Internet Explorer Quits When You Attempt to Browse Shockwave or Flash-enabled Site (302396)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows 95
This article was previously published under Q302396
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 browse a Macromedia Shockwave-enabled or Flash-enabled Web site, you may receive an error message similar to the following:
This program has performed an illegal operation
and will be shut down.

If the problem persists, contact the program
vendor.
When you click the Details button, the following information is displayed:

IEXPLORE caused an invalid page fault in
module DIRAPI.DLL at address

Internet Explorer may then quit.

NOTE: This behavior can also occur when you attempt to install Macromedia Shockwave or Flash.

CAUSE

This issue can occur if the Dirapi.dll file is missing or damaged. This file is required by the Shockwave Player and Flash Player for proper operation.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, remove and reinstall Macromedia Shockwave and Macromedia Flash. To do this, follow these steps.

Remove Macromedia Shockwave and Macromedia Flash

  1. Quit all running programs.
  2. On the taskbar, click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
  3. In Control Panel, double-click Internet Options.
  4. In the Internet Options dialog box, on the General tab, under Temporary Internet files, click Settings.
  5. In the Settings dialog box, click View Objects.
  6. In the Downloaded Program Files dialog box, if a Shockwave-related item appears in the Program File list, right-click it, and then click Remove on the shortcut menu that appears.

    You receive the following message:

    Shockwave control will be removed permanently.
    Are you sure?

  7. Click Yes.
  8. Repeat steps 6 through 7 for each Shockwave-related entry in the list.
  9. On the File menu, click Close.
  10. In the Settings dialog box, click OK.
  11. In the Internet Properties dialog box, click OK, and then quit Control Panel.

Reinstall Macromedia Shockwave and Macromedia Flash

  1. Start Windows Explorer.
  2. Navigate to the following folder

    drive:\Windows\System\Macromed

    where drive is the drive on which Windows is installed, where Windows is the folder in which Windows is installed, and where System is the System folder in Windows 9x.
  3. Right-click the Macromed folder, and then click Delete on the shortcut menu that appears.
  4. On the Confirm Folder Delete message that appears, click Yes.
  5. Quit Windows Explorer, and then restart your computer.
  6. Reinstall Macromedia Shockwave and Macromedia Flash. The Macromedia Shockwave Player and the Macromedia Flash Player can be obtained from Macromedia at the following URL:

    http://www.macromedia.com

Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/17/2003
Keywords:kb3rdparty kberrmsg kbInvalidPageFault kbprb KB302396
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.