windows protection error

[ofgarnica]

Having a hard time to do anything on this PC; got this error message on bootup; windows protection error; you need to restart your computer; Press any key to continue...; the after pressing any key Y get another message saying An internal stack overflow has caused this session to be halted, change the stack setting in your Config.sis file and then try again. I went into the sis.ini file and under [MINSPs=4] type that in and even went up in increments of 4 and still no positive results; any help will be appreciated.

[daventer]

after the P.O.S.T the bios turns the computer over to the anti-virus than to windows. you maybe stuck at the anti-virus. If you can start in safe mode ..do so and uninstall your anti-virus.

[Murf]

Windows Protection Error is generally a hardware conflict or a registry problem

Have you tried tapping F8 after the post screen and selecting SAFE MODE?

[ofgarnica]

Murf and daventer thanks for answering my post; I have tried so many things including MinSPs=4 and no results; the last thing that I did was reformat and reinstall win98SE and the problem is still there; while online the PC all of a sudden the screen goes blank and then it reboots and start over again; intall a new Power supply that I tested and found it to be defective. Did a virus scan and that was OK.Put a new modem in also.

[Murf]

I assume you ment system.ini instead of sis.ini

A new power supply rules that out.

Format and Reinstall, since the format took, rules out the hard drive.

There are several things that cause this error:


If a real-mode driver and a protected-mode driver are in conflict.
If the registry is damaged. (unlikely as this is a frsh install)
If either the Win.com file or the Command.com file are infected with a virus, or if either of the files are damaged.
If a protected-mode driver is loaded from the System.ini file and the driver is already initialized.
If there is a physical input/output (I/O) address conflict or a random access memory (RAM) address conflict.
If there are incorrect complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) settings for a built-in peripheral device (such as cache settings, CPU timing, hard disks, and so on).
If the Plug and Play feature of the computer's basic input/output system (BIOS) is not working correctly.
If the computer contains a malfunctioning cache or malfunctioning memory.
If the computer's motherboard is not working properly.
Processor overheating
Bad Video Card
Corrupt Windows Installation
Hardware Conflict


So where do you go from here:

1st boot up into SAFE MODE (tap F8 before windows starts)

Go into Device Manager (right click My Computer then to Properties, then to Device Manager)

Highlight all + signs and then remove all double entries

Reboot

No Fix then..

1. Click Start, click Run, type msconfig in the Open box, and then click OK.
Uncheck every thing except systray and explore

Reboot

Now if the problem goes away then it is one of the start up programs causing it.

Go back and check one more, reboot, process of elimination...

2. Overheating

Open the case and leave it open and run it, is the fan on top of the processor working? If the problem goes away with the case open then heat is the culprit.

3. Bad Memory Stick

If you have more than one memory stick, pull them out and only leave one in. Run the computer, then take it out and put another one in - process of elimination

4. Pull out all of your cards except the video card, boot problem goes away, then it's one of those cards, replace one by one - process of elimination

[Seymour1978]

Today I was having problems with my computer freezing up after downloading some Sophos Antivirus definitions. When I rebooted, it the screen would blink black, and everything was frozen. I removed Sophos by DOS (as there was no uninstall available that I could find). But now when I boot up it says "...has reference to a file in the Windows Registry or System.ini...", "You may have removed the program unintentionally..." and it lists the file "C:\Program Files\Sophos Sweep\ITCSTATIC.vxd"

And when it gets to the desktop, the wallpaper shows up, the windows sound plays, ... but the the screen freezes before I get much farther.

When I try to boot up in Safe Mode, it says "Windows Protection Error. You must restart your computer."

is there a way to go into the registry or system.ini file and erase the reference?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.