This program has performed illegal operation

Hi,
I have a friend who gets the following error messages on her screen when she tries to connect to Internet Explorer and / or Outlook Express, it says "this program has performed illegal operation and will shut down ". Usually when this appears, re-booting the computer gets rid of the message but not in this case. I have done the routine maintenance stuff, Ctrl-Alt-Del trick, ran the virus scan and checked essential things in Safe Mode. Emptied out history, cookies and Temp Int files. Power management settings are all set on "never ". IP Address is okay and system resources are at 90%. I have bounced all around trying to find whats running, etc, etc and nothing is jumping out at me. I am far from new when it comes to troubleshooting computers and this one has me stumped. Any help will be greatly appreciated...thanks

 

Try this: Open Control Panel and select Add/Remove. Highlight Internet Explorer and click on Remove. An option box will pop up. Select "Repair Internet Explorer." After it finishes you will be prompted to restart your computer. See if this fixes your problem.

-John

 

Hi,
I tried to find Internet Explorer in the Add/Remove before I posted the problem and was unable to. It's a Windows 98 computer...

 

Ok, let me get this right. Your friend is using Internet Explorer but its not listed in the Add/Remove programs. Ok, I've known that to happen. Click Start>Programs>Accessories>System Tools>System Information. When it opens click on Tools>Internet Explorer Repair Tool. When this opens check 'Repair Internet Explorer'. This should solve your problem. If not, then I can only suggest that IE be re-installed.

The reason I suggest to re-install is because it seems to me that your friend may have accidently removed something from the registry using a reg cleaner. I've been guilty of this myself - too trusting with the application. Now when I use a reg cleaner I always make sure I know whats being deleted before I delete it. Also, if this was the case with your friend, he should have a backup of the files his reg application deleted. He can restore those files by using his reg application. But if this is not the case and the above doesn't work, just re-install IE.

-John

 

Hi,
Okay I will give the system information a try, did not think of that one. I thank you for your quick replies and assistance...

 

Post back and let us know how everything turned out.

-John

 

I will either tomorrow(Sun) evening or tuesday evening for sure. Once again, I appreciate your assistance...

 

Hi,
I checked the system information and the repair Internet Explorer or anything similiar is not listed in the tool menu. I doubled checked Add/Remove and it's still not listed there. I was wondering if I can load the Windows 98 CD and click on repair from that ? Your last idea to reinstall the Internet Explorer is not going to be possible because as soon as I "x" out or click on "close" in the error message box it kicks back to the desktop screen. I'm really at a loss as to what to try next ???

 

Do you have a Internet Explorer folder in Program Files? If you do, open that folder and then open the Setup Folder. Double click on the Setup.exe icon and you can repair, or reinstall, this way. Setup will check for the files already on your computer and replace or restore what is missing.

If there is not an IE folder in program files, then I can only assume that the folder was deleted accidently causing your problem. If this is the case I think you can extract Ie from the Win98 cd and reinstall it. I think I have version 4 on my disk. You might be better off re downloading your current version from Windows update.

Also I seem to recall a folder on the C: drive that IE installs as a precaution. I forgot the name, I deleted mine long ago. It is put there in case IE installs improperly or something to that effect. Check there also. Its safe to delete but handy if you need it. You'll probably recognize the name when you see it, I can't right at the moment. IE setup or something to that effect.

-John

 

Thanks...I think I will go into system information and install the windows 98 CD and reinatal that file from that...I'll let you know how I make out...

 

If you have a problem extracting go with the Program File Folder option. The reason I say this is because the setup.exe in the IE folder is the same version you are currently using whereas the version on the disk is probably an earlier version and you'll have to go to Windows Update to update it to the version you are now using.

-John

 

Okay Sir, I agree. I will follow your suggestion and let you know. I may be a day or two before I'll get to it and be able to report back. Again, your help is greatly appreciated...

 

Glad to help. I'll be waiting to hear how everything turns out.

-John

 

Hi JI tried your suggestions and tried them in safe mode as well with no luck I'm sorry to say. When it came to extracting the file, I did not know what to put in the "Restore box and in the Destination box "...That was one problem. then came upa message saying the Windows 98 Cd I had was an earlier version then whats installed so it would not accept it. I am wondering if I can use a Windows/Me disk for the same purpose ? If not hen my only option might be to do an Fdisk/Formatt...Standing by...

 

With the luck you're having a fdisk/format probably won't work either.

As for the Win ME disk, it depends what version of IE is stored there. I don't have ME so I don't know. Worth a try though.

Here's a longshot: Are you connected by a ISP? My setup software has IE installed on it. Maybe yours......?

Instead of formatting re install Windows over itself. Just install as if you have just formatted but use the same folder that Windows is already stored in (C:/Windows). All this will do is replace what files are missing and leave everything else alone. It won't delete anything. This will restore IE. You may have to update it but thats no problem.

If that doesn't work then you can use the fdisk/format option.

And if that doesn't work trash it and buy another.

-John

 

When headaches like these computers bring on, a good sense of humor is definetely needed. Anyways, if I can get my hands on a Windows 98 SE CD, then I'm golden. Otherwise Windows/Me will have to be my long shot. As I mentioned before, when I go into System Information, then to System Checker, I enter Internet Explorer in the box and from there I was tah-booed. Did not know what to put in the "destination box" or the "restore box ". I have come across information telling me what to do but I still have the proper CD problem...This person I am helping has called Microsoft and Dell before calling me. I'll keep you posted...Cheers

 

I think IE4 is the default for Win98. There should be an uninstall.exe for whichever newer version you have. Find it and run it and it should revert back to the default. Then you can reinstall from the setup.exe for the newer version or download the latest version.

 

The uninstall.exe is not in the IE folder in Program Files, at least not in mine. But if you goto Start>Programs and go down the list until you get to Ie, highlight it and the option to uninstall may be there. I have forgotten this because I deleted IE in my Programs menu to make some room. ( IE shortcuts are plastered everywhere so I deleted all but one.)

As for extracting IE from disk, IE requires more than one file to run, at least according to the file folder, so it would probably be best to re-install. I don't know what I was thinking about when I suggested it, extract is good for only one file at a time. But you mentioned not having a 98 disk so what to do, what to do. I got one idea left here that might be easy enough. Go to the following site and download IE. IE 5.5 sp1 has been upgraded to IE6 sp1. Download this file from your computer maybe and transfer it to your friends computer. This is only a get started file and can fit easily on a floppy.

http://download.com.com/3000-2356-10013275.html

Once this file is on your friends computer, click on it, while connected to the internet, and it will download and install IE from Microsoft. Hopefully you won't get a load of **** about having Ie already installed but maybe there's an option to reinstall anyway.

I had to throw in a little humor, sometimes even simple things get frustrating and a little humor helps.

EDIT: I found this link that you can download IE 5.5 sp2 and save to disk. I don't know which version you are using so I found links for these two.


http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...6b-deb9-4a46-81da-abef1ebbd08a&displaylang=en


EDIT again: Your first post stated that you ran a virus scan but did you check for spyware? This could easily be your problem and virus scanners don't check for spyware. Spybot Search & Destroy and AdAware are the two best.

Spybot S&D:http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,22262,00.asp

AdAware: http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

Best of luck,

-John

 

When the error message next appears, click on the Details button and copy and post the full text.

 

I can't thank you all enough for your support. This sure can get techinical...Anyways, the person I am trying to help ordered Windows Xp from DELL. The same day it was ordered, I managed to get my hands on a Windows 98 SE and beleive it or not a CD to Install Internet Explorer which I looked at today downloading from Microsoft. Apparently you can't download Windows 98 but you can the Internet Explorer. I will still make an attempt at re- installing the Internet with the new CD I got. One of my reasons are is because with errors like that I am not sure Windows Xp will correct it before installing the newer version or if there will be a problem ? I will keep you posted...Thanks again...