When i try to check my ports i get a message telling me that activeds.dll is missing. Also it takes me 20 tries to turn my computer, it comes up a blue screen saying "STOP error (error code never wrote it down) Beginning dump of physical memory"

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Birchy09

It's hard to make sensible recommendations without specific information including the exact/full Stop Error code information that may have been presented.

There are dozens of reasons why activeds.dll may have gone missing, including:
botched installation of a new software application
corrupted device driver
failed Windows update
possible malware infection
____________________________

If you happen to have deleted activeds.dll yourself, accidentally or in a procedure you were following, then you can restore it from your Recycle Bin.

If it is missing and you have made no recent software installations or upgrades, nor installed any new device and device driver, then you can use your Windows installation CD to extract and replace activeds.dll

Or you can use Windows File Protection from the Run - cmd - c:\windows\sfc /scannow (have your Windows installation CD handy

Or you can do a System Restore to a point before this problem appeared

Or in Device manager, if you see yellow or red warnings or a black !, this would indicate a corrupt device driver or no device driver at all, therefore reinstalling the device could remedy the situation. or alternatively - roll back the driver to a previous driver if available.
_________________________-

Appearence of errors related to activeds.dll may be related to hardware memory faults which should be tested via MemTest86 or Windows Memory Diagnostic

If none of the above suggestions provide benefit, you may be faced with a Windows Repair Installation.

We/I don't like to recommend Repair Installation since there is most often a more direct and less burdensome solution.

However, as you may surmise from the shotgun of suggestions above, it would help us help you better, if you provided more details about the exact Error, the activities you were performing, and such information as your version of Windows (XP, Vista, 7, etc.) and information about the applications and/or Windows utilities you were using when the error occurred.

Read here for more information about how to best request assistance:
http://forums.whatthetech.com/index.php?act=SR&f=119

Best Regards