I have been having a continual problem with "msgsrv32 not responding" errors that cause me to reboot about 30 times a day. I just upgraded the memory from 128MB to 512MB, so I know it's not a lack-of-memory issue. Background info and details of what I've already tried can be found here:
http://www.computing.net/windowsme/wwwboard/forum/45910.html

Here's the thing. Although when I checked Device Manager and discovered no conflicts listed, the System Configuration Utility tells me otherwise.

In the Sys Config Utility, under "Components" there's an item called "Problem Devices". Three items are listed there.

#1 -- The device is "ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering". The PNP Device ID listed for this item is ACPI\*PNPOCOF\00000004. The Error Code listed is "22".

#2 -- The device is "IEEE 802.1X Protocol". The PNP Device ID is NETWORK\MDC8021X\0003. The Error Code listed is "11".

#3 -- The device is "TCP/IP". The PNP Device ID is \NETWORK\MSTCP\9999. The Error Code listed is "11".

My questions are... what does all this mean? what do the error codes mean? how do I resolve these conflicts?

This "msgsrv32" problem has been driving me absolutely *insane* this past month, that I'm about to just reformat the hd and reinstall ME. However, if it turns out that I reformatted for nothing -- because the way I need to have my components and devices configured on this old laptop (see above link) will cause the same conflicts anyway -- well, then, I'll have to kill myself... right after tossing the d**m computer out the 4th story window!

Can anyone help a desperate woman???

Explanation of Microsoft Windows Error Codes

Hope that helps - although not mentioned, I imagine it's applicable to WinME

Life is hard; it's harder if you're stupid. -John Wayne

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Thanks for that URL, jboy. Unfortunately, the information doesn't help resolve the problem.

In the case of "problem device" Number 1, the Device Manager tells me the device is enabled and that there are no conflicts. It's only the System Configuration Utility that reports a "problem"... and there's no button anywhere in that utility that says "fix this problem."

I should mention, however, that the sys config utility (under Hardware, I think) lists about 12 items running under IRQ 11.

Is there a limit in Windows ME as to how many devices run off the same IRQ address? Or, would this be normal if one were running various devices from a PCMCIA card with a six-port USB hub?

Finally, in the case of "problem devices" Number 2 and 3, the installed drivers for these devices are newer than the OS. They were loaded when I installed the devices.

Thanks.

It's one of those general problems with a multitude of causes. There's a lot about it out there if you put "msgsrv32 not responding" in a Google search string.

Might be worth turning off any screensaver you have running and power management (seems they are sometimes implicated).

DerekW

Thanks, Derek. Unfortunately, I've spent the past three weeks reading up on "MSGSRV32 Not Responding" errors and potential causes. I've tried every solution I've found (including turning off screensavers and power-management.) In fact, the list of everything I've done so far can be found in this posting. I've flat-out run clean out of ideas.

Does anyone know what "ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering" is? Could this be related to the 6-port mini USB hub I have plugged into a PCMCIA card that updates my laptop from USB 1.0 to 2.0? All my new components (external USB/Firewire hard drive, D-Link Wireless Adapter, Handspring cradle, USB printer, etc.) are plugged into this one mini USB hub that is plugged into this one PCMCIA card. Perhaps this could be a problem?

Thanks again!

Well... I'm posting an update to my situation, in case anyone can benefit from hearing about my experience.

After about four weeks of playing hide-and-seek with a persistent "MSGSRV32 Not Responding" problem that was knocking out my Wireless USB adapter, and trying all the various suggestions (thank you, all) from fabulous folks here, I *finally* found out what my problem was -- a serious trojan infection.

It was an infection that was not detected by the free online trojan scan utility at trojanscan.org. I actually had to download the shareware program, tauscan from Agnitum and run the advanced "deep" scan. It took 23 hours(!), but the software found 51 infected files.

Unfortunately, although I was able to delete most of the infected files, some were critical OS and application files. I finally ended up having to reformat the hard drive and install Windows ME from scratch.

Besides all the time spent hunting down this problem, the thing that really frosts me is that I thought I was totally protected from such things! I use Ad-Aware for my anti-spyware protection (which seems to work quite well *and* which I keep updated) AND McAfee anti-virus, which I keep constantly updated. In fact, my McAfee is configured to do automatic updates... which it does at least eight to ten times a week!

Needless to say, when my "yearly subscription" with McAfee is up in September, I will not be renewing. Instead, I have downloaded the free AVG anti-virus program from Grisoft (thanks to recommendations from folks here) and will probably upgrade to the paid version.

Thanks, again, to all the kind and wonderful folks here who gave me all sorts of suggestions and tips. I would have torn all my hair out weeks ago if I hadn't this forum!

Thx for update & info. Might be worth getting this free trojan finder on board:

A2FREE - JUST DOWN PAGE

DerekW