Explorer frequently crashing (mostly kernel error).

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StargateFan - 22 Oct 2006 12:07 GMT

EXPLORER caused an invalid page fault in module KERNEL32.DLL at
0167:bff9db61
EXPLORER caused an invalid page fault in module SHELL32.DLL at
0167:7fcfa29c

I've gotten the above error messages, esp. the kernel one pretty
consistently for last few days. (btw, I also am very occasionally
getting an IPF error that doesn't specify what the difficulty is just
the location, the "at" numbers.)

I did a lot of searches in the archives and found 2 things that might
help, disabling scripting, which I did by changing any of the "prompt"
items to "disable". That helped a lot. I now last a couple of
minutes before a crash not just each time I click on a folder.

This exact thing happened during my last installation which is why I
reformatted and re-installed Win98SE about 3 weeks ago. This time
around I don't want to do that and need to figure out what's causing
this. The difficulty is that I don't know which app may be the
culprit, if an app is at fault here. I installed all programs as per
normal initially and no problems but then a week ago, I installed
another few over a few days.

After disabling scripting in IE, I also found msg re potential fix in
deleting the PWL file. Since I don't need any PWLs, deleted the 2 I
found. That didn't seem to help and I still am crashing
intermittently.

Anyway, thought I'd start a thread since this isn't the first time
this has happened to me. This way, I can keep the thread for the next
install to see if I can figure out which, if any, app is doing this.

TIA. :oD

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StargateFan - 22 Oct 2006 13:24 GMT

>EXPLORER caused an invalid page fault in module KERNEL32.DLL at
>0167:bff9db61
[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]
>
>TIA. :oD

This is the other one I keep getting, too:

EXPLORER caused an invalid page fault in module <unknown> at
0000:016a32dc.

tia.

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Nigel Stapley - 22 Oct 2006 13:56 GMT

> EXPLORER caused an invalid page fault in module KERNEL32.DLL at
> 0167:bff9db61
> EXPLORER caused an invalid page fault in module SHELL32.DLL at
> 0167:7fcfa29c

As Explorer and Internet Explorer are so closely linked that it would be
illegal even in Alabama, try running a repair on IE:

Start > Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs

Select the entry which begins "Microsoft Internet Explorer..." (you may
have others which just begin "Internet Explorer": these are usually
patches/hotfixes).

Click on Add/Remove > Repair Internet Explorer > OK

Let the repair run through, then reboot when prompted.

HTH

Signature

Regards

Nigel Stapley

www.judgemental.plus.com

<reply-to will bounce>

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StargateFan - 22 Oct 2006 15:37 GMT

>> EXPLORER caused an invalid page fault in module KERNEL32.DLL at
>> 0167:bff9db61
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
>HTH

Yes, I hoped that that would help <g> ... I just rebooted after the
repair and have crashed twice, still ...

The first error msg I didn't copy, but it was another IPF at <unknown>
at a certain location. This particular msg I've searched online for
and it doesn't turn up at all in google or even in the KB of MS. But
the second error was the usual:

EXPLORER caused an invalid page fault in
module KERNEL32.DLL at 0167:bff9db61.

Since yesterday I've been slowly installing again all my spyware,
etc., software and have started running scans. Turning up clean so
far with Ad-Aware, CWShredder and Spybot. Next going to run a2 trojan
remover, too.

<sigh> Don't want to reformat/reinstall this time around so going to
keep at it.

Thanks. :oD

Reply to this Message

glee - 22 Oct 2006 15:59 GMT

Stargate fan wrote:
" but then a week ago, I installed
another few over a few days."

...and then your problems started? What are those other few programs exactly?

Do the errors occur in Safe Mode?

Do they occur if you do a Clean Boot?

What have you done in terms of eliminating the possibility of malware (virus,
trojan, adware, spyware) being responsible?

To start in Safe Mode:
- Start the computer and hold down the CTRL key till the Windows 98 Startup menu
(boot menu) appears.
OR
- Repeatedly tap the F8 key after the memory count to bring up the boot menu.
- Use the arrow keys to select "Safe Mode" and press Enter.

To do a Clean Boot:
How to Perform Clean-Boot Troubleshooting for Windows 98
http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=192926

"CLEAN BOOT -- What it is and why you need it." by MS MVP Gary Terhune
http://grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm

Signature

Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

> EXPLORER caused an invalid page fault in module KERNEL32.DLL at
> 0167:bff9db61
[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]
>
> TIA. :oD

Reply to this Message

StargateFan - 29 Oct 2006 12:42 GMT

Sorry for delay, I'd not had a chance to look at this further until
this morning.

>Stargate fan wrote:
>" but then a week ago, I installed
>another few over a few days."
>
>...and then your problems started? What are those other few programs exactly?

Well, that's why I stated I didn't know in my first message:

"The difficulty is that I don't know which app may be the
culprit, if an app is at fault here. I installed all programs as per
normal initially and no problems but then a week ago, I installed
another few over a few days."

>Do the errors occur in Safe Mode?

Yes, just tried it out this morning.

>Do they occur if you do a Clean Boot?

Looking at that process (as per instructions below) now.

>What have you done in terms of eliminating the possibility of malware (virus,
>trojan, adware, spyware) being responsible?

I ran all my programs and they come out clean. The programs I've run
are these:

Ad-Aware
Spybot S&D
CWShredder Trojan Remover v2.19 (recommended over at CastleCops)
a² Free

I also have AVG and ZoneAlarm firewall.
I also scandisk and defrag weekly.
And I have a bat file that I use 2 or 3 times a day when booting that
cleans out temp folders, etc.

Everything checks out.

>To start in Safe Mode:
>- Start the computer and hold down the CTRL key till the Windows 98 Startup menu
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>"CLEAN BOOT -- What it is and why you need it." by MS MVP Gary Terhune
>http://grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm

Reply to this Message

StargateFan - 29 Oct 2006 13:24 GMT

[snip]

>>Do they occur if you do a Clean Boot?
>
>Looking at that process (as per instructions below) now.

[snip]

Well, I read up on the "Clean Boot" process and followed the
instructions. The IPF errors are still occuring. They occur in safe
mode, as well.

Frankly, I don't know what to do anymore. The alternative is
incredibly time-consuming, that is, to yet again wipe and reformat and
re-install. I did that last time but would greatly prefer to get to
the root of the problem and fix. Is there any hope that the source of
IPF's can be found?

I get 3 errors every few minutes and Explorer still is not lasting
more than about 5 minutes before crashing. It's much better than last
week when I knocked out the scritping in IE. At that point, it was
crashing every few seconds.

The errors are pretty much in kernel, but I get <unknown> frequently
and shell32 every once in a while.

TIA.

Reply to this Message

glee - 29 Oct 2006 15:00 GMT

If the problems and errors occur in every mode and type of boot, and even after
formatting and fresh-installing, I'd normally say it is a hardware problem, or very
basic driver problem (by that I mean chipset driver for motherboard). My guess
would be some hardware problem, but to determine that you'd need to start swapping
out some stuff. Remove all cards and peripherals so only the memory, processor and
video card (if it is not integrated video) are installed. If you have access to
another video card, try it.

Unfortunately, since the issues do NOT appear to occur till after you start
installing software, it is more likely something there causing it, but since you did
not monitor installs or even keep track of what you installed when, I have no way to
determine which one. You might try uninstalling all your added software, through
Add/Remove Programs, down to just the Windows install, and then reinstall your apps
one at a time with testing in between each install.

Monitor the installs with the freeware version of Total Uninstall (TUN):
http://freeware4u.com/modules/mydownloads/singlefile.php?lid=234

If none of that helps, I would format, fresh-install, and then start installing one
app at a time while documenting the resuilts for a couple of days before the next
install, and using TUN to monitor.

Are you using a standard retail Windows disc for the install, or is it an OEM or
modified disc of some sort?
Have you installed all the critical updates from WU? Have you installed any other
updates or add-ons?

After you did the IE repair, did it say it was successful? Did you try an over the
top install of IE6 SP1?

Signature

Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

> [snip]
>
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
>
> TIA.

Reply to this Message

Not a computer geek - 24 Oct 2006 22:27 GMT

I have recently gotten that message (EXPLORER caused an invalid page fault in
module KERNEL32.DLL) and others, and have had other problems as well since
installing Norton Antivirus 2005, including repeatedly being disconnected
from the internet and everything being really slow. I'm not sure if this is
the same problem as yours. Dell tech support didn't have much to offer;
Semantec tech support at first said to uninstall/reinstall the Norton
Antivirus. When that didn't change anything, they (Semantec tech support)
told me " that this issue can happen due to the remnants or the Norton
program present in the (MSI) Microsoft Installer." They went on: "In order
to resolve this issue you have to clean your MSI and then try installing the
Norton Anti Virus 2005." They said I should get the Microsoft Windows
Installer CleanUp Utility to do this. I just got their email about this
yesterday, and I want to make sure I'm not getting in over my head since I'm
not a computer geek or anything close. Does anyone know anything about this
Microsoft Windows Installer CleanUp Utility? All I could find searching the
Microsoft web site was the utility itself and the readme document.

> EXPLORER caused an invalid page fault in module KERNEL32.DLL at
> 0167:bff9db61
[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]
>
> TIA. :oD

Reply to this Message

glee - 25 Oct 2006 00:29 GMT

Here's a description of the utility, along with a link to the download:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/MSICLEAN.htm
and MSKB article:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=290301
as well as a screenshot showing what interface you will see:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/images/msi7.png

The readme file should explain the rest. You would install and then run the
utility, selecting all the Symantec/Norton entries, then clicking the remove button.
This will remove ALL Symantec products so make sure there are none you are not
prepared to lose or reinstall.

Don't use the utility to remove its own entry in the utility.

That said, I know only one person (MS-MVP Brian Sesko) who has had any success
getting NAV 2005 to work without issues on a Win98SE system. Perhaps he will jump
in with some advice. My recommendation is to not use NAV 2005 with Win98.

Signature

Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

>I have recently gotten that message (EXPLORER caused an invalid page fault in
> module KERNEL32.DLL) and others, and have had other problems as well since
[quoted text clipped - 46 lines]
>>
>> TIA. :oD

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