CTFmon with Office 2007
Submitted by MarkUK on Sat, 05/19/2007 - 18:21.
I have frequently seen references on this and other forums to get rid of CTFmon as it can interfere with DNS. I have previously been able to do this with office 2003 but have recently acquired a copy of Microsoft Office 2007 and cannot see how to stop it loading.
Two questions... do I still have to remove CTFmon from Office 2007? And if so, where do I find it!
I am running DNS 9.5 on a Lenovo ThinkPad Z61p T7200 with 2 GB RAM on Win XPpro.
MarkUK
In about 10% of the time
In about 10% of the time that it took you to the dictate or type this question you could have found your answer by typing ctfmon.exe in the Google custom search box in the upper left corner of the screen. You'd be amazed at how much time you can save by using the various forum search utilities.
KnowBrainer Support Staff - Lunis Orcutt
Dictated with DNS 9, KnowBrainer and UniVoice
KnowBrainer wrote: In about
In about 10% of the time that it took you to the dictate or type this question you could have found your answer by typing .....
Skip,
Do we really need this sort of scarcastic comment from a relatively recent newcomer (who is permitted to advertise his wares) to this group??
He may or may not have noticed that no matter how often a question is asked, one of us will nearly always helpfully direct the questioner to the specific answer.
Quentin
Quote: In about 10% of the
In about 10% of the time that it took you to the dictate or type this question you could have found your answer by typing ctfmon.exe in the Google custom search box
That is really below the belt. If you had read my original posting properly, you would have observed that I had previously been able to do this in Office 2003 and when I discovered that the same procedure was not available for Office 2007, the first thing I did was to Google it.
If you also refer to a recent posting on this forum http://www.speechcomputing.com/node/1347 you will again see the recommendation to remove this, but the information given here and, Chuck, the information given on the Nuance web site refers to Office 2003. Things have changed for 2007 and I was attempting to start a discussion on this. I think you will find the usual procedure...
http://knowledgebase.nuance.com/view.asp?tnID=3244&sQuery=ctfmon.exe
and http://support.microsoft.com/kb/282599
6. Click the plus sign (+) next to Office Shared Features to expand it.
7. Click the icon next to Alternative User Input, and then select Not Available.
(I will not repeat the other steps, which are probably unchanged)
... simply does not apply.
so, can I repeat my questions... do I still have to remove CTFmon from Office 2007? And if so, where do I find it!
Mark
Mark, I haven't got Office
Mark, I haven't got Office 2007 but suspect the only way to get rid of ctfmon.exe (if the Nuance advice doesn't work) is to use Task Managet to close it down every time your computer boots up. (BTW ctfmon.exe is a Windows file, not a Word file. My ctfmon.exe is in C:\I386, but you can't, I believe, simply delete it.)
Judy
Umm... In XP and prior, its
Umm... In XP and prior, its located under the [WindowsDirectory]\system32\cftmon.exe. Put it won't do you any good to delete it because the OS will simply put it back. You can also delete the backup copy at the same time, but the damn OS seems to have yet another copy somewhere, so that's not going to work. Or else it'll throw some sort of hissy fit.
In XP and prior and Office 2003 you could use a startup manager to disable the link, which was fine until almost any app started. At that point, the OS would try to load cftmon.exe. You could decline thru your startup manager/AV/spyware/etc., and perhaps even institute a "rule" that would automate the process. But the damn thing is annoyingly insistent and persistent.
As suggested, you can use the task manager if all else fails -- eventually a procedure will be worked out. If you have DNS Pro or Vocola or UniMacro, you can probably make a script that automates the process.
BTW, its not clear what OS you're using, but I would suggest trying as much of the process as you can manage, especially the parts about unregistering the associated .dll's -- hoping that whatever bitch fit the OS musters is more of nuisance than a critical failure
Thanks Judy, thank you
Thanks Judy, thank you Bruce,
I am delighted that it is not just me being dumb about this. I will continue searching. Somewhere I seem to remember a post talking about it being in proofing tools, but I have not been able to confirm it. Meanwhile I will try to set up a Vocola macro to disable it ... although one slight problem might be that I am using Process Explorer instead of task manager, which does not allow sequential localisation using "ctf.." but would jump from C to T and then to F!
If I can find any more information on the Office 2007 (Home edition), and particularly the proofing tools approach, I will report back.
Mark
DNS 9.5 Preferred, Lenovo ThinkPad Z61p T7200 with 2 GB RAM on Win XPpro.
PS Found it. http://stealthpuppy.com/blogs/travelling/archive/2007/05/07/installing-o... . I am not sure how it will translate to XP, but will try it when I get a chance.
I use ProcessExplorer too,
I use ProcessExplorer too, but you can still run TaskManager -- its there, just call it up first.
N.b., your link (thank you!) references the instructions from Office 2003 to dump CFTMON.EXE, so it would seem that you're good to go
Not sure if it will help, but in PE you can press "c", call up the Properties dialogue, Ctrl-Tab to the Image Tab (?), Tab to the Path: field, copy it to the clipboard, then inspect it to see if it contains a sufficient string (like "cftmon.exe"), and then cancel the Properties dialogue. If it isn't CFTMON.EXE, press "c" again etc. until you find it -- when you do, kill that sucker
There could be an easier way, but that at least is a brute force approach that might inspire you to find the easier way
Bruce
MarkUK wrote: I have
I have frequently seen references on this and other forums to get rid of CTFmon as it can interfere with DNS. I have previously been able to do this with office 2003 but have recently acquired a copy of Microsoft Office 2007 and cannot see how to stop it loading.
Two questions... do I still have to remove CTFmon from Office 2007? And if so, where do I find it!
I am running DNS 9.5 on a Lenovo ThinkPad Z61p T7200 with 2 GB RAM on Win XPpro.
MarkUK
Mark,
You can find the answer to your question on the Nuance support site at the following URL:
http://knowledgebase.nuance.com/view.asp?tnID=3244&sQuery=ctfmon.exe
The reason that ctfmon.exe returned is that Windows automatically loads it if you don't unregistered the DLLs associated with it. You cannot simply remove the registry entries and kill the process using the task manager. The problem is that it was never completely removed according to the instructions provided on the Nuance website (support – knowledge base). Also, the technote will explain what ctfmon.exe is used for. Basically, it interferes with DNS primarily by causing command misrecognition problems. However, its effect is intermittent and it doesn't always effect every user in exactly the same way. Nevertheless, it does interfere with commands, dictation and Select-and-Say under some circumstances, as well as interfering with Say-What-You-See in dialog boxes and applications.
Be sure that you carefully, and I stress carefully, and completely read the instructions in that technote before you proceed and follow the instructions that are given with great care and attention. Note that under registering the to DLLs referenced in those instructions may result in one being successfully unregistered and the other not. Don't worry about this. That is normal depending upon whether or not the DLLs are installed in the Windows system files. Sometimes both are installed, sometimes only one. That fact is not noted in the technote. However, note that ctfmon.exe is not coming from Office 2007, it's coming for Windows.
On the other hand, if you are uncomfortable following the instructions for unloading and keeping ctfmon.exe off your system permanently, you can always simply use the "end task" option in the task manager to unload it. However, you have to remember to do this each time you reboot your system. As long as you unload it during any given Windows session, it will remain unloaded. It will only reload when you reboot.
I'm surprised that nobody has really given you an answer up to this point. That's not characteristic of most those who post help responses on this site on this site.
Chuck Runquist
Former Dragon NaturallySpeaking SDK & Senior Technical Solutions PM for DNS
"Problems cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them." – Albert Einstein
Chuck Runquist wrote: I'm
I'm surprised that nobody has really given you an answer up to this point. That's not characteristic of most those who post help responses on this site on this site.
???? what do you mean by this statement???? Quintijn
Quintijn wrote: Chuck
I'm surprised that nobody has really given you an answer up to this point. That's not characteristic of most those who post help responses on this site on this site.
???? what do you mean by this statement???? Quintijn
Quintijn,
Exactly what I said. Most of those who post help responses on this forum usually answer questions clearly when they are asked as opposed to leaving someone who asks a question hanging with no real adequate response.
It wasn't a criticism it was a compliment.
Chuck Runquist
Former Dragon NaturallySpeaking SDK & Senior Technical Solutions PM for DNS
The biggest problem that most people have is not the inability to comprehend what was said, but rather the inability to listen. -- Chuck Runquist
Chuck Runquist wrote: On
On the other hand, if you are uncomfortable following the instructions for unloading and keeping ctfmon.exe off your system permanently, you can always simply use the "end task" option in the task manager to unload it. However, you have to remember to do this each time you reboot your system.
I assume he could also write a batch file & run it automatically every time Windows starts, to the effect of:
pskill -t ctfmon.exeOr for that matter he could write a batch file that kills ctfmon.exe as above, and also starts Dragon, and use this via a Desktop shortcut as his manual entry - etc. and ad nausem.
Quote: On the other hand,
On the other hand, if you are uncomfortable following the instructions for unloading and keeping ctfmon.exe off your system permanently, you can always simply use the "end task" option in the task manager to unload it. However, you have to remember to do this each time you reboot your system. As long as you unload it during any given Windows session, it will remain unloaded. It will only reload when you reboot.
Don't bet on that. End Tasking doesn't work for CTFMON.exe. If you have any doubts, try it. After End Tasking close the Task Manager and immediately re-launch it. We think you'll find that CTFMON.exe comes right back and that’s why we include a step-by-step for Windows XP and Vista in our Quick Tips
Lunis Orcutt - Developer of KnowBrainer (DNS Command Software)
Now Providing FREE (1st 5 min.) Tech Support 615-884-4558
A Nuance Gold Certified Endorsed Vendor
Lunis, That's not my
Lunis,
That's not my experience, with XP and Office 2003. Didn't come back once I killed it.
As an aside, I should note that I was able to permanently stop ctfmon.exe from starting by using Mike Lin's startup.exe program (http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml).
Matt Chambers wrote: ...
... using Mike Lin's startup.exe program (http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml).
I have used his Startup.exe program (standalone) for a LONG time. I can't imagine being without it! It's a pretty good price too (Free).
Skip
Matt Chambers
Lunis,
That's not my experience, with XP and Office 2003. Didn't come back once I killed it.
As an aside, I should note that I was able to permanently stop ctfmon.exe from starting by using Mike Lin's startup.exe program (http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml).
Matt,
To one extent or another both you and Lunis are correct. Startup Control Panel is a nice handy little program that will prevent ctfmon.exe from loading at boot time 99.9% of the time. However, it is not infallible. If a user has installed "Alternative text input" from either Microsoft Office XP Or Microsoft Office 2003, and they have not disabled that feature, Windows can, on occasion, come back and reload it despite using Startup Control Panel. It's extremely rare, but I've seen it happen. You can also use Process Explorer in place of the Windows task manager and use the "suspend" function. However, this only works during the current Windows session, but it will prevent ctfmon.exe from interfering with DNS and nothing that Microsoft Office or Windows may try to do will override the "suspend" function setting.
The best approach is to simply disable the "Alternative text input" in Microsoft Office, follow the Nuance procedures for permanently removing ctfmon.exe, and, in addition, removing all 3 runtime load modules from the Windows registry for ctfmon.exe. If you do this, it will never come back to haunt you.
Chuck Runquist
Former Dragon NaturallySpeaking SDK & Senior Technical Solutions PM for DNS
If computers get too powerful, we can organize them into a committee - that will do them in. - Bradley's Bromide
To remove ctfmon.exe if your
To remove ctfmon.exe if your using Windows XP and Office 2007 follow these steps:
- Open "Regional and Language Options" in the control panel
- Click the "Languages" tab
- Click the "Details" button under "Text services and input languages" heading
- Click the "Advanced" tab
- Place a check mark in "Turn off advanced text services" under the "System Configuration" heading
Mike