Error Message When You Restart Your Computer "Explorer Caused an Exception 6d007eH in Module Explorer.exe" (312488)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 98
This article was previously published under Q312488
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

When you restart your computer after you install a program, you may receive the following error message:
This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down.

If the problem persists, contact the program vendor.
When you click Details, you receive the following error message:
EXPLORER caused an exception 6d007eH in module EXPLORER.EXE at 0167:0040a067

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if the Ole32.dll file in the Windows\System folder is damaged, or it is the incorrect version. This can occur if the program that you installed contains an older version of the Ole32.dll file, and this file replaces the existing Ole32.dll file on your hard disk.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, start your computer to a command prompt, rename the existing Ole32.dll file, and then extract a new copy of the Ole32.dll file from your original Windows 98 CD-ROM to the Windows\System folder. To do this, follow these steps.

Rename the Ole32.dll File

  1. Insert your Microsoft Windows 98 Startup disk into the floppy disk drive of your computer, and then restart your computer.

    NOTE: If you do not have a Windows 98 Startup disk, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    186300 How to Create a Windows 98 Startup Disk from MS-DOS

  2. When the Windows 98 Startup menu appears, select Start computer with CD-ROM Support.
  3. Make a note of the drive letter of your CD-ROM drive. For example, E.
  4. Insert your Windows 98 CD into the CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM drive.
  5. At the command prompt, type the following lines, pressing ENTER after each line:

    C:
    cd Windows\System

  6. Rename the Ole32.dll file by using the .old extension. To do this, type the following line, and then press ENTER:

    ren ole32.dll ole32.old

Extract a New Ole32.dll File

Extract a new Ole32.dll file from your Windows 98 CD. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Type the following lines, pressing ENTER after each line:

    A:
    ext

  2. At the Please enter the path to the Windows CAB files (a:) prompt, type drive:\win98 (where drive is the drive letter of your CD-ROM drive in step 3, and then press ENTER. For example:

    E:\win98

    NOTE: If you have an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) installation of Windows, the CAB files may also be located in the following folder:

    C:\WINDOWS\Options\Cabs

  3. At the Please enter the name(s) of the files(s) you want to extract prompt, type ole32.dll, and then press ENTER.
  4. At the Please enter the path to extract to ("Enter" for current directory) prompt, type C:\Windows\System, and then press ENTER.
  5. At the Is this okay? (y/n) prompt, type Y, and then press ENTER.
  6. Remove your Windows 98 Startup disk, and then restart the computer.

MORE INFORMATION

The Ole32.dll file is located in the Win98_38.cab file of the Windows 98 Second Edition CD-ROM and in the Win98_36.cab file of the Windows 98 CD-ROM.

For additional information, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

238767 Windows 98 Second Edition CD-ROM Directory Listing (8 of 14)

188433 Windows 98 and Windows Me Error Message Resource Center

CD-ROM Directory Listing (6 of 14)"/> For additional information about how to extract original Windows files, 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:kberrmsg kbprb KB312488
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