APC PowerChute Startup Problems

Not Myself · 14 Aug 2019

This started yesterday as I was updating my wife's computer with the monthly 'Win10 update; I encountered some serious problems, but was eventually able to start the download/install process successfully.

When that finished, I found two error messages, one from the APC PowerChute software, used to manage the UPS, the other with Snagit screen capture software. After numerous uninstalls/reinstalls, reboots, etc., I have pinned it down to one option in PowerChute.

If I deselect the PowerChute option to always show the taskbar icon, upon restarting, the program says that is cannot locate mainserv.exe, a battery backup management program, and Snagit will not start (I don't remember what that error states.)

If I re-enable the taslbar icon, then PowerChute states that it cannot find apcsystray.exe, and Snagit says that it cannot start. Clicking on apcsystray.exe enables the icon, and on the Snagit desktop shortcut restarts it.

I spoke with APC; the agent basically said that he had no idea as to what is causing this, other than a suspicion that the monthly Win10 update is the culprit; I somewhat agree, as I had never seen any such PowerChute errors before the update was installed.

I have fewer than no ideas as to how to proceed; any such suggestions are solicited.

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After many hours of not fiddling with this problem, I realized that, as the problem does not appear on my computer, the suggestion that it is Windows 10 update related does not seem likely. My new theory is that the problem is related to something specifically on my wife's computer; I have "fewer than no ideas as to how to proceed" with my new theory.

shockwaveriderz · 14 Aug 2019

powerchute is a really old piece of software.....I used it for a while and went back to using the windows default battery indicator. If you decide to do so, after uninstalling the software, be sure to delete the apc ups in device manger and reboot

Not Myself · 15 Aug 2019

shockwaveriderz said:

powerchute is a really old piece of software.....I used it for a while and went back to using the windows default battery indicator. If you decide to do so, after uninstalling the software, be sure to delete the apc ups in device manger and reboot

The latest version of Powerchute was released 7June2019. Please see the addition I made to my original post.

shockwaveriderz · 15 Aug 2019

Not Myself said:

The latest version of Powerchute was released 7June2019. Please see the addition I made to my original post.

I stand corrected. They must have finally updated it. I haven't used it in 6 months. my bad.

EdTittel · 15 Aug 2019

Oooh! Thanks for the reminder. I switched to a CyberPower UPS last year, and they *haven't* updated the software since. Still at version 2.1.7 (11/10/2018 in Properties--Details).
--Ed--

Not Myself · 16 Aug 2019

More time spent trying to figure this out.

1. Ran sfc /scannow, which reported problems which it could not fix. The log file, which I certainly don't understand, seemed to state that everything had been repaired. I can post it here if that would help.

2. Ran the DISM.exe steps, with much the same results as sfc /scannow. Log file also available.

3. Restarted computer, now worse than before. I finally got Powerchute to start by right-clicking on its .exe and choosing run as Administrator. That confused me, as there is only a single Windows profile, the one for an administrator. Once I got Powerchute and its systray icon to load, Snagit was also able to run.

4. Uninstalled Powerchute, restarted with no error messages, and with Snagit and Comodo firewall both running correctly.

5. Clicked on a downloaded copy of Powerchute, which worked yesterday, but today I got the same error as I had seen when restarting with Powerchute installed, that the file could not be found. Right-clicked on the .exe and chose Run as Administrator, which started the install process. Cancelled same, posted this, hoping for advice as to how I need to proceed, such as reinstall Windows, fix problem(s) reported by sfc /scannow.

Our house is an early-technology direct-gain passive solar design, with the south wall being mainly seventeen full-height double-pane windows, which I need to wash, as well as `washing' Windows 10. I know how to do the former, need instructions on how to do the latter.

Not Myself · 16 Aug 2019

sfc /scannow results may be false: I have lots of the error shown in this MS document:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...s-as-corrupted

If so (and if there are no other problems reported in sfc /scannow, and I have not noted any in my admittedly cursory scanning of the log file), then that problem can be discounted. One fewer item to consider, but I still need to find out what is keeping an installation .exe claiming it cannot be found unless, as reported, I right-click thereupon and choose Run as Administrator.