Error Message "MPREXE Caused an Error in USER.EXE" Is Displayed When Starting AOL (299897)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition

This article was previously published under Q299897
The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to connect to the Internet using America Online (AOL), you may be unable to do so.

The computer dials AOL, but then stops responding (hangs) as the connection is being established. You may receive an error message similar to the following one:
MPREXE caused an error in USER.EXE.

CAUSE

This issue may occur after you upgrade the computer to Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me).

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, uninstall and then reinstall AOL:
  1. Click Start, and then click Run.
  2. In the Open box, type msconfig, and then click OK.

    Note: When the System Configuration Utility starts, you may receive the following message:

    Environment Variables were found in the legacy files Autoexec.bat and/or
    Config.sys and the variables were moved to the Windows Registry.

    Click OK. For additional information about this message, see the "More Information" section in this article.
  3. In the System Configuration Utility, on the General tab, click Selective startup, and then click to clear the following check boxes:

    Process System.ini file
    Process Win.ini file
    Load static VxDs
    Load startup group items
    Load environment variables

  4. Click Apply, click OK, and then click Yes to restart the computer.
  5. When the computer restarts, on the You are using the Selective Startup for troubleshooting your system message that appears, click OK.
  6. Attempt to connect to the Internet by using AOL. If you are successful, uninstall AOL:
    1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
    2. In Control Panel, double-click Add/Remove Programs.
    3. In the Add/Remove Programs Properties dialog box, on the Install/Uninstall tab, click America Online, and then click Add/Remove.
    4. Follow the instructions to completely remove AOL from the computer.
    5. Restart the computer when you are prompted to do so.
    6. When the computer restarts, on the You are using the Selective Startup for troubleshooting your system message that appears, click OK.
  7. Follow steps 1 and 2 to start System Configuration Utility.
  8. In System Configuration Utility, on the General tab, click Normal startup - load all device drivers and software, click Apply, click OK, and then click Yes to restart the computer.
  9. Follow steps 1 and 2 to start System Configuration Utility.
  10. In System Configuration Utility, on the General tab, click Extract File.
  11. In the Extract one file from installation disk dialog box, type mprexe.exe, and then click Start.
  12. In the Restore from box, type drive:\win9x (where drive is the drive letter that contains your Windows Me CD).

    Note: If you have an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) installation of Windows, the installation files may also be located in one of the following folders:

    drive:\Windows\Options\Cabs
    drive:\Windows\Options\Install

    Where drive is the drive on which you installed Windows.
  13. In the Save file in box, type drive:\Windows\System (where drive is the drive in which you installed Windows), and then click OK.
  14. In the Backup File dialog box, record the location of the backup folder, and then click OK.
  15. If the The backup folder does not exist. Do you want to create it? message appears, click Yes to extract the file.
  16. In System Configuration Utility, click OK, and then click Yes to restart the computer.
  17. Reinstall AOL.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about the message that may appear when you start System Configuration Utility, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

262786 Message Received When You Start the System Configuration Utility: Environment Variables Were Moved to Windows Registry


Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:9/28/2004
Keywords:kb3rdparty kberrmsg kbprb KB299897