Windows 98 Problem

[TheJackal]

Okay, heres my problem: My computer won't let me open any file folders or the "My Computer" icon on my desktop. When I click on them I get the little message box that says, "Internet Explorer has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down."

I can access Internet Explorer and all of the shortcuts on my desktop, however the My Computer icon, the Network Neighborhood icon, and any folders, as well as the recycle bin, when double clicked return the error message.

I've checked for viruses and there aren't any. I have also restarted the machine into safe mode to see if I could get access to any of those folders, and I am still unable.

Anyone got any advise on how to fix this?

[Nuclear Krusader]

Hmm, looks very similar to an IRQ problem I've seen before.

What are your system specs?

Pulse Win Key+Break and click on the Device Manager tab. See if there are yellow circles there and post back.

[TheJackal]

My system specs are:

Intel Celeron 600mhz CPU
192mb Ram
13.9gig HDD
32mb Video
8x4x32x CDRW
NIC
Onboard Sound

And when i go to device manager there are no yellow circles.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Hmm. What mobo?

But since you stated that there are no yellow circles, I don't think is an IRQ related prob.

Can you post the entire message windows gives when Explorer causes a GPF? I'm interested in the part that goes after the "...will be shut down" part.

[TheJackal]

Mobo, I don't know what kind of Mobo is inside of it. Its a Packard Bell that I purchased at Radio shack a couple of years back. As for the error message I have attached a picture of it to this message.

[Nuclear Krusader]

The problem is with a DLL.

Ok, go to Start > Run

Type msconfig and click on the Startup tab to see the programs that are loading when win starts.

How many of them are there? Which ones are they?

[TheJackal]

Okie Dokie... There are 22 of them. They are:

MSMSGS
ScanRegistry
TaskMonitor
SystemTray
LoadPowerProfile
EM_EXEC
Multimedia Keyboard
LexmarkPrinTray
LoadQM
NAV Agent
Quick Time Task
ETraffic
Xupiter Startup
TkBellExe
Download Accelerator
XupiterCfgLoader
LoadPowerProfile
Scheduling Agent
Mass Storage Check Registry
LicCtrl
Adobe Gamma Loader.exe

[Nuclear Krusader]

What is Xupiter?

You will need to uncheck them one by one until you find the culprit. When Explorer stosp crashing, that is.

You can start unchecking LoadPoerProfile. It's not the culprit but it also does nothing, so why having it loading into memory?

[TheJackal]

Do I have to restart each time I uncheck one?

[TheJackal]

Well, LoadPowerProfile was the culprit. I unchecked one of the two instances where it loads and my system works fine. Thanks for all your help.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Great!

PS: It's the first time I know that blasted Power Profile causes problems!

[ZANEY123]

xputier is a toolbar gone wrong.....read through this

http://www.spywareinfo.com/newsletter/archives/september-2002/09212002.html#xupiter

i would get rid of that to...here is the unistaller

http://www.xupiter.com/uninstall/


and also can read through byte's info page,go down to section on ad-aware

byte's info page (http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?&threadid=49144)

Zaney123:D

[TheJackal]

Thanks... I was wondering how to get rid of Xupiter. It sure is an annoying program.

[Rick Hall]

I do not beleive that LoadPowerProfile is the culprit since there are SUPPOSED to be 2 instances of this running.

[TheJackal]

Well, unchecking LoadPowerProfile fixed the problem, and thats good enough for me. At least my machine works properly now.

[Markoman01027]

Henry,
I am gonna remove LowerPowerProfile :) As now I know I don't need to use it :P

[Nuclear Krusader]

Whenever I finish to install Windows, one of the first things I do is going into msconfig and remove the LoadPowerProfile. Both of them.

[GaryRouth]

Hi all

Ok, ok - so I didn't have time until now to jump in.

The problem has nothing to do with the Power Profile. It has to do with KaZaa and Xupiter and Gator and Gain and all the other havoc adware/spyware/filesharing/filethieving programs can wreak on systems. Don't believe? Follow this link to two or three other folks with your exact same problem:
http://forums.techguy.org/t108105/sd51779efc08ee84fbbbb91fce04fdd4a.html
And look under the "X" listing in this Startup List: http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_pages/startup_full.htm

You have a lot of things going in the background. Some of them really don't need to be running every minute the computer is on. Things like Real Player and QuickTime will run just fine when you need them, without all that nonsense in the background. Try that second link I posted (the "Startup List" page from pacs-portal) to learn more about what is loading when you start Windows 98.

By all means, head straightaway to download AdAware, the Cleaner, and perhaps Search & Destroy (make backups before using Search & Destroy - it's more aggressive than the others).
Here's an excellent site where you can learn more about spyware and its hazards: http://www.spywareinfo.com/
And here's the download page for some of the anti-spyware tools that I've mentioned: http://www.spywareinfo.com/downloads.php

A great many folks are in your same predicament, It's not your fault. Many of those programs promise the world: and seem like a great idea. . . They can be very deceptive. If you have enough time, be sure to do a Google search for "Brilliant Digital" . . . some spyware installs this set of components that basically hijacks your machine to act as part of a wider network - all without your knowledge or consent (or perhaps your consent hidden away in tiny tiny print on a download consent form for a completely different set of software)

Sorry if I sound stern: it's not directed at you, but at the software companies generating the spyware in the first place. I'm sorry that you've had to find out the hard way that the Internet is more like the Wild Wild West than Utopia.

Best of luck, and Happy Holidays
. . . Gary

[Rick Hall]

You may want to read this

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;q187611

or this

http://www.windows-help.net/windows98/troub-030.shtml

[TheJackal]

Well, like I said, it works fine now, and thats good enough for me. If it breaks again I'll start looking at other possible causes.