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Invalid Dynamic Link Call when booting Win98

When trying to boot win98 (previously working fine) I got all the way to the point where my background loaded and I got the following error: Invalid Dynamic Link Call to DLL File, and a CANCEL button. When I click on the cancel button, the error goes away but the computer is frozen. If I then hit Ctrl-Alt-Del, I get the Close Program dialog box with NO programs listed as being loaded. The only option I have is to choose Shut Down and the computer dutifly complies.

I am able to boot into safe mode, but cannot seem to find anything wrong. Please help! Thanks!

Mike

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Asta Cu

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Asta Cu

This link provides great help in understanding and using the Windows 98 tools (many of which I've mentioned above):

http://support.microsoft.com/support/windows/tools/98Tools.asp

http://support.microsoft.com/support/windows/howto/98/tools.asp
Windows 98 How-To Guide
Tools

Asta

fedagent

ASKER

Thanks for the quick response. You have given me alot to try. I'll get back to you when I have and see if anything helped.

Asta Cu

Sounds good, hopefully it'll be a quick resolution and much provided won't be needed. Since I've got heavy schedule, may not be able to check back online for some time and wanted to provide you alternatives in the process. Surely didn't mean to inundate you with too much. A couple of other thoughts came to mind and question:

Are you on a Novell network? Found the following link which had this as one of the error messages: "Your program is making an invalid dynamic link call to a .DLL file", and "CAUSE: Client for NetWare Networks - The NetWare Administrator program does not work with the Microsoft Client for NetWare Networks. The NetWare Administrator program works only with Novell VLM (the NetWare MS-DOS requester).", and may help. Here's the link:

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q124/7/12.asp?LNG=ENG&SA=ALLKB&FR=0

fedagent

ASKER

No, no network hookup... and thanks again!

1cell

what is the exact error?

smeebud

fedagent,
try a scandisk>>defrag>>and SFC 1st.

It may just solve your problem.

Or boot to a dos prompt and type:
SCANREG /FIX
and let 98 do it's job.
Reboot and let us know the results.

Regards,
Bud
http://www.geocities.com/~budallen/
Bud's Win95 Win98 Tips and Troubleshooter

fedagent

ASKER

I ended up having to reload 98. SO the problem remains a mystery. Thanks to all who responded.

Asta Cu

Thank you, Fedagent, after a Windows 98 reinstall, recommend that you run WIndowsUpdate. Here's the pertinent QA from WindowsUpdate:

If I re-install my operating system, do I need to re-install the components I have downloaded from Windows Update?
Yes. If you reinstall Windows, you will need to re-install any components you had previously downloaded from http://Windowsupdate.Microsoft.com.

I'm convinced we could have had more success in troubleshooting the issues if more was known about specific error messages, since DLLs aren't necessarily just Windows 98 links; can be written by many.

Asta