program -Illegal operation

When I try to access a program I get the message, the program has performed an illegal operation . How do I continue?

 

Is it any program, or just one particular one? which one?
What programs do you have loading at startup? You can look by hitting the Start button, then go to Programs\Accessories\System Tools\System Information. Then when that window opens up, click on Tools, then select System Configuration Utility. When that opens up, click on the Autoexec.bat, Config.Sys and Startup tabs and post back here what you find.

 

markp62, Thank you for the response.
I have found the following:
under autoexec. bat#1 c:\essaudio.com
configsys
#1 device=c:\essaudio.sys
#2 device=c:\windows\hieme.sys rem-by windowssetu-for 1st boot-device=c:\windows\emm 386.exe noems
#3 dos=high,umb,auto
#4 fileshigh=80
#5 bufferhigh=40,4rem-by windows setup-devicehigh=c:\windows\system\cpqideld.sys
id:idecdoo1
#6 shell=c:\command.comc:\e:2048
start up
#1 msmsg
#2 system tray
#3 cij3p2 server
#4 nprotect
#5 pointer
#6 hpdj taskbar utijity
#7hphmon03
#8 cxmon
#9sharetoweb namespace daemon
#10 ptsnoop
#11 scanregistrey
#12 cpqns
#13 cpqeasyacc
#14 eaclean
#15 cpqine-
#16 country selection
#17description of shortcut
#18 microsoft office startup
#19compuserve 7.0 tray icon
#20 internet answering machine
#21 my software news flash
end .
I have trouble on various programs, the most oftin with starfish.
thank you

 

Welcome to the boards, trying:

Your autoexec.bat and config.sys don't look too bad but there is a lot of "stuff" in the Startup. Go to this site Here or this one to get some ideas of what can be safely turned off in Startup.

JohnB

 

After reading all that I can tell you have a Compaq. The one thing I see that may be causing this is the msoffice startup, expecially if it is actually Fastfind, you can disable that. I have seen it cause a lot of problems.
For a better config.sys, use Notepad to edit it to be like this. device=c:\windows\himem.sys
device=c:\windows\emm.386.exe noems
dos=high,umb,auto
fileshigh=80
bufferhigh=40
device=c:\essaudio.sys

With the emm386 rem'd out, the fileshigh and buffershigh are not working, allow it to load by editing out the rem. The himem and emm386 needs to be first, before a device driver. Your memory will thank you.
You can disable the shell command, it is not needed for windows. It is setting your command environment to 2048 bytes and is for dos.
Autoexec.bat seems fine.
Run scandisk, then uninstall starfish, reboot. Then install it, then reboot.
An illegal operation is basically a memory address conflict, and can be caused by a bug in software, or disk errors.

 

markp62,
After reasing you lasr post I must revise my experience rating to beginner un -experienced, i would not know how to execute your recommend moves. Sorry about that. In the past I have had trouble when booting up, I have been able to uncheck (device=c:\essaudio..sys), under configsys, however now after I reboot it is still checked. I think this could be some of the problem. Appreciate any ideas you may have

 

http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=37451#post37451

JOHNB<
Thank you for your reply, I am trying your suggestions --- wil let you know-outcome