Quicken 2008 causing CSSAUTH.EXE (TVT_Banner.dll) on startup

[pgarth]

Lenovo T60p; Windows XP

System appeared OK until Quicken 2008 Installed

On Startup -- CSSAUTH.EXE can't find TVT_Banner.DLL

Symptoms:-CSS Startup error
-Cannot connect via WiFi (Wired is OK)

Request:-A clean fix to this problem please -- it's for the boss...

Troubleshooting done so far:

-Note: TVT_banner.dll is in c:\program files\common files\lenovo

-Completed all ThinkVantage Updates; multiple reboots; updated AC to 4.42; installed latest Wired and Wireless Drivers; received CSSAUTH error after each reboot; didn't update ATI Driver -- probably won't make a difference; Updated BIOS and watched the updated go through

-After rebooting, Fingerprint option came back -- this is first time today I've seen this option during startup; accepted password OK (note: didn't have needed finger at the time)

-Checked WiFI drivers -- now it's update with version 6/20/07; 11.1.1.16 and AC is version 4.42

-WiFi via AC not working

-WiFi via Windows worked OK (Wireless Network Connection Properties, Using Windows to configure my wireless network settings)

-Copied c:\program files\common files\lenovo\tvt_banner.dll to c:\windows and rebooted (Note: I saw this recommendation on one of the boards)

-Swipe Finger Menu appeared -- allowed regular password to log-in

No CSSAUTH Error or reference to TVT_Banner.DLL

WiFi worked (tested AC by disconnecting cable and it auto-switched over to wireless)

-Windows Updates
High and Optional

-Next Day was working on resolving an IBM SameTime error (can't share screen) -- possibly Java related

-During troubleshooting; lost building power; couldn't connect via Access Connection (WiFI); STOP 0X000000F error; resolved by selecting "Last Known Working Configuration"

-Bottomline -- no WiFi connection anymore

-Concerns:
I don't think I have a stable machine anymore, even though the TVT_Banner.dll file was copied over. Requesting suggestions.

[USSS]

This might be a situation where installing one application first, then the other might resolve a driver or DLL conflict.

What are your Event Viewer logs showing?

Although I don't use Quicken, I have read that it can sometimes induce quirky behavior onto systems.

At this point, I would uninstall Quicken, clean out the registry and temporary files, and see if the issues with CSS and WiFi/AC are resolved. If so, then uninstall CSS, clean out the registry and temporary files again, then reinstall Quicken. (You should be able to log in manually with a typed password.)

Keep a copy of tvt_banner.dll handy in case you need to copy it back to the Windows directory again.

Open Quicken and check that it's functioning properly. If so, then set a System Restore point and reinstall CSS 8.0. Too, make sure you have the latest version of Fingerprint Software, v5.6.2.

I cannot offer help on WiFi/AC because I use neither on my T43.

Your system is probably still "stable" for the most part; however, the power outage worries me a bit. Was the system plugged into a UPS or surge protector at the time of power loss?

Good luck.

[RealBlackStuff]

Also, if your system is back up and running without Quicken, either take an image or set a restore point BEFORE you install Quicken (or any other software for that matter!).

[RichR]

I had exactly the same experience when upgrading from quicken 2007 to 2008 on a lenovo x60s. I got the same error message about CSAUTH and tvt_banner, the security software couldn't access my fingerprint files so I lost access to a private drive with critical data, and my wireless network was unavailable through access connections (but windows wireless worked). Uninstalling Quicken didn't help.

Since my notebook is only 6 months old, I tried contacting warranty support but their only recommendation was to reinstall both the security software and wireless software, which would have lost all data on the private drive and all wireless network profiles. So I reluctantly contacted lenovo's fee based software support group where I had to pay $99 for help.

However, the person I reached there was fantastic. We spent 5 hours on the phone. I can't begin to reproduce what he did but he basically got around the security software problem by installing an update patch rather than reinstalling the software. That got rid of the error message and restored fingerprint login. The wireless took longer, but he reinstalled various kernels rather than the AC software itself, and in that way got it working again with my profiles intact.

So it was worth the money, but I'm still going back and forth with Quicken trying to get useful information from them on why this happened. At this point I have installed quicken 2007 on a different computer and have no plans to retry the 2008 version unless Intuit can give me a rational explanation of what happened and how to avoid it. I'm schedule for a phone chat with quicken tech support in 2 days (no more emails), so if anyone has any insights to share before then, it would be helpful.

I would like to know if anyone else has experienced this problem and gotten a sensible explanation for why it happened and how to avoid it. The only thing that occurred to me is that my default quicken datafile under quicken 2007 was located on that private drive, only accessible after fingerprint login. But I don't know if that is at all relevant.

Lenovo tech support suggested checking my windows registry with a good registry utility, and considering copying all data off the machine and resetting to factory default to be sure everything is ok, but that would mean a huge amount of lost time so I am reluctant to do it.

[pgarth]

Hi everyone:

Giving credit to John Phillips (on Lenovo Board).

You wouldn't believe this, but it's the PATH that got hosed by the Quicken install!!!

This explains why copying TVT_BANNER.DLL to C:\WINDOWS makes the initial CSS load-up without error. Issue is that ThinkVantage is still not in an ideal state -- issues with STOP messages and wireless issue.

Fix is to go into your PATH statement and re-apply various. I had to do the following:

c:\program files\thinkpad\utilities
c:\program files\ATI technologies\ati.ace
c:\program files\thinkpad\connectutilities
c:\program files\common files\lenovo (where tvt_banner.dll lives)
c:\program files\lenovo\client security solutions

PATH also affected other things like Symantec PCAnywhere and Diskeeper.

CSS now loads up correctly and WiFi works as designed (tested by unplugging cable which connects auto to WiFi and plugging back in connects auto to wired)

Hope this helps. In hindsignt, the fix makes sense.

Paul

[RichR]

I also subsequently came upon the advice about the PATH issue and agree with it. Besides the thinkvantage security and wireless programs, I found a separate application wasn't working. After uninstalling and reinstalling, I found it had added to the PATH statement.

So it looks like the solution to the problem may be simple, but why Quicken removes the existing PATH variable and what can be done to avoid this remains to be determined. I am still trying to get Quicken to call me at an agreed upon time so I can ask them about this directly.

[phrider]

On my Z61p, the path item

C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin

was also important in getting Access Connections running again.