My Windows is really screwed up lately…getting constant freezes and illegal operations in kernel32.dll. I know I need to re-install Windows, but I just cant right now.
But what is kernel32.dll?? I imagine the solution is not just a matter of getting a “clean” “kernel32.dll”, because I have been told thet there are so many shared files among computer applications, that re-installing Windows is the only solution.
But why does it say, 9 times out of 10, there is a problem with kernel32.dll?
It’s a compressed file. Uncompressing it produces popcorn512.yum
It’s nothing important. Just delete it.
you really might want to consider reinstalling windows…like yesterday…
Do NOT delete kernel32.dll!! It is one of the core operating system files. Fiver MUST have been joking.
This probably is a mismatched dll problem. I recommend you either re-install whatever version of Windows you have, or even better, upgrade to Win2000. Upgrading to Win2000 will eliminate 99% of your headaches.
Well, I wouldn’t just delete it. 
It is one of the half a dozen vital files that makes up the “kernel” of the operating system. Everything you do uses these files. Generally unlike other .dlls software vendors do not modify these files. However they DO reference them. The most probable issue is a vendor has written a piece of software that calls kernel32.dll in an incorrect way, causing it to try to do something impossible like divide by 0.
Of course it usually isn’t that easy, otherwise you would probably already know what is casuing this. One vendor modifies one certain file. Another vendor modifies another file. And so on. Eventually you have a conflict where multiple vendors have altered various different files which call each other and the combination asks kernel32.dll to do something impossible and it returns an error.
Generally I would try a lot of troubleshooting before doing an new install for scratch but in the end that is sometimes the only way of restoring alot of these files to a stable configuration.
Good Luck
Heh-Heh. Somebody’s got a twisted sense of humor…
Seriously though, kernel32.dll is a general purpose windows library file which controls access to the computer’s hardware resources. Click here for a more detailed explanation. If you’re getting kernel32.dll errors, more than likely you’ve got a conflict with a driver of some sort (video, scanner, whatever).
What operating system? huh?
“Upgrading to Win2000 will eliminate 99%
of your headaches.”
Baloney!
Plus that file you are talking about is the memory manager for whatever operating system version you are using.
I used to get that message a lot but no get it no more that I turn computer off at night. Restarting does the trick. Id say more but can do without knowing operating version…
I have Win 98 by the way…and I KNOW I have to reinstall Windows, and I WILL sometime, but I just cant at the moment. Thanx for the info…
When you get the message click ‘details’ find the memory address it gives. In system properties, find what program uses that memory location, Viola!
Of course since its W98, why don’t you run system file checker, the thing is free, just type in the RUN box ‘SFC’ no quotes,follow what it says.
Ummm…not sure what this means at all. English, people!!! When I click details, all I get is a bunch of numbers…have no idea what you mean by “memory address” and “memory location”…voila, my ass. 
As far as the System File Checker, I see “extract one file from installation disk…then specify the file” I put in kernel32.dll, click start, it askes for the location of the file to extract, as well as the destination. WTF?? What does this do exactly? What should I do?
Some of us arent as computer-literate as you all, and more explicit instructions and clearer explanations would help, thanx.
Deacon, you don’t want to upgrade win98 to W2k(Windows 2000). Having worked W2k setup support, I know it causes problems because w2k is an NT based operating system while win9x were not. You ESPECIALLY do not want to upgrade if you are running win98 as an upgrade from win95. Just save everything (data, applications) to a zip or other removable media before you re-install the operating system. Then get on the web & find updated drivers for all your hardware. Make sure you disable your anti-virus software before you try to install device drivers. If that doesn’t work, I would refer you to your OEM. Best of luck, Learn as much as you can.
jack@ss, your advice is a little misguided, IMO. In my experience as a sysadmin for approximately 50 systems, Win2000 is FAR more stable than win9x. I definitely recommend taking your approach of backing up any needed data, wiping the hard drive and doing a fresh installation, but Win2000 will give him a much more stable platform to work from. The only problems I’ve encountered have been with gaming setups, but I’ve even had good luck with that on my home systems.
Deacons Trucked, can you tell from the message which program is calling kernel32.dll? If it is usually the same program, you may be able to un-install then re-install just that particular software.
Ummm…OK, the issue was never if I should UPGRADE.
I KNOW I need to reinstall Win98, I am just NOT ABLE TO at the moment!!! I have some programs that I wont be able to retrieve, and I will do a re-install on this computer (my mom’s) when I move out and get my own computer.
If the Illegal Operation (or blue screen w/ white letters or the black screen with a grey box) always came up for the same program, of course I would reinstall that program.
But it comes up on something different every time (tech support said it was because many programs share files)…and often, after one Illegal Operation (or General Protection Fault) comes up and I click “close”, another comes up with a different program listed and I click close, then another and another until I have to force a shutdown. The messages are sometimes for open programs like AIM, Explorer, or WinaAmp…but often it lists weird shit like “Rnapp”, “Cpqdfwag”, or “Cij3p2ps”. This computer is a Compaq, by the way.
One time I got “Explorer caused a general protection fault in module KERNEL32.dll at 0167:bff7287a”.
You do realize by reinstalling windows that you will not lose any of your programs, right? The only way to lose all your stuff is to reformat your hard drive.
Upgrading from Windows 9x to Windows 2000 is not a decision to be made on impulse. Yes, Win2K is far more stable… but there’s plenty of hardware and software that 2K doesn’t support. (Play any DOS games? Not anymore, you won’t.)
Of course, the Win2K installer will try to give you a list of potential compatibility issues.
When you run SFC, select to scan for altered files.
Putting a new K32 on does nothing.
Also, W2000 is not for us, its for the office it don’t have the drivers you need. Wait for Whistler.
I had this same problem when I installed a piece of hardware that conflicted with my motherboard’s chipset. Have you installed any new hardware recently?
FD.