Error Message

[patio]

Out of curiosity...do you have any McAfee products on that computer?

None that I can think of.
So far, the installation of the new C++ Runtime Library seems to have solved the problem--We'll see.
Tom

Good to hear Tom...thanx  for the update. Let's hope it worked.

[Barefoot_Tom]

Good to hear Tom...thanx  for the update. Let's hope it worked.

I'm sorry to report that it didn't work. The same Runtime error has occurred again. My next step is to re-install Windows. I'll let everyone know what happens.
Tom

[Barefoot_Tom]

I've successfully re-installed Windows, as suggested. Now I have to wait and see if the problem re-surfaces. If it does, i'll be back asking for more suggestions. In any case, I want to thank everyone for their help.
Tom

[CBMatt]

Thanks for the update, Tom.  I would expect that to solve the problem, but if not, let us know and we'll brainstorm a bit more.

My question is: Is there any way, given the above conditions, that I can reactivate Windows Explorer?. At the momenmt, the only way to do so is to re-boot, which is tiresome. Since the taskbar is not accessible, neither is the Start Menu.

I may be completely wrong here, but, can't you do ctrl+alt+delete to bring up task manager?  If so then isn't all that you have to do click "new task" and then type in "explorer.exe"?

Not that this would solve the problem, but it might be a good work around until you can find a true solution.

let me know if it works, ok?  (if not you, then maybe someone else who would know whether or not this would work)

We prefer to try to actually solve problems, not just sweep them under the rug.

[keybowvio]

yes, but maybe for the time being it might of been a good work around.

btw, could it of actually worked?

[Barefoot_Tom]

yes, but maybe for the time being it might of been a good work around.

btw, could it of actually worked?

Unfortunately, that won't work. In Win98SE, pressing Alt+Ctrl+Del brings up a Window which shows all running programs, and allows you to close them selectively. It does not give you an option to initiate a new task.
Tom

[Barefoot_Tom]

Sadly, I have to report that re-installing Windows did not solve my problem; so it's back to the drawing board.

As I've reported, the problem occurs sporadically, and I can't determine what triggers it. It happens when I'm closing a running program, but not every time. Not even every time with the same program. I can't determine what is going on when Explorer crashes, since the only thing I'm able to do at that point is re-boot.

All suggestions are welcome.
Tom

[keybowvio]

yes, but maybe for the time being it might of been a good work around.

btw, could it of actually worked?

Unfortunately, that won't work. In Win98SE, pressing Alt+Ctrl+Del brings up a Window which shows all running programs, and allows you to close them selectively. It does not give you an option to initiate a new task.
Tom

okay, thanks for that little bit of info, sorry to hear that your problem isn't resolved 

[CBMatt]

It's a bit of a longshot, but have you updated Windows?

You might want to give this hotfix a shot...
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/935448

As well as this codec pack...
http://www.download.com/AVI-Codec-Pack/3000-2169_4-10665203.html?tag=pdp_prod

Like I said...it's a longshot, but it's worked for similar problems, so it might be worth a try.

[Barefoot_Tom]

It's a bit of a longshot, but have you updated Windows?

You might want to give this hotfix a shot...
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/935448

As well as this codec pack...
http://www.download.com/AVI-Codec-Pack/3000-2169_4-10665203.html?tag=pdp_prod

Like I said...it's a longshot, but it's worked for similar problems, so it might be worth a try.

The hotfix URL doesn't seem pertinent to this proble, It's specifically for computers running XP, not Win98SE.
The Codec Pack does seem to be a longshot, but I'll give it a try.
Thanks,
Tom

[CBMatt]

The hotfix URL doesn't seem pertinent to this proble, It's specifically for computers running XP, not Win98SE.

Right, sorry, I had a long night (I've been having a lot of those lately) and I forgot that you're running 98SE.  But let me know if the codec pack helps anything.  I'll keep my fingers crossed.

[Barefoot_Tom]

The hotfix URL doesn't seem pertinent to this proble, It's specifically for computers running XP, not Win98SE.

Right, sorry, I had a long night (I've been having a lot of those lately) and I forgot that you're running 98SE.  But let me know if the codec pack helps anything.  I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Well, I installed the new codec pack, and the problem persists.
However, I am now able to reproduce the error at will. If I right-click anywhere on the desktop, I get an error message, such as I've reported. The error is with C:\Windows\Explorer.Exe, which is not even running at the time. Clicking on "OK" (the only thing that can be done, results in all the icons on the desktop, and the Taskbar, disappearing. The only action that can be taken is to shut the computer down, and then re-boot.

I'm not sure that this is the only action which produces the error message, but it is the first one I've found that will do it consistently.
Tom

[2k_dummy]

Have you tried booting with an absolute minimum of programs loading at startup? Go to start/run, type msconfig, press enter. Under the startup tab, uncheck everything except explorer and systray (if they are present). Click apply and reboot. If one of the startup programs is causing a problem, you can use a process of elimination by rechecking one item at a time and see when the failure occurs.

[Fed]

Back up your pics & data > Format > Install OS > Install & Update Protection > Windows Update.

[Barefoot_Tom]

Have you tried booting with an absolute minimum of programs loading at startup? 

I tried it, but with no success.
However, persistence pays off! I narrowed the problem down to the Graphics Display device. Removing and re-installing it, didn't help. I have the latest drivers for it, and they don't help. I checked the computer using Aida32, and found there were 2 graphics controllers, and 2 graphics accelerators installed. This condition had existed for a long time, and was only now giving a problem. I checked the computer physically, and found a graphics card, which I had forgotten about, as well as the built-in chip for the graphics controller. I removed the card, and the problem went away. Everything seems to be working now.

Thanks, everyone, for all your suggestions.
Tom