Computer...crashing...utility (gasp) program...needed...HELP!

In My Humble Opinion
1

<big-time computer novice hat ON>

My home PC (an HP Pent. III, Windows 98, 500 mhz) keeps giving me the ‘Your Computer Has Performed An Illegal Operation’ message boxes and its getting to be a real pain in the ass. One pops up as soon as Windows opens, something to do with ‘Fontreg’ (forgive my vagueness - I’m at work now and can’t recall the exact wording).

I also lose my ‘Active Desktop’ every time, then another ‘Illegal Operation…’ - and all I’m doing is working on something in Word or Excel, or I’m online. Sooner or later, another Illegal Operation involving Iexplore locks her up completely and its time to shut down (usually via the off switch on the power strip, which I know is a TERRIBLE idea) and start over.

Short story long…I am hoping a utilities program will help diagnose and fix these problems. I am leaning towards SystemSuite 4.0 by Ontrack, but am open to suggestion. Any other ideas are welcome, too. Danke!

<big-time computer novice hat OFF>

2

It sounds like the system cannot find or use the default built in system fonts. This generally indicates the fonts in question are damaged or the registry information about them is munged up. You may also have other damaged system files.

This is a pretty nasty problem that most utilites cannot help with (but who knows). Recommend that you back your data up, format the disk and re-install windows. Less time and trouble in the long run than trying to get a magic bullet fix.

Run a full scandisk after formatting to insure the disk media reliability.

3

Worth a shot, if you can get it loaded:

There’s a utility called TweakUI (search for “tweak” in the Windows 98 CDrom) that has a Repair Font Folder option.

4

For W98 I used System Suite 2000.

For W98 I often ran SFC. Just type in the RUN box, SFC

Its the system file checker, seems like you need to use it now just follow what it says & have your w98 handy.

5

I know I can’t be the only one who inferred from the thread title that Survey was looking for a program to purposely crash a computer. :slight_smile:

6

well in that case Jeff, just get one of those programs to keep your computer from .crashing… I did & when I was installing it, it crashed.