Hello all,

This is my first posting. There seems to be much expertise here. I'm in need of your expert help.

Here's the lowdown: A dear, loving friend, is unable to use her computer because she gets a peculiar error message at Startup. She is using Windows 98 (yes, some people still uses it) on a Dell computer.

Microsoft's "Knowledge Base," article number 191609, exactly describes the error message:

SYMPTOMS
When you start your Microsoft Windows 98-based computer or your Windows Millennium Edition-based computer, you may receive the following error message: This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down. If the problem persists, contact the program vendor.

If you click Details, you may see the following information:
"EXPLORER caused an invalid page fault in module EXPLORER.EXE at memory address."

CAUSE
This behavior can occur if the Microsoft Windows 95 version of the Explorer.exe file is located in the root folder of drive C. [How relevant is this when Windows 98 is being used?]

As for resolving this error, Microsoft suggests:

RESOLUTION
Windows 98
1. In Windows 98, boot the computer to the Startup menu and then click Command Prompt Only.

2. Type the following at the prompt: ren c:\explorer.exe explorer.old, and then press ENTER.
3. Restart the computer.

I followed this suggested fix. I got to the Startup Menu by pressing the F8 Key repeatedly during start up. When I did the "ren" command, the screen returned "file not found." I thought I fixed the problem and restarted the computer. At restart, MS Scandisk checked for errors in the C Drive. When it finished, the original error message appeared: "This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down. If the problem persists, contact the program vendor." I again restarted by pressing the F8 Key repeatedly. I did the "ren c:\explorer.exe explorer.old" thing at the Start Up Menu and in Safe Mode. Each time the screen returned, "File not found." I even tried "dir c:\e*" which also returned "File not found."

It seems the key to fixing my friend's computer is the "explorer.exe" file. But it cannot be found. What happened to this file? And what do I do now when the "explorer.exe" file is not found? I now turn the floor to you. I am open to any and all suggestions.

With much appreciation,

R. J.