3.10.102194.530 major problem: Kills DOS programs!

[Guest]

[dav4is]

After installing CIS 3.10.102194.530 I noticed that DOS programs would fail with error "Attempt to access nvalid address." I didn't check ALL my dos programs, but start | run | command.com fails.

Restore to previous checkpoint (on 7/2) and problem goes away.
reinstall CIS update, no problem until system reboot, which causes error to come back.

Windows XP Home SP 3 fully patched and updated.
VAIO 1.73GHz, 1GB RAM, PAE

[number33]

I have exactly the same problem but with XP-PRO. SP3

Googling this error message reveals lots of people with this problem over the last few years.
Most of them claimed it was caused  by viruses or trojans and some claimed to have fixed it by removing the offending virus but but there doesn't seem to be a common cause.

It would appear that some program is illegally reserving the memory intended for DOS applications.

I have scanned my machine for viruses and found nothing.

The only change made to my machine since the last time my DOS programs worked is the Comodo update.

It looks like a bug although probably it doesn't affect many people since DOS programs are rare now.

Any suggestions welcome.

Is there a more direct method of bringing a suspected bug to Comodo's attention?

number33

[JJasper]

After installing CIS 3.10.102194.530 I noticed that DOS programs would fail with error "Attempt to access nvalid address." I didn't check ALL my dos programs, but start | run | command.com fails.

Glad that I am not the only one that found this.  I had to revert to 3.9.
See https://forums.comodo.com/feedbackcommentsannouncementsnews_cis/comodo_internet_security_310102194530_bug_reports-t42039.0.html;msg305328#msg305328

John

[Dch48]

It does the same thing for me. Typing in cmd in the run box works fine but command or command.com does not.

[kingkiwi]

You can add me to the list.


XP Pro SP3_x86.
Core 2 Duo E6600 2.40 Ghz
Corsair DDR2-800 2048 MB
IE 8 & FF 3.0.11
CIS 3.9.95478.509
SpySweeper Antivirus 6.1.0.128
A2 (on demand scan)

[dav4is]

Glad that I am not the only one that found this.

Misery does love company! 

[dav4is]

... probably it doesn't affect many people since DOS programs are rare now.

Yeah, but those folks using a DOS program are probably not doing it frivolously -- i.e. they need that function.

[number33]

Yeah, but those folks using a DOS program are probably not doing it frivolously -- i.e. they need that function.

Oh, I know,  I'm one of them.
I have all my finances on Lotus 1-2-3 for DOS spreadsheets, state of the art or what?

[languy99]

works for me, I tried cmd, command, command.com no problems here. Vista SP2

[John Buchanan]

Maybe this is an XP issue?  Seems to function here, Vista x64 SP2.

[Dch48]

So maybe we have found something that is only an XP issue for a change.

[MRCS]

Oh, I know,  I'm one of them.
I have all my finances on Lotus 1-2-3 for DOS spreadsheets, state of the art or what?

Me, too. (Best spreadsheet ever made.)  Even my 1-2-3 v.4.01 for Windows won't run.  It's still 16 bit, among a few other DOS and 16 bit programs I depend on.  How do I undo the update?

[sta64]

This happened to me, too. Very frightening as I have lots of DOS utilities, some of my own, in use! So I sadly downgraded to 3.9.

Perhaps, it may be of help that the culprit is guard32.dll. It is registered as one of the DLL's to be loaded along with all programs. If you rename, delete or unregister it then the problem of being unable to run DOS programs will go away. But, most probably, the protection will, too. (Dunno what exactly this DLL is as it has no meaningful description.)

Anyway, keep up the good work!

[Dch48]

Very good, so a change to the guard32.dll should fix the problem. From what I find it is a necessary part of the firewall.

[tcarrbrion]

So maybe we have found something that is only an XP issue for a change.

I have this problem on Vista SP1 32bit.

[Edit]
My problem is caused by explorer only being allowed to run an .exe file and not a .com file. If I allow .com files as well in computer security policy command.com runs OK.

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