JAVA error causing MLS to not run

[veehb]

I just read the thread on 32-bit vs 64-bit JAVA and learned that the JAVA that MLS uses is imbedded in MLS. We are running Windows XP on an older computer. We have the latest version of MLS installed and it has been working fine for several months. We have had problems with SEPHOS not working. But with help from MLS Support got it working a few weeks ago. Now it is giving us the error message that it failed to update. I assume this is a security program watching for virus' etc. Not sure that the SEPHOS problem has anything to do with the following more serious problem.

Today when booting the Windows XP, we get an error message that a JAVA file is corrupt. It has information about the name and location of the corrupt JAVA file. When starting up MLS, we get another message that says: "The following serious error occurred while attempting to log in. Java.lang.NULL Pointer Exception. This is a serious problem that will prevent you from logging in until it is resolved".

So, do we have a bad copy of MLS running? Is there an external JAVA system that is interacting with MLS (based on the above discussion, it is not supposed to be)? What can we do to fix this?

I didn't think to reboot the computer. Maybe I'll go back over to the stake center and try that.

I could try reloading JAVA, but I doubt that will fix this problem, if JAVA is indeed imbedded in MLS.

Any suggestions??

Vee Butterfield, Executive Secretary
Bennion East Utah Stake

[russellhltn]

When it comes to data corruption problems, I think it's best to check with Local Unit Support first.

[jakebengtson]

The GSC can always help. Here is the URL for their contact information.

https://www.lds.org/callings/melchizede ... r?lang=eng

Sorry if you've already been given this advice

[veehb]

Thanks for the link. Our stake technology specialist (asst. clerk) is not available. Need to try to get this up by Sunday. I'll contact GSC. Maybe they can guide me over the phone. I have some technical experience.

[russellhltn]

It's possible what they will have you do is reinstall MLS from the download. That re-installs the MLS copy of Java as well. But I'm concerned about how this corruption came about. Have you run a check on the hard drive?

Note that the part of GSC that works with this is due to close in the next hour or so. So your odds of fixing this by Sunday may be slim.

[veehb]

The error message suggested running Chkdsk. I ran it (Chkdsk /f) and when rebooting the computer, Chkdsk ran for quite a long time and fixed a bunch of problems on the disk. It was scrolling fast and hard to see exactly what it was doing. When it was finished I rebooted the computer and it took a little longer than normal to start, but it came up and is working fine and MLS is working. So, that must have fixed the corrupt JAVA file along with a bunch of other files.

So we have MLS up and running for Sunday, and I didn't have to bother GSC.

I'll leave it to our Asst. Stake Clerk who has technical responsibility for our computer and network systems. I'm going to suggest that he run a disk diagnostic to be sure our disk isn't failing. I'm an engineer, but will leave it to him. Too many cooks can spoil the pudding.

Thanks for your help.

[russellhltn]

Great that it worked, but that is a little worrisome. I would make sure that someone follows-up on that. Diagnosing hard drive problems can be difficult as they seem to do their utmost to hide any problems they are experiencing until they can't.

It could also be that someone didn't shut down the computer properly. You might want to look at the MLS log file to see if you can ID the last user and check on how they shutdown the machine.

[veehb]

Good idea. We will do that. I know that if you don't exit properly from MLS that you can cause problems. Also important to shut down Windows.

This computer is five years old and is probably overdue for replacement.

[jakebengtson]

I think 5 is the magic number! You could ask your Stake Technology Specialist to contact the member of the high council that is the PFR (physical facilities representative) in order to get a new computer. Glad to hear that everything worked out.

[russellhltn]

If it's truly 5 years old, yes. Look around for a manufactured date. Usually right around the serial number.