Error Messages if Wsock32.dll File Is Damaged or Missing (298436)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 98
  • Microsoft Windows 95
This article was previously published under Q298436
If this article does not describe the error message that you are receiving, view the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article to view more articles that describe error messages:

315854 Windows 98 and Windows Me Error Message Resource Center

SYMPTOMS

You may experience one or more of the following symptoms:
  • When you start your computer, you may receive one of the following error messages:
    • Explorer caused an exception C06D007EH in module Sens.dll
    • Aoltray caused an Invalid Page Fault in Module Wsock32.dll at <memory location>
    • Spool32 caused an Invalid Page Fault in Module Spoolss.dll at 0167:7FACD02E
    • There is not enough memory to start Wsock32.dll
  • When you try to connect to the Internet, you may receive multiple error messages that are similar to the following error message:
    Msndc caused an Invalid Page Fault in Module Unknown at 0000:6003F400
  • When you attempt to start America Online (AOL) version 5.0, you may receive the following error message:
    WAOL has caused an Invalid Page Fault in Module Wsock32.dll at <memory location>
  • When you attempt to run the Windows IP Configuration utility (Winipcfg.exe), you may receive the following error message:
    Winipcfg caused an invalid page fault in module winipcfg.exe
  • When you attempt to start Microsoft Internet Explorer, you may receive one of the following error messages:
    • Iexplore caused a stack fault in module Wsock32.dll at 015f:75fa9c2f
    • Iexplore caused an Invalid Page Fault in module <unknown>
    • The web page you requested is not available offline.
  • When you start or shutdown your computer, attempt to start a program, or attempt to connect to the Internet, you may receive one of the following error messages:
    • Mtx_ caused an invalid page fault in module mtx_.exe
    • Iexplore caused a stack fault in module wsock32.dll
  • You may be unable to use your anti-virus program.
  • You may be unable to connect to your anti-virus vendor's Web site.
  • You may be unable to update your anti-virus program.
  • When you start your computer, Internet Explorer may start, but may not connect, or you may receive an "The page cannot be displayed" error message.

CAUSE

This issue can occur if the Wsock32.dll file on your computer is damaged or missing.

This issue can also occur if you have the W95.MTX or Matrix virus on your computer. For additional information on this virus, please see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

242191 Various Error Messages Caused By MTX or Matrix Virus

RESOLUTION

To try to work around this issue if your computer is not infected with the W95.MTX or Matrix virus, replace the Wsock32.dll file by using the appropriate method.

Windows 98 or Windows 98 Second Edition

To extract files in Windows 98 or Windows 98 Second Edition, use the System File Checker tool:
  1. Quit all running programs.
  2. Click Start, and then click Run.
  3. Type sfc, and then press ENTER.
  4. In System File Checker, click Extract one file from installation disk.
  5. In the Specify the system file you would like to restore box, type Wsock32.dll, and then click Start.
  6. In the Extract File dialog box, type drive:\Win98 in the Restore from box, where drive is the drive letter of the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive that contains your Windows 98 CD-ROM, and then click OK.
  7. In the Backup File dialog box, click OK. If a The backup folder does not exist. Do you want to create it message appears, click Yes.
  8. When you receive an "Extract File" message, click Yes to restart the computer.

Windows 95

To extract files in Windows 95, use the extract command. You can also use the extract command to extract files from Windows 98 if necessary.
  1. Click Start, point to Find or Search, and then click Files or Folders.
  2. In the Look in box, click drive C, and then click to select the Include subfolders check box.
  3. In the Named or Search for box, type win95_11.cab.

    NOTE: If you are running Windows 95 OSR2, the Wsock32.dll file is located in the Win95_18.cab file.
  4. Click Find Now or Search Now. If the Win95_11.cab file does not exist on the hard disk, insert the Windows installation CD-ROM and repeat the search on the CD-ROM drive.
  5. When you find the Win95_11.cab file, note the location of the file (for example, C:\Windows\Options\Cabs). This is your source path.
  6. Click Start, and then click Run.
  7. The general form of the extract command is:

    extract source path\win95_11.cab wsock32.dll /L c:\windows\command

    For example, if the source path is C:\Windows\Options\Cabs, the extract command is:

    extract drive:\windows\options\cabs\win95_11.cab wsock32.dll /L drive:\windows\command

    where drive is the drive on which Windows is installed (typically drive C).

    Type the following command, making the appropriate substitutions as previously noted:

    extract source path\win95_11.cab wsock32.dll /L c:\windows\command

  8. Click OK.
For additional information about extracting files in Windows, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

129605 How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:12/20/2004
Keywords:kbenv kberrmsg kbInvalidPageFault kbprb KB298436
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