I need help with a computer problem

I’ve recently started having trouble with my computer and I could use some help. It’s a Compaq Presario 5715 desktop with a 466 Celeron processor running Win98SE and my browser is Internet Explorer 6. When I’m online and click the Favorites button, most of the time it works fine but other times it doesn’t.

When it doesn’t the menu drops down it is blank other than Add to Favorites… and Organize Favorites… The folders and links are not there but the window is the same size as if they were. After a second or so an error message pops up:

IEXPLORE caused a stack fault in module KERNEL32.DLL at 0167:bff7429f.

After I click that off, sometimes an error reporting window pops up asking if I want to send a report to Microsoft. Clicking that one off results in the browser window closing and a new one opening immediately to my start page and everything is fine.

However, sometimes, after the first error message, instead of the error reporting message, I get another error message:

IEXPLORE caused an invalid page fault in module KERNEL32.DLL AT 0167:bff714ac.

If this second error message comes up the computer does not recover. After a few seconds it locks up and I have to shut it down. The power button works for that.

As far as I can tell, the only trigger is accessing the Favorites folder and I can access it numerous times without a problem then the next time, there it is, or it can happen right away.

Another thing I noticed, which may or may not be related to the main problem, is that the scroll-wheel on my mouse stops working in the original browser window if I click a link that opens in a new window. The wheel works in the new window. If the link uses the existing window, the wheel continues to work. If I open a new browser window by clicking the IE icon, the wheel works in new and old windows.

I’ve only done two things lately. I installed a stick of RAM from Crucial the beginning of Aug. That caused an I/O conflict between the graphics video driver, which defaulted to a resolution and color that looked like being in safe mode, and something else. I downloaded a new driver from Intel to solve that problem. I also upgraded IE with Service Pack 1 a couple weeks ago. Could either have something to do with it?

I emailed MS support and they said I have to talk to Compaq. I’ve done 2 virus scans and they found nothing. I’ve looked thru the MS knowledge base about error messages involving IE and Kernel but I didn’t see any that seemed to apply to my problem. I searched here as well.

Before I call Compaq I thought I’d let some of the computer mavens on this board help me out. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks.

TI

There are about a million things that could cause that error. Do you have any items in your favorites that contain unusual characters?

Now’s a good opportunity to upgrade to Windows XP :smiley:

You can TRY going to add/ remove programs, click on ie6 and choose the repair option… You might have to re-install it.
Sometimes it’s just something simple.

It would be a good idea to test your RAM with Memtest86. It should come up with 0 errors. If it does find any, remove the new DIMM and run it again.

Bad RAM can cause all kinds of weird problems.

Or update windows or use compaq’s update site, although repair IE may fix it as well.

My vote is on the RAM. Remove the new RAM and use the computer without it for a while. If problems cease, return the RAM for an exchange or a refund.

I would have to say that IE sounds like the suspect program here. Try reinstalling SP1. Also, after you do that try going to the WIndows Update site. Sometimes their fixes actually fix things that are undocumented.