentice Apprentice
Rating: 0%, 0 votes
I've have the exact same problem with Powerdesk 6.0.3.4 and Vista Home Premium. Powerdesk Pro sometimes leaves PDExplo.exe as a running process when powerdesk is closed.

You have to manually close the running process before I can run another instance of Powerdesk Pro.

I also experienced the problem earlier with XP Professional.

I do not have Roxio installed on my PC, as someone suggested a link between the two above.

I have tried to upgrade Powerdesk Pro to version 6.0.4.2, but that results in an error message and no upgrade.

Someone suggested above that the program doesn't work with XP, but that is apparently not true since VCOM states that it works with Windows 98/Me/NT4/2000/XP/2003.

In my case Vista may be causing the problem. But I think that there is some interaction between Powerdesk and some other application or driver that is causing the problem.

Anyway, it's nice that some of you are running version 5 without problem, but that's not very helpful in trying to fix the problem with PD Pro 6. Actually, it's kinda like telling a Dr. you have pain when you raise your arm and having ther Dr, tell "then don't raise it".

You are not helping by telling us how your old version works. If you don't have helpful information that perhaps you should just move to another thread.



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Solution #7
posted on Aug 11, 2005
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2Pansy

2Pansy - usenet poster

Rank:Apprentice Apprentice
Rating: 0%, 0 votes
None. I only have in one line with the program name PreloadApp:
c:\hp\drivers\printers\photosm­art\hphprld.exe
c:\hp\drivers\printers\photosm­art\setup.exe -d

I've no idea where it came from or what it is, it was installed on the laptop
when I bought it. I don't use Photosmart.
I have no processes running.

Mark

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Solution #8
posted on Aug 11, 2005
Not Rated (0)

Ross

Ross - usenet poster

Rank:Apprentice Apprentice
Rating: 0%, 0 votes
Okay, I have 5 items from HP running at statup in Startup CPL, they are:

1) CamMonitor | C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\Digital Imaging\Unload\HpqCmon.exe

2) HPDJ Taskbar Utility | C:\WINDOWS\system32\spool\driv­ers\w32x86\3\hpztsb07.exe

3) HPHmon04 | C:\WINDOWS\system32\hphmon04.e­xe

4) HPHUPD04 | C:\Program Files\HP Photosmart 11\hphinstall\UniPatch\hphupd0­4.exe

5) Share-to-Web Namespace Daemon | C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Share-to-Web\hpgs2wnd.exe

Which one (if you have the same) is "PreloadApp"?  

In task manager there are 6 processes running:

1) hpgs2wnd.exe [matches #5 above]

2) hpgs2wnf.exe [C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Share-to-Web\hpgs2wnf.exe]

3) hphipm11.exe [C:\Program Files\HP Photosmart 11\hphinstall\w2kio\hphipm11.e­xe] and [C:\WINDOWS\system32\hphipm11.­exe]

4) hphmon04.exe [matches #3 above]

5) HpqCmon.exe [matches #1 above]

6) hpztsb07.exe [matches #2 above]

So #2 and 3 have been added and #4 [from above] is missing but appears in TM if I click on Web Update from the menu.

Does this match what you have?  Thanks for the help.

--
Just my 2?? worth
           Jeff
__________in response to__________

|
| You asked if any one had HP photosmart software installed. I do but stopped
| PreloadApp from running at startup. This is listed in Startup Control Panel
| as a HP photosmart program. Not sure if it makes andy difference but I don't
| have any problems with PowerDesk.
|
| Mark
|
|
|

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Solution #9
posted on Aug 11, 2005
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Phoebe

Phoebe - usenet poster

Rank:Apprentice Apprentice
Rating: 0%, 0 votes
You asked if any one had HP photosmart software installed. I do but stopped
PreloadApp from running at startup. This is listed in Startup Control Panel
as a HP photosmart program. Not sure if it makes andy difference but I don't
have any problems with PowerDesk.

Mark

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Solution #10
posted on Aug 11, 2005
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Bouncy

Bouncy - usenet poster

Rank:Apprentice Apprentice
Rating: 0%, 0 votes
I've never had any problems with PowerDesk 4 and 5 on XP Home, certainly
nothing you describe.

Mark

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Solution #11
posted on Aug 11, 2005
Not Rated (0)

maartenw

maartenw - usenet poster

Rank:Apprentice Apprentice
Rating: 0%, 0 votes
Do you (or another poster) by any chance have HP photosmart software installed?

I did a complete reinstall and when I put on the HP software the not unloading issue returned.  HP of course is no help since their software is working - to 'ell with anybody else.

--
Just my 2?? worth
           Jeff
__________in response to__________
| I've never had any problems with PowerDesk 4 and 5 on XP Home, certainly
| nothing you describe.
|
| Mark
|
|
|

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Solution #12
posted on Aug 11, 2005
Not Rated (0)

Horner

Horner - usenet poster

Rank:Apprentice Apprentice
Rating: 0%, 0 votes
To stop WHAT? from loading at startup?  Or what "PreloadApp" did you stop?

I have used "Startup Manager" for about 6 years: http://www.mlin.net/, works great.

--
Just my 2?? worth
           Jeff
__________in response to__________

| Not here, I did but unticked "PreloadApp" in Startup Control Panel by Mike
| Lin to stop it loading at startup. It isn't necessary to be loaded at
| startup.
|
| Mark
|
|
|

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Solution #13
posted on Aug 11, 2005
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Cornish

Cornish - usenet poster

Rank:Apprentice Apprentice
Rating: 0%, 0 votes
Not here, I did but unticked "PreloadApp" in Startup Control Panel by Mike
Lin to stop it loading at startup. It isn't necessary to be loaded at
startup.

Mark

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Solution #14
posted on Aug 11, 2005
Not Rated (0)

Chandler

Chandler - usenet poster

Rank:Apprentice Apprentice
Rating: 0%, 0 votes
In article <#ibr0sTCEHA.3 @tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl>,
kbl @this.is.an.invalid.domain says...



Thanks Ken. I am using the latest paid version (1.017). I
had the same problem with 1.012, which is the upgrade
version from the previous Software publisher (Mijenix)

I too have been using the minimize to systray workaround.

I will try Novatix.

--
Murray

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Solution #15
posted on Aug 11, 2005
Not Rated (0)

Cato

Cato - usenet poster

Rank:Apprentice Apprentice
Rating: 0%, 0 votes
Right now I am doing a complete reinstall to see if I can find out why it is not unloading.  V-com said "
       Response (V Communications Technical Support) 03/09/2004 01:49 PM
      Try disabling all virus scanners for a while and see if that helps. Some other application is holding these threads open."

      That didn't do anything, so I restored an image from November and am working with it.  So far no problem.

      What problem did you have with Fix-It?

--
Just my 2?? worth
           Jeff
__________in response to__________

| Glad to hear someone identified a problem with PowerDesk Pro. I've been
| using it for a while too and was getting very upset with its inability to
| work with my XP Pro. Finally had to remove it. I was not able to figure out
| what the problem was but I like your explanation.
|
| Also, had problems with V-COM's Fix-it and had to remove it too. Must be
| something they don't like with XP Pro.
|
| I was runing PowerDesk Pro 5 and Fix-it 5.

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Solution #16
posted on Aug 11, 2005
Not Rated (0)

Lizzy

Lizzy - usenet poster

Rank:Apprentice Apprentice
Rating: 0%, 0 votes
It sure does.  I have been in contact with V-Com support and have a new version which does the same thing.  It even does it in safe mode.

The behavior had disappeared from my machine for about the last 4 months and it (not unloading) started again.  

The way I handle it now is to minimize to the systray (prefrences).  

--
Just my 2?? worth
           Jeff
__________in response to__________

| I use V-Comm PowerDesk Pro as an Explorer replacement. I
| have been using PDesk Pro for a decade (Win95, NT, 98,
| 2000) and love it. However, with a recent upgrade to Win XP
| Pro, PDesk remains resident in memory when I close the
| program. After opening and closing 2 or more times, PDesk
| refuses to open until I start Task Manager and kill the
| multiple instances of PDesk still in memory.
|
| V-Comm has not responded to my query and there is nothing I
| can find on the net via Google.
|
| This sounds like a more general problem ('program fails to
| release memory') that should be well known and have some
| utilities to trouble shoot.
|
| The problem is consistent on 2 machines running XP Pro, so
| I don't think it is an installation-specific issue. The XP
| Pro installations were 'clean', not upgrades
| --
| Murray

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Solution #17
posted on Aug 11, 2005
Not Rated (0)

Hart

Hart - usenet poster

Rank:Apprentice Apprentice
Rating: 0%, 0 votes
Glad to hear someone identified a problem with PowerDesk Pro. I've been
using it for a while too and was getting very upset with its inability to
work with my XP Pro. Finally had to remove it. I was not able to figure out
what the problem was but I like your explanation.

Also, had problems with V-COM's Fix-it and had to remove it too. Must be
something they don't like with XP Pro.

I was runing PowerDesk Pro 5 and Fix-it 5.

It sure does.  I have been in contact with V-Com support and have a new
version which does the same thing.  It even does it in safe mode.

The behavior had disappeared from my machine for about the last 4 months and
it (not unloading) started again.

The way I handle it now is to minimize to the systray (prefrences).

--
Just my 2?? worth
           Jeff
__________in response to__________

| I use V-Comm PowerDesk Pro as an Explorer replacement. I
| have been using PDesk Pro for a decade (Win95, NT, 98,
| 2000) and love it. However, with a recent upgrade to Win XP
| Pro, PDesk remains resident in memory when I close the
| program. After opening and closing 2 or more times, PDesk
| refuses to open until I start Task Manager and kill the
| multiple instances of PDesk still in memory.
|
| V-Comm has not responded to my query and there is nothing I
| can find on the net via Google.
|
| This sounds like a more general problem ('program fails to
| release memory') that should be well known and have some
| utilities to trouble shoot.
|
| The problem is consistent on 2 machines running XP Pro, so
| I don't think it is an installation-specific issue. The XP
| Pro installations were 'clean', not upgrades
| --
| Murray

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Solution #18
posted on Aug 11, 2005
Not Rated (0)

paulrmc

paulrmc - usenet poster

Rank:Apprentice Apprentice
Rating: 0%, 0 votes
In ,
Malke <m @nospoonnotreally.com> typed:


M. Treloar might also want to consider trying Novatix
ExplorerPlus, which is sort of a newer version of PowerDesk. I
saw "sort of" because Vcom is still in business, and still
offering PowerDesk, while Novatix is offering ExplorerPlus 6.0
(6.0 as compared to PowerDesk 5.0); what the relationship of the
two companies is, and why Novatix is offering what is essentially
a newer version of a Vcom product, I don't understand.

But I use ExplorerPlus here without problems, and like it a lot.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

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Solution #19
posted on Aug 11, 2005
Not Rated (0)

Rogers

Rogers - usenet poster

Rank:Apprentice Apprentice
Rating: 0%, 0 votes
Installing Roxio software caused this in powerdesk for me.

On Sat, 13 Mar 2004 19:56:22 -0800, "Jerry" <NoSpamChiefZ @MSN.com>
wrote:

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Solution #20
posted on Aug 11, 2005
Not Rated (0)

Grant

Grant - usenet poster

Rank:Apprentice Apprentice
Rating: 0%, 0 votes
Unfortunately, you've already got your answer. The version of PDesk
you've got apparently doesn't work well with XP, a different operating
system. If V-Comm doesn't have an upgraded version or a patch, then you
are forced to deal with their tech support. Try them again. Otherwise,
sadly, you will have to accept that this software isn't coded properly
for XP, which is a PDesk issue. Perhaps you can find a user group or a
newsgroup dealing with this software?

Good luck,

Malke
--
MS MVP - Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"

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Solution #21
posted on Aug 11, 2005
Not Rated (0)

Ranny

Ranny - usenet poster

Rank:Apprentice Apprentice
Rating: 0%, 0 votes
Malke <m @nospoonnotreally.com> wrote in news:ewAqh8QCEHA.3608
@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl:



Which version of PowerDesk are you using? I use v5.0.1.2 and it shows
none of the problems you are experiencing.  It works fine with XP Pro.

Maybe you can try to remove PD and do a reinstall.

Bob J.
Guam U.S.A.

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6 Other Users Have The Same Problem - Continued

Comment by engbert, posted on Dec 03, 2007

I have the same problem. Power Desk Pro 6 runs perfectly well in XP and Vista. However, when you close it, about half the time it remains in the TaskManager list. When there are two or more invisible instances running it won;t start again until I stop at least one of the invisible instances. Sometimes when you stop one of the invisibles, the other becomes visible.

I nwo have task manager on the launch bar, so that i can get toit easily if PD won;t start.

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