can't get to desktop

[jepeters]

On a Windows 98 Compaq Presario, upon startup, I get a 'Explorer has performed in illegal operation'.... error. I close the error window, but except for the wallpaper, nothing appears and I can't do anything except shut it down. It does the same thing when starting in safe mode.

Suggestions?

[EzyStvy]

Click on the "details" button on the error message and post the info back here.

[jepeters]

Explore caused an invalid page fault in module Explore.exe at 017f:00401f31

Registers
EAX=00000000 CS=017f EIP=00401f31 EFLGS=00010246
EBX=00000001 SS=0187 ESP=005fff20 EBP=005fff28
ECX=c1674200 DS=0187 ESI=00000000 FS=249f
EDX=005fff30 ES=0187 EDI=00000000 GS=0000

Bytes at CS:EIP
8b 08 50 ff 11 8b 45 08 50 8b 08 ff 51 08 8b 45

Stack Dump
00401ee0 005fff30 005fff68 00405cac 00000000
00000000 00000000 00000001 00404436 0059fc30
00000008 00000000 00000000 0000ffff 7ff31bbe
00000001

[glc]

If you can't even get it running in safe mode, you may have to run the quick restore kit.

[jepeters]

tried that, but the cd drive can't read the restore cd. Might ask them to send out another one.

I suppose I could just start with a floppy and re-format and install Win98 by itself, but whenever I do that on a compaq, it seems like there's always some driver that isn't included on the Win98 cd -- not that I couldn't go to their site and find it, but it's a hassle.

[oldbe1]

Tried a "scanreg /restore" from a DOS prompt?

John

[jepeters]

oops--should have waited a little longer and then I would have gotten the suggestion to do the scanreg--

The Restore disk would not work, so I booted with a floppy, formatted, and installed Win98 from scratch. I got Compaqs drivers from their website. BUT, the computer will not see the modem at all--not in device manager, not by 'Add New Hardware', etc.

I'm sure it is one of their proprietary pieces of hardware. Is there any way I can force the computer to recognize it?

[glc]

Try reseating the modem. It should plug and play if it's seen at all.

[jepeters]

I removed the modem and re-installed it. No difference. But it did make me notice that when I put the modem in, Device Manager lists it as an 'Other Device' named 'PCI Serial Controller', with the yellow warning on it.

I try to run the modem setup program that I downloaded, but it says that it can't find a modem. When I go to the 'PCI Serial Controller' and try to update the drivers by pointing to the directory with the modem drivers in it, the computer won't accept them.

I put an old, ISA Compaq modem into this computer, and it had no trouble finding it and asking for the drivers--but I want to use the modem that came with the computer originally.

[oldbe1]

Now try your restore disk?! Was the modem shipped with the restore disk as 'Original Configuration'? If so, restore disk should put the drivers back.

Do you have the Win98 .cab files at your root drive? There are a lot of drivers in the .cab files. I usually drop the files in a Win98 folder at the root so's when I need to restore a defective/missing item I can just browse to the Win98 folder with out having to dig out the blessed CD every time. Most drives are large enough so the extra freight isn't felt.

John

[JCH]

PCI serial controller may be the USB controller. You also may have an AMR modem in which case the drivers will be on the restore disk. You may also need chipset drivers for the motherboard chipset. They also should be on the restore disk.

[jepeters]

The 'PCI serial controller' listing in Device Manager disappears when I remove the modem, so I don't think it can be the USB controller.

When I put the restore disk in (and I've tried 2 different ones from people who have the same model) it boots up and gives me the option of installing the original drivers. But whenever I click on that choice, it kicks me back out to the desktop.

The modem is a Rockwell. I downloaded the SP file, but that doesn't actually create the INF files, etc.

Just had a thought--if i go to the person who has this same computer, would it work to just find and copy all the driver files that were extracted and put on his computer over to this computer?

And, if I needed to get the chipset drivers from this other computer, where would I find them?