Desktop

Ask something
Discussion Locked

Why does the Win98 ProgramManager crash?

0 helpful
8 replies

by m_bartels_au

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.
I have an old VX box with a Biostar m.b. and AMI 1995 BIOS.The processor is a Cyrix 133 and the machine is only used offline for typing letters and a few Office Apps.I am running Windows 98,Office 2000 Pro and various utility programs including Norton CrashGuard.The system has 64MB of RAM, which is just enough,and performs OK except for one minor problem.The problem is that the Windows98 program manager (Explorer.exe)causes a crash at a particular module.I have examined the CrashGuard records, of which there are many, and noted that 80% of them are for reasons unknown.Two stated address ranges appear in about 20% of crashes.After running a DeBug dump on these address ranges I noticed that BIOS information appears in the ASCII code with oneof them (I couldn't decipher the other one).The m.b.manufacturer has a BIOS update,but it doesn't list my problem as a known issue in the notes and I have heard of someone burning out their board with that particular flash patch.Can you suggest anything other than throw it on the tip or go back to Windows95?

8 replies

by thechas

My 'best' fix for Windows crashes is to format the hard drive, and re-install Windows in a clean environment.

Short of that, I recommend using a registry cleaner.
I have used both Norton Win-Doctor and V-Com Fix-It with good results.

There are a number of 'free-ware' registry cleaners that I have read do a fair job also.

A good scandisk and defrag from safe-mode with all other programs shut down can help a lot also.

Then, there are the patches and updates for both Windows and Office.

Don't forget driver updates for the chip-set and plug-in cards.

If possible, another 64 to 128MB of RAM will help a lot.

I recommend against BIOS updates unless the update addresses a specific problem that you have.

Chas

by sgt_shultz

Oy. reinstall might be faster but I can count the number of times I've had to reinstall on half a hand. you can usually find and fix the conflict causing the error...
we might be able to cut to the chase better for you if you can give us the exact error message: eg explore.exe has caused (exactly what) in (exactly what) module at (exactly what) address...
in the meantime, see the microsoft knowlegebase article 192926 at support.microsoft.com for in depth how-to use clean boot to troubleshoot windows 98. in the meantime, here are my thoughts on t-shooting win98 problems like yours...
Does it crash the same in Safe Mode? If yes, then I would go the reinstall route...and not skip the format harddisk and fdisk /mbr steps...(because I don't know that you might not have a virus)
my favorite first thing to do on systems like this is take a look at what is running right now in the open Programs window (Ctrl+Alt+Del once to view). can you figure out what each of those items is? if not, think virus!
The second thing I like to do is look at Device Manager for yellow bangs and question marks. generally speaking, there should not be any altho the question marks might be ok. let us know if you have any...
then i try running in Safe mode to see if the problem happens there. If not, you may be to use the msconfig utility to pinpoint the problem by disabling most of the programs that Start Up with Windows...

by sgt_shultz

here is how
Start/Run/msconfig
From the General tab, choose Create Backup.
Now go to General/selective startup and uncheck any third party drivers or software (and I would start with crashguard and those 'various utility programs', myself) that you find. if it has a windows icon next to it, you can leave it. make notes about what you are taking out. take out everything that in your best guess is not a windows system file. that power mgmt thing is supposed to be in there twice, you can leave it...
reboot (and hopefully it WILL reboot, if not, go back into safe mode and restore your backup or re-check the boxes you feel might have been a mistake to uncheck).
If you manage to get the problem to go away, you can add stuff back in one by one to see if you can find the bad boy.

by csmith

This is not a problem that can be fixed by reloading Win98SE or any other of the installed programs.
The problem is that Office 2000 Pro requires more than 64 Meg RAM just by itself.
These crashes are usually caused by the Windows memory manager getting "confused".
This problem applies to all versions of Windows including the latest.
Download Cacheman, a free download, from cnet.com (Cnet is the parent of TechRepublic.) (Search for cacheman)
Run Cacheman and you will see the problem clearly.
(Cacheman also has setting to help low memory PCs)
Regards, Chris

This discussion is closed to new replies.