Error in MSHTML

[FZWG]

Appreciate some assistance.

A friend has a computer running Windows Millennium with IE 6.0. Doubt very much that they have gotten the Microsoft Windows Updates for the system.

The PC boots up, and you almost get to the Desktop. Only the Taskbar shows up (not with all the icons), and then a prompt appears with:

Explorer has caused an error in MSHTML.DLL

The PC then hangs.

It can be restarted over and over, and it is the same story.

Any suggestions?

Thanks for the help.

[tacoeater]

you need to find a way to upgrade explorer. if you had one of those microsoft update cds it would be perfect. if not there is a link and some instructions here:
http://help.earthlink.net/techsuppor...2168.help.html

this is a known problem with explorer and windows me.
earthlink is just one link that attempts to explain the problem. there are others including one from microsoft.
http://support.microsoft.com/default...NoWebContent=1

[PCKlutz]

The MSHTML problem caused me much grief and aggravation. MS explains it, but then they basically says there is no fix for it and therefore try to live with it.

One solutions might be not to use IE. Firefox might be the answer. But first use IEradicator to remove IE altogether from Win Me.

I got so fed up that I switched to Win98 and now I have no more MSTHML problems.

I have said in another thread that Win Me is the OS from hell.

[FZWG]

Thanks for the replies.

The PC boots up, and you a-l-m-o-s-t get to the Desktop, then a prompt appears with:

Explorer has caused an error in MSHTML.DLL

You never get past that into Windows!!

If the PC is restarted, the same thing happens, can't access the Operating System.

Have the CD for Internet Explorer, however the error is saying: Explorer, not IExplorer.

Any thoughts?

[PCKlutz]

MSHTML will cause error in IE, Explorer, and God knows what other programs. I also had MSHTML causing error loading the WinMe's system information program.

Again, I cannot stress this enough. Microsoft admits MSHTML is a known conflict with WinMe, but MS is not issuing and fix for it. All MS offers is this worthless piece of advice: If problem persists, re-start your computer.

My advice is to not use WinMe and use another operating system. There are issue after issue with WinMe. You might solve your current problem under Me, but there will (I repeat will) be other issues.

[FZWG]

Beginning to think that when Me is referred to as the Mistake Edition, there is some validity to the call.

Downloaded Mshtml.dll on another PC, installed it on the Me computer, but the problems persist.

[PCKlutz]

Try to go into safe mode, reduce video acceleration to the minimum to see if that helps.

[GaryRouth]

Hi FZWG

See if booting into Safe Mode, then trying a "Repair" install of IE6 gets you a normal desktop on your next reboot.

Actually, the mshtml.dll problem with WinMe was fixed in IE versions 5.5 and later. A different version of the file may have clobbered the correct one - [so many ways to do this - third-party program installs, accidental editing, etc...]

Perhaps I should type "supposed to be fixed" . . .

Hope it works, it's a quick fix
. . . Gary

[FZWG]

Thanks for the replies, but now the PC gets nothing.

It boots up to a green screen, which is the background color of the Desktop, and there it hangs...

At one point tried to repair IE, but got a prompt saying no-go, and listed a bundle of errors. Haven't been able to go back to that again. Cant get past the green screen.

Ahhhgrrr!!!

[Gizmo]

After all that I would say a repair install of your OS to see if that fixes it. Orrr, have you already done that?

I've had to do many repair installs and OS fixes to get my old ME system running smoothly, which it still does. Yup, I agree, ME can sometimes be a pain in the butt.

[FZWG]

DBG,

Thanks for the reply.

Thought about the repair install, but that is about as far as it got. Need to look up the info on how to do it.

Do you know of any ready access link?

[Gizmo]

Heya, I don't have any access link on hand here to give to you but to do the repair install, you just put your OS System disk into your CD drive and then run it. This will install over the same OS you have currently running, but will maintain all of your drivers and software at the same time.

You can also do this in safemode.

[FZWG]

DBG,

Just found this:
http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.p...repair+install

What do you think?

[Gizmo]

Yep, that's almost exactly what I'm talking about. Though I never actually had to boot from the CD to do the repair install. I just put the CD in while still in windows and went from there.

[GaryRouth]

Hi all

fzwg - before you try the over-the-top, see if the memory and hard drive test out OK [might try MemTest86 or DocMemory for the modules, and the diagnostics from the hard drive manufacturer's site]. If the machine isn't stable booting into DOS from a floppy and running the Diagnostics, you'll be tracking down a hardware problem.

If the drive and memory test out OK - seems like the over-the-top has a good chance. Don't forget to disable the bios antivirus, disconnect from networks, and disconnect cameras and scanners. [Then visit Windows Update for any patches that need reinstalling]

Hope it goes well, the memory and hard drive tests take about 40 minutes together, and the reinstall only takes about 30-45 minutes, depending on which method you choose.
. . . Gary

[FZWG]

Thanks for the replies.

In the process of doing an 'Over the Top' Reinstall right now. If there are problems, will report back.

IE 6 was the item that was giving all sorts of errors. Would not allow a repair.

Is there some way of getting rid of IE 6 altogether and installing it again fresh? Haven't really done much diggin'into that yet.

Thanks for the help.

[GaryRouth]

Depending on how well the over-the-top goes, if you've still got IE6 installed [you click on the "target" in it's "shortcut" = iexplore.exe, and select "Properties", "Version" to see which it is] you can the revert to 5.5 through Add/Remove in Control Panel, and then grab IE6 & it's latest Service Pack in Windows Update... you'll want the latest patches anyway. If you have the free CD "Windows Security Update CD" around, that will get you up-to-date to about Feb. 2004. A few extremely important patches have arrived since - you don't want to miss those.
. . . Gary

[p.s. ...considering the latest Security hole found in IE (and exploited last week), no matter what version you're going to use, you may want to set the Security level to "High" until a permanent patch is issued (the one this week was just a workaround, I believe) - basically, you'll want JavaScript disabled, and most Active X scripting off or on prompt]

[FZWG]

Gary,

Thanks for the reply.

Did the 'Over the Top' reinstall. Booted right back to a myriad of MSHTML.DLL errors, MFC42.DLL errors, etc. It is ridiculous, one cannot get past them.

In process of doing a format. Have spent so many hours on this friend's PC, it is ridiculous.

Thinking about installing either W2000 or W98SE.

Which would be your pick?

[GaryRouth]

I like them both, in fact all three have their advantages.

Win2k is best on more recent hardware, but it's also very particular about what hardware & what older programs are going to run on it. It would want to go to Service Pack 4 right away, too, for the Security patches and the USB updates.

If your friend has a lot of older programs, especially older games, Win98se might be the choice. You'll be stuck with the Win9x woeful system resource handling, but if only one or two programs are in use, and if they usually shut the PC down at night, that won't be a huge issue. Win98se runs on just about anything.

WinMe "should" work on his system, if that's what it shipped with. . . if your friend has the original Recovery Disk, then he also recovers the entire software bundle - which he will likely lose if he goes with 2k or 98se. If he has a WinMe installation Cd, it "should" reinstall just as well as 2k or 98se. The big variable there would be any hardware added since the original configuration.

Had it been infected before it started with the errors?
. . . Gary

[FZWG]

Thanks for the info, Gary.

There was no infection, or, lets say, I did not find any after running all sorts of proggies. (Spybot, AdAware, HJT, antivirus, etc.)

These people use the PC every day to read the Bible and things of that nature. Several versions of the Bible are installed on the PC, and the programs that are run are mostly older stuff.

Don't know if these programs do not get along with Me, or what the issue is.

IE was the first thing that went downhill, and from there, forget it. One error after the other...

Going to install W98SE. First of all, they will not know the difference, and right now they have a loaner from me running W98SE, and they are just fine with it.

Thanks for all the help.

[GaryRouth]

I suppose it's appropriate to choose Win98se in this case, since it is so "forgiving"

[. . . then again, if it's the motherboard going south, it's going to seem like the devil himself after all your work! . . . ]

[FZWG]

"...if it's the motherboard going south..."

Got a sledge hammer......

Happy 4th!!!!