Hello Hans,
 
run into trouble again... yesterday I've upgraded MikTeX to 2.4, by the way I've upgraded ConTeXt to the newest version too, but after that I can texexec nothing more. I first tried some chinese texts, but texexec always reported:
 
 
 TeXExec 5.0 - ConTeXt / PRAGMA ADE 1997-2004
 
 current path readonly : E:/Temp
      changing to path : C:\Temp
            executable : pdfetex
                format : cont-en
           source path : E:/Temp
            dummy file : test.run
             inputfile : test
                output : pdftex
             interface : en
          current mode : none
               TeX run : 1
 
This is pdfeTeX, Version 3.141592-1.20a-rc4-2.1 (MiKTeX 2.4)
output format initialized to DVI
entering extended mode
(test.run
 
ConTeXt  ver: 2004.10.07  fmt: 2004.10.7  int: english  mes: english
 
systems        : eTeX version 201 -> too old (bugs)
 
language       : language en is active
<protectionstate 0>
system         : cont-new loaded
(D:\CTeX\texmf\tex\context\base\cont-new.tex
systems        : beware: some patches loaded from cont-new.tex!
color          : palette rollover is available
system (E-TEX) : [line 966]
system (E-TEX) : [line 1021]
)
system         : cont-old loaded
(D:\CTeX\texmf\tex\context\base\cont-old.tex
loading        : Context Old Macros
)
system         : cont-fil loaded
(D:\CTeX\texmf\tex\context\base\cont-fil.tex
loading        : Context File Synonyms
)
system         : cont-sys loaded
(D:\CTeX\texmf\tex\context\user\cont-sys.tex)
bodyfont       : 12pt rm is loaded
language       : patterns en->default:default->1->2:2 de->default:default->3->2
:2 fr->default:default->4->2:2 es->default:default->5->2:2 it->default:default-
>6->2:2 nl->default:default->7->2:2 loaded
specials       : tex,postscript,rokicki loaded
system         : test.top loaded
(./test.top
specials       : loading definition file tpd
(D:\CTeX\texmf\tex\context\base\spec-tpd.tex
specials       : loading definition file fdf
(D:\CTeX\texmf\tex\context\base\spec-fdf.tex <unprotect 3> <unprotect 4>
system (E-TEX) : [line 2256] \ifcsname
<protect 4> <protect 3>)
specials       : fdf loaded
<unprotect 3> <protect 3>)
specials       : fdf,tpd loaded
)
fonts          : needs map file: ec-public-lm.map
fonts          : needs map file: original-base.map
systems        : begin file test at line 1
(E:/Temp/test.tex
system         : macros of module chinese loaded
(D:\CTeX\texmf\tex\context\base\s-chi-00.tex
(D:\CTeX\texmf\tex\context\base\./type-pre.tex)
bodyfont       : variant chi is loaded
(D:\CTeX\texmf\tex\context\base\font-chi.tex
loading        : Context Font Macros / Chinese
encoding       : coding chi is loaded
(D:\CTeX\texmf\tex\context\base\enco-chi.tex
encoding       : coding big5
encoding       : coding gbk
)
! Undefined control sequence.
<argument> \c!richting
                       =\v!links
\xprocesscommaitem #1,#2->\if ,#1
                                 ,\@EA \xprocesscommaitem \else \if ]#1\@EAE...
<argument> \c!richting =\v!links , \c!balanceren
                                                 =\v!nee , \c!n =\v!passend ...
 
\xdogetparameters #1]->\xprocesscommaitem #1
                                            ,],\@relax@
l.418    \c!afstand=1.5\bodyfontsize]
                                    
?
! Emergency stop.
<argument> \c!richting
                       =\v!links
\xprocesscommaitem #1,#2->\if ,#1
                                 ,\@EA \xprocesscommaitem \else \if ]#1\@EAE...
<argument> \c!richting =\v!links , \c!balanceren
                                                 =\v!nee , \c!n =\v!passend ...
 
\xdogetparameters #1]->\xprocesscommaitem #1
                                            ,],\@relax@
l.418    \c!afstand=1.5\bodyfontsize]
                                    
No pages of output.
 
then I tried some english texts, they can be compiled, but in fact nothing has been written to the disk.
before upgrading I've backup-ed the configurations ( texexec.ini, font-chi.tex, cont-system.tex, cont-usr.tex ) and just after extracting new files I've put them back, succeeded with "initexmf -u" and a new "texexec --make", but context just didn't work, though it worked fine before ( with same test files ). I've never thought it could be such a big problem. after several unsuccessful tries I decided to restored the old version, but I even couldn't go back! it seems that context has kept  "memory" somewhere to trace the version changes. after 3 hours tired struggle I've lost all the patience and all the hope... I've also heared similar stories from other people, but I just wonder how it could be a trouble to upgrade a package like context?
 
Best regards,
Minchao