Windows 98 message: mprexe.exe has performed an illegal operation...

[Naturalized-Texan]

Using Windows 98 when my wife's nephew turns on his computer on, he gets the message that reads something like "mprexe has produced an illegal operation and has shut down." He clicks OK and everything hangs and he has to turn off his computer. He can't shut down or do anything. His computer has been rendered useless because of this problem.

What can he do to fix this problem?

[Jeffrho]

I found this on the Microsoft support site. Have him try some of these solutions. If none of those work, there are links to some related problems at the bottom of the page that might solve the problem.

http://support.microsoft.com:80/support/kb/articles/q178/0/84.asp&NoWebContent=1

[Timberwolf]

Tex, here's a list of the most likely causes...it looks like his Password list file has been corrupted somehow.

Support and Troubleshooting (http://support.microsoft.com/search/default.aspx?InCC_hdn=true&Catalog=LCID%3D1033%26C DID%3DEN-US-KB%26PRODLISTSRC%3DON&withinResults=&QuerySource=g ASr_Query&Product=msall&Queryc=mprexe+&Query=mprex e+&KeywordType=ALL&maxResults=25&Titles=false&numD ays=&InCC=on)

[DoctorDoom]

mprexe - mprexe.exe - Process Information

Process File: mprexe or mprexe.exe
Process Name: Windows Routing Process
Description: Application that allows Windows 95, 98, or ME to have more than one network client, protocol, or adapter. The software routes network requests between the different adapters and clients.
Company: Microsoft Corp.
System Process: Yes
Security Risk ( Virus/Trojan/Worm/Adware/Spyware ): No
Common Errors: N/A

First, we need the exact error message, not an approximation.

[Naturalized-Texan]

Unfortunately, I don't know the exact message. All he told me was that when he booted up, he got the error message that mprexe.exe had executed an illegal operation and had shut down. After that he could do nothing but turn off the computer.

TW & Jeff: We already looked at those sites and they did not appear to apply.

[DoctorDoom]

Let him boot up again and copy the message. There are many messages involving mprexe and other programs.


Also, tell him that when the box just starts to fire up, do this:

[ QUOTE ]
Windows 98 / ME Users

To get into Windows 98 / ME safe mode as the computer is booting you press and hold your "F8 key" on the top of your keyboard or press and hold the left or right Ctrl key as the computer is booting. If done properly you should get into the "Windows 98 / ME Startup Menu" similar to the below screen example. In this menu choose option 3 by pressing the 3 key and press enter.

Note: With some computers if you press and hold a key as the computer is booting you will get a stuck key message as the computer is booting. If this occurs instead of pressing and holding the "F8 key" tap the "F8 key" continuously until you get the startup menu.

Microsoft Windows 98 Startup Menu
=============================

1. Normal
2. Logged (\BOOTLOG.TXT)
3. Safe mode
4. Step-by-step confirmation
5. Command prompt only
6. Safe mode command prompt only

Enter a choice: 1

F5=Safe Mode Shift+F5=Command prompt Shift+F8= Step-by-step confirmation [N]

[/ QUOTE ]
Getting into Windows Safe Mode (http://www.computerhope.com/issues/chsafe.htm)

If the box successfully boots in Safe Mode, it means that the basic Windows setup is functional. It boots with only the minimum files necessary to run Windows. It doesn't start any other programs and doesn't load drivers.

Once in Safe Mode, go to Start > Run (or use the Windows logo key + R). Type in sfc.exe and run it. This will bring up this window.

http://www.windows-help.net/windows98/img/system-checker.gif

Click start and it will analyze the system files to look for corrupted files, and report what it finds. If it locates bad files, have him record the names.

Further info on the System File Checker can be read here (the graphic came from this page).

Using System File Checker (http://www.windows-help.net/windows98/start-142.shtml)

This might pose a problem if he is using the original Windows 98. If he has 98 SE, the problem was fixed. The page describes the issue.

[Naturalized-Texan]

[ QUOTE ]
Once in Safe Mode, go to Start > Run (or use the Windows logo key + R). Type in sfc.exe and run it. This will bring up this window.




[/ QUOTE ]

What window? There was no window in the post to which I'm replying.

[Naturalized-Texan]

I'll print out the info you posted and the info from the links you supplied and give them to my sister-in-law to give to my wife's nephew. We will be leaving here in the morning, so it's unlikely that I'll be able to login here for a day or two. It's possible that this info will be enough to help him solve the problem. I suggested booting in safe mode, but I didn't know what to tell him to do after he did so.

[DoctorDoom]

There is a graphic immediately below that sentence. This is its URL.

http://www.windows-help.net/windows98/img/system-checker.gif