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tmcghee

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Windows 98 - Boots then gives explorer.exe page fault

This machine boots and I get the wallpaper background and the login screen. After either entering the login information or canceling it, I get explorer.exe has has caused a page fault. I have looked up this error on the net and have tried extracting files including the explorer.exe file to the C:\windows\directory as directed by the various TIDs I have read.

Also an NDetect window sometimes pops up with some error. I cancel that and then login, I don't get the explorer.exe page fault error but the system just sits there doing nothing.

Can anyone shed some light or send me in a new direction/directions to get this thing fixed.

Thanks!
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blue_zee
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Tap F8 at startup and select Safe Mode.

Uninstall ALL Norton/Symantec products in Add/Remove Programs and reboot.

Does the error reappear?

Zee
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tmcghee

ASKER

Gets to safe mode but still will not let me, I get the same explorer.exe message.

Tap F8 again but now select Command Prompt.

At the C:\ prompt type:

SCANREG /RESTORE (space between G and /)

Press ENTER, select a date just BEFORE the problem started and reboot wen finished.

Did this help?

Zee
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ASKER

Tried the restore to two previous times. One started asking for the 98 CD to install the drivers for the Keyboard and such but the explorer.exe error is still popping up and won't let me in.
Do you have the Windows 98 CD?

Are you willing to reinstall Windows on top?

Zee
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ASKER

Now, before even entering the user name and password, I am getting NDetect is causing a general page fault.....
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ASKER

If I absolutely have too. At least the data would still be in tact. I would have to reinstall the programs though and I might not have all of those. Anything else you can think of before reloading OS?

Well could I reload the OS. back up the new registry, then try to restore one of the old registries so it would find the programs that were installed?

Reinstalling on top will not require reinstalling the software you're running, if all goes as expected, of course.

You will need the Product Key for the version of Windows already installed. Do you have it?

Be sure you have it BEFORE starting the installation!

To reinstall Windows on top:

Start your PC with a boot floppy. Don't have one? Get it at www.bootdisk.com.

Select with CD-Rom support and place the Windows CD in the drive.

At the A:\ prompt type

E: (press enter)

Your prompt should now be E:\ for the CD drive. Now type:

SETUP (press enter)

This will launch the installation process.

Be sure you install to C:\Windows and NOT anything else that may be offered (like C:\Windows.000).

It will take you 30-45 minutes to complete and you will need a few visits to Windows Update.

As soon as you manage a successful boot to Windows, IMMEDIATLY uninstall Norton/Symantec products that you are running.

If you don't have the Product Key, post back for instructions.

Goof luck,

Zee
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ASKER

I have the product keys (I Think). I will give the re-install a shot and see what happens. For tonight though, I think I am going to make an image of the disk, just in case something goes, well you know.... A backup never hurts anyway. I will do the reinstall tomorrow morning.

Thanks for all your help today and I hope you will be on here tomorrow.

You're correct, better safe than sorrow.

If you need to recover the ORIGINAL product key, here's a premade batch file that will get it for you from the DOS prompt.

Copy it to your startup/boot disk, boot to the A:\ prompt and simply type KEY and press Enter.

You will see your key after the words  "ProductKey".

http://www.angelfire.com/va3/vic3/key.zip

Again, better safe than sorrow.

Zee

Instead of Copy it...

Please Unzip it the floppy.

Sorry, mistyped that.

Zee
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LeeTutor
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Lee,

It's NDetect, part of a Symantec product, probably Internet Security:

http://www.liutilities.com/products/wintaskspro/processlibrary/ndetect/

Zee
OK, thanks, blue_zee.
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ASKER

OK I got the product key and the system is using Win98 Second Edition. However, when I go to reinstall the OS, I get an arrogant message that there is already an OS installed and I that need an upgrade version.

How do you reinstall the OS?

Thanks!

Been a while since I dealt with 98.......
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ASKER

That worked thank you very much!

That is great!

Now please reward everyone that contributed to the solution:

https://www.experts-exchange.com/help.jsp#hi69

Cheers,

Zee
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ASKER

Hi all,

installed a 3com ether into this machine to get it to internet to update. It was using SBC and modem and it looks like a WIreless Lan card had been loaded on here too.

In any case the NIC (ether) is configured and I can ping internal network and outside network on internet. However explorer acts like it can't get out saying that it cannot find the server or address I give it.

What gives here?

Thanks!