Computer won't boot: "Msgsrv32 An error has occurred in your program"

I am trying to help my in-laws with their computer, which hangs during bootup. They have an IBM Aptiva with Windows 98SE. During boot, they get a message, "Msgsrv32 An error has occurred in your program. To keep wirking anyway, click Ignore and save your work in a new file. To quit this program, click Close. You will lose information you entered since your last save." When I click Close, I get a message, "Msgsrv32 This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down. If the problem persists contact the program vendor." The boot then hangs at this point.

I did a search on this forum and found a similar thread. A post from goddez1 from 9-29-04 gave instructions on renaming a Lexmark printer file that sometimes causes this problem. My in-laws have a Lexmark printer, so I thought I would try it. Unfortunately, when in Safe mode, my in-laws mouse doesn't work, and I was unable to complete the instructions without it. The next post in the same thread was from wdc202. He included instructions from Lexmark to rename the file from a DOS window. I was able to do this, but it didn't solve the problem.

I Google searched the error message and found instructions from Microsoft. They said it might be caused by a sound card or a modem issue. I'm pretty sure my in-laws computer doesn't have a sound card, but they did just get a new external cable modem installed several days ago. I once again couldn't follow the instructions, however, because of the lack of a working mouse.

So, I'm kind of stumped at this point. I would greatly appreciate any assistance possible with this. I am uncertain if the modem could have anything to do with this or not. I suspect it because it is the most recent change to the system, but they say everything worked fine for a few days after getting the modem.

 

Try taking out those cards if they are in card slots .
With machine off and plug pulled out.
Then boot and see if that solves the issue.
If they are onboard devices disable in the device manager and check the same .
This is the first step in the diagnostic procedure.

 

I'm pretty sure they have onboard sound, but I can double check on that. As far as using device manager, I was trying to do that, but I can only get so far in the process without a working mouse. What about if I just disconnect the external modem?

It may be a day or two between my posts on this topic, because I am not always available to go to my in-laws' house to work on their computer. So if there is a bit of a lag on this thread, please don't think that I am giving up.

Thanks for the advice so far.

 

If you don't have a mouse in safe mode due to the fact that the one they have is a USB mouse, you can get an adapter that will allow you to plug it into one of the computer's PS/2 ports. The mouse would work that way. They're only 2 dollars at Amazon but you don't have to purchase one online. You can purchase one at any Best Buy, Comp USA, etc. It may be they have one and don't know it. The last 3 USB mice that I've bought all came with one in the box. If you want to see what they look like, take a look here

If you were to do this, the mouse has to be plugged into the PS/2 port when you boot the computer. It won't recognize it if you plug it in after you start Windows.

 

I am not an expert on this but I would not think the external modem would do much. Still you could turn it off.
I did not know that you did not have mouse support.
You can toggle down the device manager by keyboard but I am sure a mouse would make it much easier to disable the onboard sound.
You most likely can turn off the onboard sound in the bios. most likely other things such as the networking as well.
To get into the bios press F1 on the bootup screen.
You might want to set to factory defaults , save and reboot as a first step as this may solve all your problems. Often does.
If not go into the bios and turn off those items.
At the worst you can always restore to factory defaults and be accepable.

 

Those error messages can also be caused by an anti virus program with a corrupted file or two.

 

OK, I solved the mouse problem by buying a used P/S 2 mouse. It was actually cheaper than buying an adapter.

Unfortunately, that's the only thing I have solved so far. I've tried the various suggestions to no avail.

I did notice something that may or may not have something to do with this. I will try to describe it below.

When their computer first begins to boot, a screen appears that I don't know the name of. It has the C:\ prompt on it and a few other things. After about ten seconds, the boot continues. This screen has always appeared and I think that is normal. I noticed some different stuff on it now, though. I will describe it below.

C:\> LDBX
Bad Command of File Name

C:\> <message type = "osfwPastText "value=" a bunch of gobbledygook symbols here that I have never seen before locale= "JP-JA "/>
File not Found

C:\>

Now, what catches my eye is while in Safe Mode, I went to msconfig. Under the Autoexec.bat tab I saw something similar.
There was a checked box then LDBX
Another checked box then IIIII <messages type= "osfwPastText "value= "%process_name% that gobbledygook symbols again "locale= "jp-JA "/>
Another checked box then II

Now, obviously, I have no idea what any of this means. If it helps, great. If not, well I am still open to suggestions. I would like to avoid steps as dramatic as wiping the hard drive and re-installing the OS, as my father-in-law is an accountant and has some tax documents on there that haven't been backed up.

Thanks again in advance for any assistance.

 

Something went haywire, as the above is definitely not what is expected to be in the C:\Autoexec.Bat file. I suggest editing the file so that it is entirely blank, or simply rename it, as 98 really doesn't need that file present to boot up.
I think you should run the System File Checker. Start\Run, type "sfc" and press Enter.
Another thing to check.
Go to Start\Programs\Accessories\System Tools\System Information Tool. When the System Information Tool opens, go the toolbar at Tools, then select the Automatic Skip Driver Agent. If you see a window popup and it says "No ASD critical failures present ", you are fine here. Anything else will have been a problem, choose to enable those that are listed.

 

How do I go about editing that file? Do I go into msconfig again and click on the Autoexe.bat tab? Also, do I get rid of the LDBX and the gobbledygook that comes after the next C prompt?

Sorry, but I don't have much experience with this and don't want to make a bad situation worse. I am the sort that does well following explicit directions.

Thanks again.

 

Hi Buckstone,

To directly answer your quest for autoexec.bat editing:
sysedit

1. Click Start, click Run, type "sysedit" (without quotation marks) in the Open box, and then click OK.

2. On the Window menu, click the appropriate file name (in this case autoexec.bat) to bring it forward.

3. Type "REM" (without quotation marks), followed by a space at the beginning of the appropriate line that is causing the problem or any load line you wish to temporarily disable.

4. On the File menu, click Save.

5. On the File menu, click Exit.

6. Restart your computer.

Alternative method you can use is editing via msconfig and while looking at the autoexec.bat file you can uncheck the boxes in front of the lines that you wish to disable or rem. This can be undone just as easily.

Third method, to see if this is even a real problem, is by preventing it loading at startup in the first place. This would require a diagnostic startup and unchecking the autoexec.bat file as startup item (again, done by using using msconfig).

----FYI-----info overload----
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/192926 I would have used this process of elimination to try to zero in on what was causing my problem. Knowing the problem was taken care of by a safemode boot.

That's after making sure there was no notable problems detected by using "device manager ". No errors (x marked items)...no exclamations....no duplications of loaded devices.

Incidentally when you got the initial msgsrv32 error was a details button available? If so can you click on the "details button and quote the error "? Sometimes this will help to pin down a problem with software or driver.

Second thing I should point out is to make sure you have a renamed backup of your autoexec.bat, stored in safeplace (floppy or holder folder) before editing the original. May be overkill depending on how your system is set up but it's better to be safe than sorry. You may wish to consider adding this and other critical files to scanreg's backup function. This way they are always backed-up along with your registry and can be recovered in a couple of ways. See:
http://www.helpwithwindows.com/windows98/tune-32.html
Direct link to download sredit
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Troy/6883/DownLoad/SREDIT.zip
sredit will allow you to add the other important files to it's backup routine. The tool is much easier than trying to manually do this by editing scanreg.ini file.

Just another reference link below for msgsrv32 functions and problems. Some information is a bit out dated but it is informative none the less.
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000450.htm

 

Success!
I followed goddez1's directions for sysedit and removed that troublesome line from autoexec.bat, and the computer works great! Thanks to all who responded. Now my retired accountant father-in-law can get the taxes done for all of those little old ladies from the church that have been bringing him their shoeboxes full of receipts.
Thanks again.