doggone it, anyhow! Explorer fault!

[janusz]

Windows 98SE/IE6.0

From time to time, I get an error message stating that Explorer caused a fault in kernel32.dll. When I close the error dialog box, explorer restarts but I lose tray icons. This reminds me of the problems with IE 5.0 when IE would cause this. But this is not IE but Windows Explorer.

I tried rebuilding the password file (.pwl) and APPLOG folder (deleted them and they rebuild themselves automagically) about a week ago; thought it solved the problem. Nada, just happened again.

Any possible solutions come to mind?

Edit: video drivers up-to-date; acceleration: 50%


Thanks,

Janusz

[ProfessorU]

This is a known issue with windows98. The solution posted at microsoft.com suggests you restart. (hardly a solution, I know)

There are ways to separate the system explorer.exe from the filebrowser explorer.exe; that is, use a fresh instance of explorer in each window plus one for the system. The advantage of this is that when one crashes, the others (usually) don't. The disadvantage is that this takes up more clock cycles and RAM. I know that in recent windows OSes, there is an option in the Tools>folder options menu under the view tab for 'launch folder windows in a separate process'. I'm not certain but I don't think 98 has it. There are some third party apps out there that will remove explorer.exe and ie's connections with the system, to improve stability when one of them crashes, but I haven't used any of them, so I'm reluctant to recommend one. Maybe someone else can do that.

[janusz]

Thanks, ProfessorU, for clearing up the mystery! Restart.

Yup, Windows 98 has that option. Under Folder Options-View tab: "Launch folder windows in a separate process" - it was not checked; I checked it.

Does this give what you called a "fresh instance of explorer in each window plus one for the system"??

I appreciate you taking the time to respond.

Janusz

[jmatt]

http://www.generation.net/~hleboeuf/errkrn32.htm
http://support.microsoft.com/support.../Q187/9/65.ASP
http://support.microsoft.com/support...-US&SD=gn&FR=0
http://support.microsoft.com/support...LNG=ENG&SA=PER

http://www.windowstrouble.com/kernel32dll.shtml
http://www.windrivers.com/tech/troub...exceptions.htm
http://www.geocities.com/budallen98_...ion_error.html
http://windows-help.net/windows95/troub-37.shtml
http://www.svetlian.com/en/Kernel32.htm
http://www.all-windows.com/kernel32.html
http://www.aumha.org/a/k32fix.htm

[janusz]

Thanks, jmatt! Great links. I've become familiar with most of the sites as I've searched for a solution. Things like bad PDM.DLL files or errors involving Internet Explorer instead of Windows Explorer or faults in other modules, etc. did not match my problem. I do not see a pattern to the problem - seems random.

That last link - now at http://www.aumha.org/a/kernel32.htm - is a fine resource for this kind of problem. In any case, I will give this a try and cross my fingers:

" . . . repeat KERNEL32.DLL errors can often be resolved by deleting your Windows swap file, WIN386.SWP, and letting it rebuild itself."

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Janusz

[janusz]

What?

I went back to Window Explorer and looked under Folder Options-View tab . . . and "Launch folder windows in a separate process" has vanished!! Nothing. Apparently, after checking the box, it left the scene! Gone like a wild goose in winter!

What happened?

Janusz

[jmatt]

Advanced.zip
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tony.mc...tech/tech.html
Click Start, Settings, "Folder options", click View, marvel at the options Microsoft give you
to play with, now install this file, reboot, and go back to see what they should have given you.
Tech Explain : Adds many more options to the OS thus allowing more customisation. Some of the
options duplicate others found on this site, or add an on/off feature for the function.

[Nick Grana]

janusz , you're not lonesome.
I am constantly playing in windows explorer changing,
copying, moving blah blah blah and at same time listening
to many of my Elvis songs on WMP. Then I go into control
panel for some reason.........you get the idea. I'm all over,
when, blink, that lovely rectangle with the detail button that
tells me absolutely nothing. As you, once I hit OK, or X out,
lose all my traycons. I can still play, but reboot is only way to put
things exactly back as I like. I just live with it.
I almost crashed every session, at least once, big freeze with
IE5.5 and IE6 but those things just cleared up after tweaking
more things than I coould possibly remember.
Hey, this doesn't help you but let you know you have company.
Good luck!!

[IMM]

What vid card (and what driver set)? What chipset (and associated AGP driver version)? What version of DirectX?

[janusz]

1. Thanks, jmatt! I did not want all the other options so I modified advanced.reg as shown below: Hope that does the trick.

Modified from" Advanced Windows" Advanced.zip
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tony.mc...tech/tech.html

==========================================
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Advanced\Explorer]
"Text"="Explorer Options"
"Type"="group"
"Bitmap"="Shell32.dll,46"
"HelpID"="iexplore.hlp#50041"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Advanced\Explorer\NewProc]
"RegPath"="Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer"
"Text"="Open every Windows Explorer instance in a new window"
"Type"="checkbox"
"CheckedValue"=dword:1
"UncheckedValue"=dword:0
"ValueName"="DesktopProcess"
"DefaultValue"=dword:0
"HKeyRoot"=dword:80000001
"HelpID"="iexplore.hlp#50048"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Advanced\Explorer\NewProcIE]
"RegPath"="SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\BrowseNewProcess"
"Text"="Open every Internet Explorer instance in a new window"
"Type"="checkbox"
"CheckedValue"="yes"
"UncheckedValue"="no"
"ValueName"="BrowseNewProcess"
"DefaultValue"="yes"
"HKeyRoot"=dword:80000001
"HelpID"="iexplore.hlp#50178"
"PlugUIText"="@inetcplc.dll,-4733"
==========================================


2. NickGrana - you might try the registry tweak above so the windows explorer opens in separate process. I've NOT had this problem regularly but I do what you do . . . once everything comes back and most of the tray icons are gone, I usually continue. However, this is no guarantee things will still work right - work too long after the event and experience the revenge of Microsoft Bob -- Windows will lock up.


3. IMM - Here's additional info:


DirectX: version 4.09

Matrox G450 (Matrox Millennium G450)
ChipSet Type: Matrox G450
Installed Drivers: G400.drv, version 4.12.01.2130
Memory: 32MB video/21MB AGP

Thanks for taking the time to respond/help!

Janusz