# Explorer Causes Errors **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 11, 2001, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explorer-causes-errors/65047 "2001-05-11T01:48:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2001, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explorer-causes-errors/65047/1 "2001-05-11T01:48:40Z")
:o Sheepishly I say I submitted my question to the new girl on the block, UnaBoard, since they have a PC Zone Forum, but I’m not satisfied with the one reply I got, and that was from the Administrator. Recently, I’ve been getting error messages on my ME computer which have read: “Explorer has caused an error in \*\*\* [fill in the blank).” This has been either OLEAU 32.DLL or KERNEL 32.DLL. One was very lengthy and went into quite some details. The Admr in the UnaBoard Forum states that this is “bad stuff” and that I don’t have the latest version of IE for ME, and that Explorer is trying to cause havoc, but my computer won’t let it. Microsoft, however, has always alerted me when there are new downloads that I need, and I did download a new Explorer (5.5). I know there’s a 6 out there, but I’ve heard some bad things about that, and Microsoft has not alerted me to Explorer 6. I’ve just deleted the error messages and gone on my merry way, without problems. But what the heck is happening? Can the Admr of the UnaBoard forum be right? :confused ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2001, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explorer-causes-errors/65047/2 "2001-05-11T02:56:23Z")
No, technically, what the Administrator of the UnaBoard said was: > [@](#): > > \*\*Bad stuff, actually. You need to make absolutely sure you have the latest version of IE for Windows ME (I think they even have specific patches for ME), and the latest service packs for ME. ME was sent out the door practically still in Beta mode, so I would not be surprised to see some frequent service pack releases. > > What it basically is telling you is IE is trying to run a rampage of destruction and terror through your System’s memory, but the System is not having any of that.\*\* I said to _make sure_ you have the latest version and service packs, not that you did not. These access violations mean that IE is trying to use memory protected by or in use by the OS or another application. OR, they could mean that one or the other (IE or ME) has some serious bugs in it. Either way, the suggestion for making sure you have the latest fixes is valid. ---
**Author:** ![eLunatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/45deac/32.png) [@eLunatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eLunatic)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2001, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explorer-causes-errors/65047/3 "2001-05-11T12:50:59Z")
The first thing you should do is check out Microsoft’s Knowledge Base ([http://support.microsoft.com](http://support.microsoft.com)). You can do a keyword search and with any luck it will bring up an article mentioning the same error message you’re getting, along with the cause and solution. If the message says EXPLORER has caused the error, the it’s referring to Windows Explorer. If it were referring to Internet Explorer, the message would have said IEXPLORE caused the error. What were you doing when this message came up? What was the error? Invalid page fault, perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2001, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explorer-causes-errors/65047/4 "2001-05-11T13:03:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by eLunatic \* > \*\*The first thing you should do is check out Microsoft’s Knowledge Base ([http://support.microsoft.com](http://support.microsoft.com)). You can do a keyword search and with any luck it will bring up an article mentioning the same error message you’re getting, along with the cause and solution. If the message says EXPLORER has caused the error, the it’s referring to Windows Explorer. If it were referring to Internet Explorer, the message would have said IEXPLORE caused the error. What were you doing when this message came up? What was the error? Invalid page fault, perhaps? \*\* I had just tried to open a website. The error was not specified. It merely said, as I already said, “Explorer has caused an error…” BTW, what does a DLL suffix do? What’s the difference between Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer? I wasn’t exploring in Word. So, Anthracite, you are the Administrator of the UnaBoard forum! ---
**Author:** ![Marcus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85e7bf/32.png) [@Marcus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marcus)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2001, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explorer-causes-errors/65047/5 "2001-05-11T13:31:52Z")
A DLL is a libary file of functions that programs use. DLL stands for Dynamic Link Libary, and much of the functionality of Windows lives in DLLs. Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer are basically the same program underneath, with a different front end, and different aims. Windows Explorer is designed to allow you to look at your local computer, its disks, network connections, Control Panel and so on. You can also use it to browse the Internet. Internet Explorer is designed to allow you to browse the Internet, and you can also use it to look at your local computer, just like Windows Explorer. Essentially, you can use either program for either task. I would suggest that you use the one you feel most comfortable with for the task at hand. And I agree with Anthracite’s suggestion - make sure that you have the latest patch. Check under the Help menu for Online Support or the Tools menu for Windows Update. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2001, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explorer-causes-errors/65047/6 "2001-05-11T15:12:30Z")
You probably got some old DLLs & new ones & the computer doesn’t know which one to use. If using W98??? run the system file checker. RUN:SFC Otherwise turn off the computer at night, this did it for me. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2001, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explorer-causes-errors/65047/7 "2001-05-11T23:34:54Z")
Handy, I said that I have ME. When I turned my computer on a few minutes ago (I always turn it off - at the surge control- when I leave the computer) I got a new message, with MSHTML.DLL. All the messages end “Explorer will now close.” I’ve merely closed the messages (which has the “careful” icon) and have had no problems, so I’m not worried about. Just wondering. I haven’t had it until recently, so I don’t think there’s a patch fix. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explorer-causes-errors/65047/8 "2001-05-12T03:04:57Z")
OK. I just came back on and logged on to the SDMB and I get this message: “Microsoft Internet Explorer Scripts Loading Failed!” followed by a lot of error codes. So I close the message and everything is OK. This is no big deal, unless something bad happens, which hasn’t yet, since after I close these stupid messages, I can go on my merry way. I have IE 5.5. As far as I know I don’t have Windows Explorer, but Internet Explorer. But what do I know? Not much, obviously. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explorer-causes-errors/65047/9 "2001-05-12T14:26:04Z")
barbitu8, you can run Netscape 4.7 (6 is weird) along side of IE just fine. You should be able to import your bookmarks too. I use them both, cause as you know sometimes one bitches & then I just load the other one 🙂