Fatal Exception - Windows 98 SE

[MrHyDe]

Argh! I am oh so tired of my computer not working. I have tried reformatting and reinstalling windows...I've even tried a different hard drive and that doesnt work. Basically if windows 98 (se) does install, after about a minute or two, during my "re-setting up" of the computer I get this message on a blue screen:

Windows
A fatal exception OE has occurred at 0167:BFF76FB3. The current
application will be terminated.

Im basically forced to restart my computer and I wont be able to get it into windows again unless I use safe mode...pretty much it will either A - act like its going to load windows and then remain on a blank screen with the blinking line in the top left corner, B - get to the blank screen and then restart its self, C - tell me that there was a windows protection error and my computer must be restarted or D - get past the blank screen and load up the blue screen error again.
I havent taken notice of whether the numbers on the blue screen error change because ive just been so frustrated it isnt working and only just wrote it down on the last attempt.

Oh also...several times during my reinstallation attempts of windows 98 I've gotten a msg saying that "msgsrv32 has performed an illegal operation". This would occur usually after the first restart that windows 98 se does during installation. I managed to install windows 98 without getting that error but now im just getting blue screen errors...previously there was a combination of both errors.

HELP!!! I am soo bloody tired of not having my computer work.

[DELTREE]

See if this will help? Also did you f-disk the thing?
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;311362

[MrHyDe]

Whats "f-disk".
And what does that site say cause this stupid old computer isnt opening the page. Its almost as useless as my actual computer at the moment.

[Tom]

Hi MrHyDe,

If DELTREE won't mind I'll answer some of that. The fdisk command deletes the partitions on the drive - basically "cleans" the drive of old instructions.

The MS Support link indicates this in relation to your "msgsrv32 " error:

Sound Blaster 16-compatible sound card is installed and either its drivers are out of date or it is a sound card that is no longer supported.
To resolve this issue, use either of the following methods:
Obtain and install an updated driver from Creative Labs or from the sound board manufacturer.
-or-Replace the sound card with a model that is known to be compatible with Windows 98.

Your "fatal exception OE has occurred at 0167:" can also refer to a problem with device drivers, including your sound card. It can also refer to RAM problems, but given your other error, the sound card issue seems more likely.

As you say you can get into safe mode, you might try going to Add/Remove Hardware and uninstalling your sound card, then try to boot normal. This may demonstrate that this is your problem. Given that, you can then get the upgraded drivers on the net (or post back here with your sound card information for driver assistance) and install the upgrade to resolve your problem.

Let us know how you did.

Tom