No icon in toolbox on Primary Machine

from Stardock Forums
I am running Win2K without a firewall. Multiplicity used to work, but I rebooted after some Windows update, and it stopped working.

In task manager, I see MULTIP~2.exe, but nothing in my toolbox. No splash screen either. I have uninstalled, searched and destroyed any multip* in my registry, and reinstalled multiple times. It goes through the setup - sees my other computer - then beeps but does not appear in my toolbox. And, it does not work. Nothing suspicious in the event log.
multiplicity
10,293 views 22 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
I do get a short beep on startup, so it seems to be trying to load.

HELP!!!
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
Im getting the same thing on my primary machine. Only I have Windows XP Pro SP2.

I click on the multiplicity icon the mouse does a quick hourglass then nothing happens, no toolbar icon, no connecting, nothing.

I've re-installed it as well with no luck. It worked yesterday and I haven't installed anything since then..
Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
What version?
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Pro, non pro, trial?

What date does multipl.exe have on your primary?

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Neil asks so much better than I do.
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
Trial. And it is about to time out!
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
That usually happens when the build has expired totally.  Some versions of MP had a hard coded drop dead date but they are always at the end of a month not mid month.
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
I installed on my secondary and primary on the same day, and my secondary still has a day left. Is that normal behavior to let you know it expired, just to not work? It would seem more effective to bring up a screen to offer an upgrade.

In any case, where do we go from here? I don't want to pay for it if it doesn't seem to work.

Thanks,
Cliff
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

The software would usually display a screen saying the software has expired.  Why this is not the case on your machine is unknown.

We have checked here and the latest trial works perfectly.  It displays the nag when it runs out.

Looking at the code, there are 2 possible reasons for the beep.  If the beep is about a 10th of a second then chances are it is unable to load the nag screen.  Please check that you are running in 32 bit colour mode.

If the beep lasts for a full second and is quite a low tone then it usually means MP is unable to load up multip.dll.

Given you are using the trial and that it happens so quickly after load, I suspect the problem is the nag screen cannot be loaded for some reason.

Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
That makes sense. It is definitely a short beep, almost a blip. I was not in 32-bit color mode, but switching to that made no difference. I am on an old Win2K machine. Maybe that is the problem? Although LevelTen has the same problem on a newer vintage machine (or at least operating system).

If it never worked, that would be one thing, but it worked for a while. That is what is mystifying to me. Seems like there is something leftover that did not get deleted.

The one thing I could/did not delete was the legacy multiplicity drivers. Could those be a problem? Also, some of the keys that just said "multi", not sure if they were multiplicity or not. In the install log, I see now that some of those are yours. Do you think more search-and-destroy in the registry is appropriate? Seems pretty scary to me at this point.

Thanks,
Cliffff

Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
So I have exactly the same problem today. In fact because I had undocked my laptop (the secondary) and then re-docked it, and it didn't seem to be connecting, I selected Unload from the tray menu (on the primary), and when I clicked the Multiplicity menu option from the Start->Programs->Stardock etc menu, the hourglass comes up for a second or so and then nothing happens. Multis~2.exe is listed in Task Manager but no tray icon.

I have rebooted, no change. I have uninstalled and re-installed, no change.

The product indicates Stardock Multiplicity 1.1 Trial. I installed it 2 or 3 days ago.

My machine is a Windows XP SP2 box with automatic updates turned on.

Given the flurry of reports, I fear you have fallen foul of some Windows update - you may find many more reports coming your way...
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
I too am missing the icon on my Win2K primary machine. Multiplicity Trial worked perfectly on this and my WinXP laptop for a day but now, the icon is missing and I only get a brief beep when re-running the executable. The MULTIS~2.EXE process is running in task manager however.

I wanted to make sure that this worked before I purchased the pro version and now I'm reluctant to pay money for something that won't work reliable and unfortunately, there isn't much help in the forums.

I would be happy to provide troubleshooting and system information for anyone who is willing to look into this. Thanks.

--Scribby
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have been using MP pro since it came out and have had no problems. Support and feedback from Stardock has been great.

I recommend MP to everyone.

I am sure that your problem will be resolved soon.
Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top
Zubaz, Have you encountered this particular problem? I am 100% prepared to pay for this product (it is amazing when it works) but am afraid to spend money on a version that leaves me with the same issue I have now.

--Scribby
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I did not have that problem. I suspect it a problem with the trial code, not the app itself.

Sorry, no help
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Can everyone who has this problem please post the date & size of multipl.exe on their primary pc.

Also do you run any sort of Antivirus packages or anti spyware apps?

I believe the problem is in the MP trial nag screen so the non trial versions are working fine, but we obviously want to track down why the trial seems upset for some people.

Reply #18 from Stardock Forums Top
Neil, happy to help and thank you for showing an interest. If the problem is related something in the trial version, then I should just purchase the pro copy since that was my intention anyway after some testing.
Here is some information that might help you or someone else:

multipl.exe
2,294KB
10/27/2006 @ 12:35p
File Version: 1.1.0.0

Windows2000
5.00.2195
Service Pack 4

I InoculateIT by Computer Associates but disabled it and do not have a local firewall on this machine. Please let me know if there is anything else that I can do to help.

--Scribby
Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top
My machine notes are identical:

multipl.exe
2,294KB
10/27/2006 @ 12:35p
File Version: 1.1.0.0

Windows2000
5.00.2195
Service Pack 4

I am running Norton AntiVirus 2006.

I am running an old Voodoo3 by 3dfx card.


Reply #20 from Stardock Forums Top
It's worked on and off for me, one day it'll come up the next it won't, my trial expires tomorrow. My client node comes up everyday fine, server node will not.


multipl.exe
2.23 MB 2,348,792 bytes
Version 1.1.0.0
Created Tuesday, November 28, 2006 11:25:20 AM

Windows XP Pro
Version 2002
Service Pack 2

Running McAfee Viruscan 8.01 Enterprise

Reply #21 from Stardock Forums Top
Windows XP Home
Service Pack 2
zone Alarm Lite Edition
AVG Antivirus

2.23 MB (2,348,792 bytes)

I'm having a very similar problem at startup - no system tray icon. When I shut down the app from the task list, it goes away, and I can't start it back up again no matter what.

What gives, my trial is expiring.
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top

We believe we have tracked down why this is.  2000 for some reason is unhappy about showing the nag screen on some systems.