[cabra]

i am unable to start windows 98se normally or in safe mode. I get an error message ----
explorer-this program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down.
Details:- explorer caused invalid page fault in module explorer.exe at 0167:00401f31.
there is also a host of numbers relating to registers.
I can see all the files in dos but don't know enough how to recover to windows.
I get as far as safe mode {blue screen "safe" in 4 corners}, but nothing else comp is hung.
any help please.

[eidenk]

Try restoring an old copy of your registry by booting into Dos and typing "scanreg /restore".

If this does not work, reinstall Windows on top of itself. In this case, you'll have also to reupgrade some components such as DirectX and IE as I think setup will overwrite those as well.

[cabra]

eidenk! Thanks for your reply, I have tried your suggestions but result is still the same. The scanreg/restore gave me three points of restore, none of which worked. I reinstalled windows over the top, but the same error appeared after re-boot.
Any further suggestions welcome!

[eidenk]

A nasty one then. Did you install anything particular recently ?

[cabra]

In reply to your question , I did purchase on-line and installed" SPYFERRET," apart from that nothing.
I did notice shortly after that there was no recycle bin icon on the desktop and rebooted to see if it came back thats when I got the error message .I don't think the program is at fault as it was running o.k.

[eidenk]

It is spyferret your problem, I am almost sure. Sounds fishy to me. This .opf file is simply an NSIS installer whose filetype has been changed from .exe to .opf.

You installed that, it scanned your system for free and told you you are infected. So you paid them to unlock the full features. Then you cleaned your computer and then the recycle bin icon disapeared from the desktop which most probably means a good registry key under HKCU\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace has been deleted by your cleaner.

I may try to install it to see what it does. In the meantime send an email to those who sold this to you about your problem after you installed their software that is marked dubious and that you have bought.

Did you have an antivirus running when you executed their file ?

Also try to read a file called wininit.log if any in the windows directory by booting in dos.

You must type something like edit c:\windows\wininit.log at the prompt.

It might simply be a locked system file that has been updated with an XP version and that setup does not overwrite because it is a newer version. If that's the case, which file has been replaced will be in the wininit.log. By using extract you should be able to extract the file from the install cabs and replace it.

Or if you prefer to reinstall from scratch without having to reformat and without loosing any personal data, boot into dos and type move C:\windows C:\oldwin. Also delete or move the files that are in the root. Then run setup. It will ask you if you want to install into C:\oldwin. Choose no. Type C:\Windows, confirm and you'll be done.

Otherwise format and reinstall.

PS : I have just tried to install this software you said, spyferret (the free version). I have been able to reboot and it does not replace any files but it does modify an internet security related key in the registry it seems :

[HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings]
"SecureProtocols"=dword:00000028

to

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings]
"SecureProtocols"=dword:000000a8

Does anyone know what this settings is ?

This post has been edited by eidenk: 01 November 2005 - 07:27 PM

[cabra]

Thanks again for your reply. what you describe is exactly what I done. I do have avg
anti-virus running. I will check out what you have suggested and get back in a few days time--off for a few days. Thanks again for your assistance.

[cabra]

Hi ,Sorry for the delay. I tried your suggestion and renamed windows to oldwin etc and have now been able to run o.k. I have had to re-install a few things and so far all is well. I also re-installed "spyferret" and so far no problems. I will look out for anything I download in case the problem occurs again . thanks again for your help.