Explorer has performed an illegal operation

[Ninju]

- the message we all love so much.

This post has no relevance to the computer described in other computer problems of mine.

Our PC randomly stopped working, well, actually, IE stopped loading. Whenever I or anyone would click on IE, i.e. Attempt to load it, a BSOD would appear - great.

Anyway, since my other computer is... not working, it is important that I fix this computer.

After restarting the computer (I can't remember what I did just before restarting it), it asked some details (the computer did), for e.g. Name, Company, the usual stuff. Then after a few more [details entering screens] it asked for the Windows 98 CD Key and I said, "Oh, WTF is it doing this for." (remember it was apparently random to me). Anyway, I entered the Product key, restarted the machine.

After restarting, it comes up with the little Windows 98 log-on box (we don't know how to get rid of this so it's always been there, we just press "Cancel". I pressed cancel, 2-3 seconds later I get the prompt: Explorer has performed an illegal operation... as most will know, well, as far as I know, there is nothing else you can do but press "Close", so I did.

10 minutes later, the next process of loading up the menus and icons and stuff didn't occur, I could only see the wallpaper. As you've probably guessed this occurs repeatedly.

How do I fix it? Pleeeeeeeeeaaaaasssssse

Thanks

PS: I've left it on for quite a while (about an hour), nothing still

[VJ]

Well, it is an errormessage right up there with: "The computer has recovered from a serious error."

An hour... and it kept running?

Weird though... Seriously...
Perhaps try a diskscan (could be that some parts of Explorer or its libraries are on sectors that have gone corrupt/bad). Also try a memory scan (memtest or something similar).

If those are ok, my next step would be to try and repair a windows installation (using the CD), but this may wreak havoc on installed software... (best to wait for a second opinion before doing so, there may be less intrusive suggestions)

(FWIW, I have images of several running installations; in the event of something serious, it takes me 10 minutes to get a fully configured, working Windows installation (including the installed software). For this, I use a Knoppix CD, and the program 'partimage'. )


Jörg

[az]

If explorer crashes, but your desktop is still there, you can move the mouse, etc., double-click the desktop or hit ctrl+alt+del once. Select from the menu new task (I don't know exactly where in this menu you can find it on win98, but there aren't that many choices), enter explorer, hit enter. Explorer should now start, and with it your task bar etc.

What all this other stuff was: I have no idea why this happened. From your description it could be anything from a reinstallation of windows (why would it do this?) to a malevolent attempt at getting your personal data. I really have no idea what this was or why it happened.

[Ninju]

OK, I'll try the new task thing, I'm not sure there is a "New task" button in Win98 though.

As for reinstalling Windows goes, that is a big NO, as Tiny are such ****ing retards they didn't give us any drivers with the computer 5 or 6 years ago, however long ago it was when we got it. If I could, I would probably just re-format to see if that worked.

And, this is probably a completely n00b question (:|) but here it goes: How would I perform a diskscan without any icons/menus/taskbars etc... and if you mean that annoying blue screen where it tells you that you haven't shut down the computer properly, I've done that.

Also, something I didn't mention, I can press Ctrl + Alt + Del, but, there are no tasks in it. Ok, so I'll try those things tonight I suppose, as for clicking the Desktop twice, I'm sure I must have done some random clicking in the frustration :P

[VJ]

I'm curious to see if explorer will also crash if you start it manually.
You should be able to start diskscan the same way az suggested to start the explorer. If there is a "New task" button, use it and enter scandisk.
But if you have ran the scan at the point where it tellls you it hasn't been shut down properly, it shouldn't yield any differences...

I would run memtest as well (http://www.memtest86.com/ , it boots and runs from a floppy); if for no other reason than to rule out memory errors as the cause.


Jörg

[az]

I mean after you've hit ctrl+alt+del, or double clicked (this doesn't always work), in this window, select "file -> new task" from the menu (or whereever in this menu you'll find this new task thingy).

[Technoid]

I mean after you've hit ctrl+alt+del, or double clicked (this doesn't always work), in this window, select "file -> new task" from the menu (or whereever in this menu you'll find this new task thingy).

There are no way to start anything from the task wieving window in Windows 95,98,me only to terminate.

BUT!

Windows itself may restart the shell (Explorer.exe) if it detects that its down

[Ninju]

Technoid is right, I can't start a new task. Double clicking on the desktop also does nothing. I'll download Memtest later and then try that tonight.

[VJ]

If you use this CD:

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

You can perform various checks (scan the harddisk, test the memory (memtest is on it), ...).


Jörg