Fatal Errors on Boot – IOS.VXD

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I am using Win98SE. I have been getting fatal errors sporadically on booting my PC. The only thing

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Hi Sherry:
That could be the reason. See Fatal Exception Error or Access Violation Error When You Use Photo Editing Program
Hope this helps,

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Sherry, make sure you look at Phil’s post and see if it applies. IOS.VXD is a core system file that is responsible for input/output to the operating system. For future reference – never, never, never replace a file unless instructed to do so by technical support, and question the tech if you’re instructed to do so. You can cause far more problems than you solve by replacing system files. I don’t mean to sound preachy but it’s a dangerous thing to do, unless you know exactly what it is that you are replacing. Also, many system files depend on each other, and different versions may break existing configurations.

Are you seeing OE, the letters, or 0E, a zero and the letter E? OE could be the program that’s failing, a 0E is a type of error code. The numbers that are reported are changing because they are referencing a memory location using hexadecimal numbers – so what you’re seeing is “normal” for that error type (the error itself is not).

As far as the blank entry in MSCONFIG, try removing the check in the box and rebooting. You should be able to scroll to the right in the dialog and see what the blank entry is referring to, a file path or location – that may give you some clues. Make sure your system is safe and clean – run a virus scan with updated virus definitions, and think strongly about downloading and installing a program such as AdAware or Spybot Search and Destroy to make sure you don’t have a spyware program lurking about.

Good luck – and post back if you have any more questions.

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Mark and Phil,
I am not using the Intel Video Phone so that isn’t the problem. Thanks for the advice on replacing the vxd file. Not preachy at all. If someone doesn’t tell us how will we learn?

I downloaded AdAware and ran a scan. I found a lot of “tracking” cookies, which I removed. The only registry entry it found was for ALEXA. Since I didn’t knowingly install it, I search on the web and found that it is related to Google. I don’t know why there is a registry key but was afraid to remove it without knowing more. [Coments?]

As for the error message, I will wait for the next message and pay closer attention to the OE vs 0E.

About the blank entry in msconfig. It is totally blank. The checkbox is there but no name OR description. Hmmmm. Should I be worried about it? And is there anyway to get rid of it or find out where it came from?

Thanks for your help

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The only registry entry it found was for ALEXA.

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[/indent]I have the same registry key. I think it’s put there if you have the Google toolbar. I can’t search now, but I had the same question once & was told that it wasn’t a problem, so I just allow that entry to remain.

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Phil (and Sherry) – the Alexa entry comes from Internet Explorer itself. The “Show Related Sites” in the tools menu of IE is an Alexa powered engine under license by Microsoft. I don’t like Alexa anymore, although it was a neat idea at one time, but I allow AdAware to blow it away since I never use that feature in IE anyway.

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Thanks for the info about Alexa. BTW, I have narrowed down the fatal errors to the blank entry in msconfig. I did it by deselecting everything and adding them one at a time. The minute I selected the blank entry, I got the error again.

I am going to post a question specifically asking if anyone knows how I can find out how it got there or what it is.

Thanks again.

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Sherry, you should be able to expand the column in MSCONFIG and see what is running from that blank checkbox. It should specify a program path that is executed. I suspect that you have a worm or some malicious program running, if it’s causing errors like that – make sure you run a virus scan and spyware check as soon as you can (which I noted in a previous post). MSCONFIG should give you the information you’re looking for, but I prefer Mike Lin’s Startup Control Panel myself – you can see more of what is happening and from where (meaning which startup location).

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Mark, I guess I don’t know what you mean about expanding the column in MSCONFIG. The attached file shows what I am seeing. Thanks for the info about Mike Lin’s program. Will go check it out now.

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