Installed xp hot fix, then aardvark would not work, so I uninstalled hot fix. Now when I install cd for software, I get aarkthk.dll not found. Please help

All aardvark interfaces will only work well with xp sp1 or earlier 2000/win98. Also, dont simply uninstall SP2, 3. You have to unistall/reinstall xp, xpsp1 and then if needed, go to the microsoft download pages and get all the updates prior to SP2. Pay attention and make sure you dont install SP2. Do all of this with the pci card pulled and all aardvark drivers uninstalled/deleted. Then install per aardvark's instructions. I dont recommend internet usage without SP2. You will be vulnerable to attacks even with the best protection.

Dll errors often come when there is an entry in shared dll registry section for a dll which is not present on the computer. Programs generally remove files but not registry entries upon uninstallation. Such can be fixed using good registry cleaner like Advanced PC Tweaker http://www.repair-dll.com/.If your system is missing a windows dll then you might have to repair your installation after fixing the previous registry entry of that dll using a good registry tool.

I seem to be a great test case for running Aardvark cards in a modern quad-core system on Windows XP SP3. I've got an Intel Q9550 quad proc, Gigabyte GA-P43-ES3G v1.1 mobo, an Aardvark Q-10, & an Aardvark 24/96.

After reading the forums below, I have a good idea of what I need to do. I'm going to summarize those ideas below & cite sources, but first I'd like to submit my theory explaining why Aardvarks work so badly starting with XP's Service Pack 2.

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XP's SP2 & Win2000's SP4 introduced a 36-bit addressing system called PAE, which was designed to support more than 4GB of RAM (never quite worked right), as well as the use of Data Execution Prevention (DEP). SP2 installs the capability & automatically turns it on, just to screw with us. This was done after the Aardvark drivers were written, & even ProTools had problems with PAE; lots of stuff did.

Fortunately, PAE can be turned off. This is what worked for me, in my c:\boot.ini file:

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="WinXP Pro Corp SP3" /NoExecute=AlwaysOff /fastdetect

To check to see whether it is really off (after rebooting), open the System Control Panel, and check on the General tab. If it says "Physical Address Extensions" anywhere under the Computer heading (usually on the 4th line, under the line that says how much RAM you have), PAE is enabled.

If it's still running PAE, try one of these in the boot.ini file instead.

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="WinXP Pro Corp SP3" /NoExecute=AlwaysOff /NOPAE /fastdetect

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="WinXP Pro Corp SP3" /NoExecute=AlwaysOff /NOPAE /KERNEL=ntkrnl.exe /fastdetect

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="WinXP Pro Corp SP3" /execute /fastdetect

(it's different in Vista so if you're crazy enough to try using the Aardvark in Vista, read this: http://thehunk.blogspot.com/2007/06/disabling-physical-address-extension.html)

sources
http://duc.digidesign.com/showthread.php?t=130383
http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/80046-help-do-not-enable-pae/
http://forums.overclockers.com.au/showthread.php?t=398765
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff557134%28VS.85%29.aspx

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general approach to using an Aardvark in Windows XP SP3 on a multi-core computer

1) It helps to know the *rest* of your hardware works right. With the Aardvark cards not installed in the computer, run Memtest86+ for 24 hours with no errors.

2) Install Windows XP. (Do not install any drivers, even motherboard chipset drivers or graphics card drivers. Also, keep it off the network since it's unpatched & unprotected.)

3) Disable PAE & DEP by modifying boot.ini.

4) Disable the computer's internal sound card in the BIOS if you can, and/or in Device Manager.

5) Run the Prime95 blend stress-test for 24 hours each with no errors. If you get errors in these tests you have to fix that issue first.

6) Use Acronis or Ghost to create an image of the partition exactly as it is now, before installing any drivers or system updates. This way, when it crashes, you can reset to this safe point quickly.

7) Physically install the Aardvark cards into the machine.

8) The order in which you load drivers matters. If your first attempt doesn't work, try doing things just slightly differently the next time. Write everything down to keep track of what you try and what happens. First attempt, try loading the motherboard chipset drivers first, then the display adapter, network card, etc & finally the Aardvark drivers, version 7.13.

9) Aardvark drivers 7.13 and 7.14 support hyperthreading and multi-core processors; 7.04 does not, but some people have success with 7.04 so don't assume anything. (7.04 crashes my new computer hard, but seemed to work better on my Athlon 3000+)

10) You may have to try switching which PCI slot the card is plugged into, or try to assign the IRQ in the BIOS or in Windows Device Manager.

11) If it absolutely won't run in your system using XP SP3, try XP SP1 (clean install, not a roll-back). Keep your machine off teh internets for gods sake (or you'll get wormed in 30 seconds & your computer will be a spambot).

12) Set the "timing master" in Sonar or similar programs to your last set of inputs. If you have an Aardvark Q10 in your system, this would be 9/10. (In my case, I think it will be my second card's last outputs, so it's my 24/96's 5/6 inputs.) Also, disable any read & write caching.

sources
http://www.fixya.com/support/t1516728-aardvark_q10_no_drivers_cd
http://www.fixya.com/support/t4047907-installed_xp_hot_fix
http://www.fixya.com/support/t1716701-problems_aardvark_q10
http://www.fixya.com/support/t3260184-aark24_installed_computer_windows
http://www.michaelchagnon.com/aardvark/software_sonar.html
http://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/ts/detail.php?Index=25505&Keyword=Aardvark&Archive=showarchive
http://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/ts/detail.php?Index=28034&Keyword=Aardvark&Archive=showarchive
http://www.michaelchagnon.com/aardvark/download.html