Running a GM Shop Manual DVD

[Cadillac Jim]

I just got the DVD for the 2011 CTS shop manuals and I can't get it to start. I'm afraid that it is intended to run on Java on 32-bit machines and that environment is not supported by Microsoft under Windows 7 64-bit. I have a Linux machine available but it is x86_64, again an 64-bit environment.

This is serious. I paid $250 for this DVD from Helm, Inc in place of the paper manuals. I doubt that it is returnable.

The file dates on the DVD are dated 10/3/2011. The autorun.inf file says to start the application startapp.exe which will not run. I've tried running it in Windows XP SP 2 comparability mode with administrative privilege and it still crashes before opening a window other than a blank command console. Has anyone had any success in running one of these DVD service manuals?

I looked at the compatibility information on service.gm.com on the Techline tab and checked the computer and OS requirements. It says that the software runs on Windows 2000 and Windows XP, and Windows 7 tries to run it in Windows XP SP 2 compatibility mode. Eventually the compatibility wizard declares startapp.exe an "incompatible application."

The computer hardware section looks like something written in the mid 1990's or even before, saying thing like Celeron and AMD processors wouldn't handle the data rates and such things that make no sense at all in 2013. I think my dual quad-core Xeon server motherboard running Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit edition qualifies as what they insist must be used, a "commercial grade" computer.

Some of the folders contain bash scripts for running under Linux in parallel with *.bat files that imply this the program was designed to run under DOS originally. Microsoft will support 8-bit programs in 32-bit Windows 7/8 but not in 64-bit Windows 7/8. I haven't tried it under Linux/wine yet. Anyone?

[Cadillac Jim]

I tried it under Linux x86_64 and can look at all the files, even unpacking the *.exe files and looking at the modules, but I can't execute anything or view the data files.

I know a lot of people use this DVD and ones like it. Someone who does do this, please let me know the operating system that you are using.

[Bruce Nunnally]

I have not run this software in a while. I do recall it is difficult to install and touchy -- files need to be installed exactly where expected etc like sw used to be.

I suppose when I last ran was a win98 installation.

[Cadillac Jim]

Windows 98 will, of course, run 8-bit Windows or DOS applications, as will versions up through XP and any 32-bit version up through at least Windows 7. Windows 95 and later will run 32-bit Windows applications.

The documentation says to run it from the DVD. It is supposed to auto-start but Windows Defender turns that off by default and I haven't re-enabled it. The autorun.inf file says to run startapp.exe which is what I have been trying to do. I haven't tried to move it to the computer yet.

I've even tried to run startapp.exe under WINE, a Windows virtual environment on Linux, though, and discovered that it is a 32-bit application. The problem under WINE is that it has a page fault trying to read memory address 0x7de0d000, which is a 32-bit address, which should be OK but apparently is not mapped to readable memory by the application as initialized under WINE.

Since this is a 32-bit Windows application, it should run under Windows 7 64-Bit Edition. The problem may be that startapp.exe, a generic name used by at least 22 other programs, is not an application in the user sense but is a Service, a program that runs in the background as an extension to the Windows API. Apparently its function is to start your browser, assumed to be Internet Explorer in the Techline documentation, and execute Java from there. But, a 32-bit service may not run under Windows 7 64-Bit Edition. But, I really don't know if startapp.exe is really a service or an application that makes system calls to invoke the broswer.

For the major geeks out there, here is the WINE debugger dump:

Unhandled exception: page fault on read access to 0x7de0d000 in 32-bit code (0xf74f2d71).

Register dump:

CS:0023 SS:002b DS:002b ES:002b FS:0063 GS:006b

EIP:f74f2d71 ESP:018688ec EBP:1868d790 EFLAGS:00210212( R- -- I -A- - )

EAX:01868d78 EBX:7de0bff4 ECX:061969d1 EDX:7c795448

ESI:7de0cffe EDI:7c84dd8c

Stack dump:

0x018688ec: 7ddbe1ed 7c81ad50 7ddd9fc2 1868d780

0x018688fc: 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000

0x0186890c: 7dd90ff4 018689c4 00000000 01868d78

0x0186891c: 7dd685d1 00000001 018689c4 01868d78

0x0186892c: 7ddd9fc2 00000001 7dd685a6 7e07dff4

0x0186893c: 7dfa7047 00000001 018689c4 0000000a

Backtrace:

=>0 0xf74f2d71 __GI_memcpy+0x61() in libc.so.6 (0x1868d790)

1 0x7ddbe1ed in libgl.so.1 (+0x2c1ec) (0x1868d790)

2 0x7dd685d1 in libglapi.so.0 (+0xb5d0) (0x01868d78)

3 0x7dfa7047 in wined3d (+0x57046) (0x01868d78)

4 0x7dfabe7b in wined3d (+0x5be7a) (0x01868da8)

5 0x7e032cbe wined3d_create+0x6d() in wined3d (0x01868df8)

6 0x7e0a30d4 in d3d9 (+0x130d3) (0x01868e28)

7 0x7e096dd9 Direct3DCreate9+0x78() in d3d9 (0x01868e68)

8 0x00a4c6eb in startapp (+0x64c6ea) (0x01868e94)

9 0x00a4d79e in startapp (+0x64d79d) (0x01868ec0)

10 0x00a523a9 in startapp (+0x6523a8) (0x0186a500)

11 0x00975259 in startapp (+0x575258) (0x0187f6d0)

12 0x0044ec29 in startapp (+0x4ec28) (0x0187fd84)

13 0x009a7300 in startapp (+0x5a72ff) (0x0187fe60)

14 0x7b85f9fc call_process_entry+0xb() in kernel32 (0x0187fe78)

15 0x7b860cdd in kernel32 (+0x50cdc) (0x0187feb8)

16 0x7bc77b20 call_thread_func_wrapper+0xb() in ntdll (0x0187fed8)

17 0x7bc7ab5e call_thread_func+0x7d() in ntdll (0x0187ffa8)

18 0x7bc77afe RtlRaiseException+0x21() in ntdll (0x0187ffc8)

19 0x7bc4cabf call_dll_entry_point+0x51e() in ntdll (0x0187ffe8)

20 0xf76490dd wine_call_on_stack+0x1c() in libwine.so.1 (0x00000000)

21 0xf76491bc wine_switch_to_stack+0x2b() in libwine.so.1 (0xffdc7f88)

22 0x7bc52727 LdrInitializeThunk+0x3c6() in ntdll (0xffdc7ff8)

23 0x7b8674de __wine_kernel_init+0xc1d() in kernel32 (0xffdc9118)

24 0x7bc52dfb __wine_process_init+0x18a() in ntdll (0xffdc91a8)

25 0xf7646d3c wine_init+0x29b() in libwine.so.1 (0xffdc9208)

26 0x7bf00d7c main+0x8b() in <wine-loader> (0xffdc9658)

27 0xf748d635 __libc_start_main+0xf4() in libc.so.6 (0x00000000)

0xf74f2d71 __GI_memcpy+0x61 in libc.so.6: repe movsl (%esi),%es:(%edi)

Modules:

Module Address Debug info Name (75 modules)

PE 400000- 137b000 Export startapp

ELF 4760a000-4762c000 Deferred libselinux.so.1

ELF 7b800000-7ba46000 Dwarf kernel32<elf>

\-PE 7b810000-7ba46000 \ kernel32

ELF 7bc00000-7bcd8000 Dwarf ntdll<elf>

\-PE 7bc10000-7bcd8000 \ ntdll

ELF 7bf00000-7bf04000 Dwarf <wine-loader>

ELF 7dc2a000-7dc47000 Deferred libgcc_s.so.1

ELF 7dd30000-7dd3d000 Deferred libdrm.so.2

ELF 7dd3d000-7dd56000 Deferred libxcb-glx.so.0

ELF 7dd56000-7dd59000 Deferred libx11-xcb.so.1

ELF 7dd59000-7dd5d000 Deferred libxdamage.so.1

ELF 7dd5d000-7dd92000 Dwarf libglapi.so.0

ELF 7dd92000-7de0d000 Dwarf libgl.so.1

ELF 7de1a000-7de3f000 Deferred imm32<elf>

\-PE 7de20000-7de3f000 \ imm32

ELF 7de3f000-7df45000 Deferred opengl32<elf>

\-PE 7de60000-7df45000 \ opengl32

ELF 7df45000-7e082000 Dwarf wined3d<elf>

\-PE 7df50000-7e082000 \ wined3d

ELF 7e082000-7e0bf000 Dwarf d3d9<elf>

\-PE 7e090000-7e0bf000 \ d3d9

ELF 7e0bf000-7e0f6000 Deferred uxtheme<elf>

\-PE 7e0d0000-7e0f6000 \ uxtheme

ELF 7e0f6000-7e0fc000 Deferred libxfixes.so.3

ELF 7e0fc000-7e107000 Deferred libxcursor.so.1

ELF 7e107000-7e117000 Deferred libxi.so.6

ELF 7e117000-7e121000 Deferred libxrender.so.1

ELF 7e121000-7e127000 Deferred libxxf86vm.so.1

ELF 7e127000-7e149000 Deferred libxcb.so.1

ELF 7e149000-7e14f000 Deferred libuuid.so.1

ELF 7e14f000-7e287000 Deferred libx11.so.6

ELF 7e287000-7e299000 Deferred libxext.so.6

ELF 7e299000-7e2b3000 Deferred libice.so.6

ELF 7e2b3000-7e2bc000 Deferred libsm.so.6

ELF 7e2ee000-7e381000 Deferred winex11<elf>

\-PE 7e300000-7e381000 \ winex11

ELF 7e387000-7e3b0000 Deferred libexpat.so.1

ELF 7e3b0000-7e3e5000 Deferred libfontconfig.so.1

ELF 7e3e5000-7e485000 Deferred libfreetype.so.6

ELF 7e485000-7e49e000 Deferred libresolv.so.2

ELF 7e49e000-7e4a2000 Deferred libxau.so.6

ELF 7e4d0000-7e4f6000 Deferred iphlpapi<elf>

\-PE 7e4e0000-7e4f6000 \ iphlpapi

ELF 7e4f6000-7e52c000 Deferred ws2_32<elf>

\-PE 7e500000-7e52c000 \ ws2_32

ELF 7e52c000-7e548000 Deferred wsock32<elf>

\-PE 7e530000-7e548000 \ wsock32

ELF 7e548000-7e5cb000 Deferred rpcrt4<elf>

\-PE 7e550000-7e5cb000 \ rpcrt4

ELF 7e5cb000-7e709000 Deferred ole32<elf>

\-PE 7e5e0000-7e709000 \ ole32

ELF 7e709000-7e810000 Deferred comctl32<elf>

\-PE 7e710000-7e810000 \ comctl32

ELF 7e810000-7e880000 Deferred advapi32<elf>

\-PE 7e820000-7e880000 \ advapi32

ELF 7e880000-7e99d000 Deferred gdi32<elf>

\-PE 7e890000-7e99d000 \ gdi32

ELF 7e99d000-7eaf9000 Deferred user32<elf>

\-PE 7e9b0000-7eaf9000 \ user32

ELF 7eaf9000-7eb72000 Deferred shlwapi<elf>

\-PE 7eb10000-7eb72000 \ shlwapi

ELF 7eb72000-7eda3000 Deferred shell32<elf>

\-PE 7eb80000-7eda3000 \ shell32

ELF 7efa3000-7efce000 Deferred libm.so.6

ELF 7efe6000-7f000000 Deferred version<elf>

\-PE 7eff0000-7f000000 \ version

ELF f7460000-f746d000 Deferred libnss_files.so.2

ELF f746f000-f7474000 Deferred libdl.so.2

ELF f7474000-f7626000 Dwarf libc.so.6

ELF f7626000-f7640000 Deferred libpthread.so.0

ELF f7640000-f7784000 Dwarf libwine.so.1

ELF f7787000-f7790000 Deferred librt.so.1

ELF f77b7000-f77d8000 Deferred ld-linux.so.2

ELF f77d8000-f77d9000 Deferred [vdso].so

Threads:

process tid prio (all id:s are in hex)

00000008 winefile.exe

00000025 0

00000024 0

00000009 0

0000000e services.exe

0000003f 0

0000002b 0

0000002a 0

0000001f 0

00000015 0

00000010 0

0000000f 0

00000012 winedevice.exe

0000001d 0

0000001a 0

00000014 0

00000013 0

0000001b plugplay.exe

00000021 0

0000001e 0

0000001c 0

00000022 explorer.exe

00000023 0

00000026 (D) D:\startapp.exe

00000027 0 <==

System information:

Wine build: wine-1.5.24

Platform: i386 (WOW64)

Host system: Linux

Host version: 3.8.3-103.fc17.x86_64

[Texas Jim]

Turn "AUTO START" on and it will work...

[Cadillac Jim]

I turned on Auto Play and inserted the DVD. It didn't start. I opened a command prompt and issued the command "startapp.exe" which exited with a message about a permission violation and a suggestion to try running with Administrative privileges. So, I opened a command prompt with Administrative privileges, went to drive D: where the Data DVD was, and issued the command "startapp.exe" which resulted in a crashed application. Again, and a crashed application. Then, it started, and I was OK until I stopped IE to install the TIFF reader. It took a couple of tries to get it going again.

So, basically, I use a command prompt with Administrative privileges and about one time out of three it will start. Once running, it eventually invokes IE and seems solid as a rock.

When done, I turned off autoplay. If it won't run next time I'll turn autoplay back on.

This is a bit of a relief. I was thinking about selling the DVD on eBay and buying the books.

[KHE]

I wonder if Helm would be any help if you called them? For $250, you should NOT be having those types of issues.

[Cadillac Jim]

I doubt that Helm would be of any assistance no matter how they would want to help. GM support is geared for dealers, and this DVD is intended for use by dealers on specially dedicated Techline computers, not by individuals. I found quite a few posts by people who have these DVDs and CD-ROM sets for various years and the only ones that don't have trouble use a dedicated computer, install an OS like Windows XP fresh and then install the Techline CD-ROM set or DVD, then run nothing else on it, just like the Techline computers at the dealers. I don't have room for a fourth computer in my man-cave.

In short, everybody has problems running the Techline DVDs or CD-ROM sets on regular general-purpose computers. I didn't access GM Techline support because you need a dealer or supplier ID to contact them and I didn't have the chutzpah to just call while I was still researching the issues on the web. It turns out that I got what I needed right here on Caddyinfo. Texas Jim's hint to enable autoplay was the last thing I needed to get it to work. Apparently autoplay is used during installation to transition between the many processes that are run in sequence; I'll know for sure when I try to run it again with and without autoplay in the next day or two.

[KHE]

Glad you got it running. I may try to get my DVD that I purchased a few years ago on ebay installed when I get some time. Problem is it takes 45 minutes to install it and if it doesn't work, it takes another 45 minutes to remove it... I think I'll stick with the paper manuals. I bought the DVD since it covered all GM models from 1998 - 2010 or thereabouts - considering the price, it was probably bootlegged but I wasn't out much money.

[Cadillac Jim]

I've seen that advertised online in my searches for solutions to running mine. I believe it's a two DVD set. The ones I saw were from early 1990's to 2004 or thereabouts, and from 2005 to "present" whatever that means. Since I don't see anything like that on the Helm, Inc. web site except a single DVD that covers mainly 2011 except Buick models and one or two others from 2003-2011, either it is material not intended for distribution outside GM - which by definition is bootleg - or is put together from other sources, almost certainly in violation of GM copyrights.

I just did a check on the Helm web site and the 2003-2011 single DVD is the one I just got and figured out how to run.

[Cadillac Jim]

Here's a CMD batch file that I use to run my DVD:

@echo off

:TRYAGAIN

if not exist d:\startapp.exe goto UHOH

goto OK

:UHOH

echo Techline DVD not in reader, startapp.exe missing.

echo Insert the Techline DVD and try again.

pause

goto TRYAGAIN

:OK

D:

REM Use loop to allow multiple tries to start the DVD

:LOOP

startapp.exe

echo Control-C if done, ENTER to re-open the DVD

pause

goto LOOP

This is a system batch file and will run with either a .BAT or a .CMD extension. You MUST use "Run as administrator" or it will not see a license file as it starts and will prompt you that you are trying to use a backup, and to use an original. Note that I have the call to startapp.exe in a loop, so you can try again by just pressing ENTER if it doesn't start.