PC Access for Windows TCP 618 error

Quick Contents

Possible Causes

1. The PC Access for Windows TCP 618 error may occur if Windows 98 is using the wrong version of the Winsock driver in the Windows directory (C:\WINDOWS\WINSOCK.DLL).
   • Most likely, another application's install program overwrote the original version of WINSOCK.DLL. This disables all 16-bit TCP/IP functionality in Windows 98. Because PC Access is a 16-bit program, it will then be unable to connect to your MLS over the Internet using the wrong version of WINSOCK.DLL.
2. There may be multiple instances of the Windows 98 WINSOCK.DLL file on your hard disk.
   • Other third-party TCP/IP applications can install this file in various directories on your hard disk. There should be only one such file on your hard disk: C:\WINDOWS\WINSOCK.DLL. You can find other instances of this file with in either of these ways:
     • With the DOS command:
       DIR C:\WINSOCK.DLL /S or by using
     • With the Windows Find command.
3. The Happy99.exe worm may have infected your computer. This worm infects the Windows 95 and Windows 98 TCP/IP winsock drivers. Consult your anti-virus vendor to determine if this worm has infected your computer. Your anti-virus vendor should be able to tell you how to remove this worm from your computer. Also see the following Web page:
   • Symantec AntiVirus Research Center: Happy99.Worm: http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/happy99.worm.html
4. A malicious computer program (a virus or a Trojan Horse) may have changed the TCP/IP Winsock drivers. Some users report that uninstalling and reinstalling the Windows 98 TCP/IP drivers corrects this problem. For information on uninstalling and reinstalling TCP/IP drivers, see the Windows 98 Help topic TCP/IP. Select the sub-topic To install a network protocol.
   • Check the dates on the following files:

       C:\WINDOWS\WINSOCK.DLL
       C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\WSOCK32.DLL
       C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\WSOCK32N.DLL
     

     If the dates are not 5-11-98, something may have changed the Windows 98 TCP/IP drivers. However, if you have installed Internet Explorer 5.0, these dates may vary.

1. Click Start | Find | Files or Folders....
2. Enter WINSOCK.DLL in the Named: field. The Look in: field should have the C:drive selected. Click Find Now.
   • There should be only one file on your hard disk: C:\WINDOWS\WINSOCK.DLL . You will need to rename other instances of WINSOCK.DLL.
3. With the Find window open, right-click on WINSOCK.DLL (in the C:\WINDOWS folder.) Click Properties | Version tab. The File Version: should be 4.10.1998.
   • If the WINSOCK.DLL file version is not 4.10.1998, Windows 98 is using the incorrect WINSOCK.DLL file. This disables all 16-bit TCP/IP functionality in Windows 98. Because PC Access is a 16-bit program, it will then be unable to connect to your MLS over the Internet using the wrong version of WINSOCK.DLL.
4. Follow these steps to restore WINSOCK.DLL.

If you have other instances of C:\WINDOWS\WINSOCK.DLL, you should move them to different names to prevent Windows 98 from loading them in preference to the WINSOCK.DLL in your C:\WINDOWS directory. For example, if you have the file:

C:\WINDOWS\DESKTOP\WINSOCK.DLL

C:
CD \WINDOWS\DESKTOP
MOVE WINSOCK.DLL WINSOCK.BAK

1. Click Start | Run. In the Run dialog box, type SFC.
2. In the System File Checker window, select Extract one file from installation disk. In the box below, type WINSOCK.DLL and click Start.
   • Note: To complete the next step, you may need:
     • Your Windows 98 CD; or
     • To know the location of the Windows 98 CAB files on your hard drive. If the manufacturer of your computer pre-loaded the Windows 98 CAB files, the WINSOCK.DLL file may load automatically.
3. On the Extract File window, next to the Restore from: field, type the location of the WINSOCK.DLL file.
4. Restart Windows 98.
5. Run PC Access for Windows.

• Your Windows 95 CD; or
• If your computer manufacturer pre-loaded the contents of the Windows 95 CD on your hard drive, the WINSOCK.DLL may be in the C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS directory.

1. Click Start | Programs | MS-DOS Prompt.
2. Insert your Windows 95 CD into your CD-ROM drive.
3. In the MS-DOS Prompt window, type the following:
   • Note: The instructions that follow assume your CD CD-ROM drive is drive D:. If your CD-ROM drive is not drive D:, substitute D: with your CD-ROM drive letter.

    D:
    CD\WIN95
    EXTRACT  /A  PRECOPY1.CAB  WINSOCK.DLL  /L  C:\
    EXIT
    

   The above command searches the Windows 95 CD for the WINSOCK.DLL file and extracts it your C: drive.
4. Restart Windows 95 and boot to Command Prompt Only.
   • For assistance on restarting your computer to the Command Prompt Only see:
     • Microsoft Knowledge Base Article:
       Boot Windows 95 in DOS mode
       http://support.microsoft.com/support/serviceware/windows/Win95/3AJA915N.ASP
5. Type the following commands to replace your existing WINSOCK.DLL:

       CD\WINDOWS
       REN  WINSOCK.DLL  WINSOCK.OLD
       MOVE  C:\WINSOCK.DLL  C:\WINDOWS
       

6. Restart Windows 95.

1. Click Start | Programs | MS-DOS Prompt.
2. In the MS-DOS Prompt window, type the following:

    CD\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS
    EXTRACT  /A  PRECOPY1.CAB  WINSOCK.DLL  /L  C:\
    EXIT
    

   • Note: If you do not have a WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS directory on your hard drive, try Restoring WINSOCK.DLL from the Windows 95 CD.
   The above command searches the WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS directory for the WINSOCK.DLL file and extracts it your C: drive.
3. Restart Windows 95 and boot to Command Prompt Only.
   • For assistance on restarting your computer to the Command Prompt Only see:
     • Microsoft Knowledge Base Article:
       Boot Windows 95 in DOS mode
       http://support.microsoft.com/support/serviceware/windows/Win95/3AJA915N.ASP
4. Type the following commands to replace your existing WINSOCK.DLL:

       CD\WINDOWS
       REN  WINSOCK.DLL  WINSOCK.OLD
       MOVE  C:\WINSOCK.DLL  C:\WINDOWS
       

5. Restart Windows 95.