I am quite often getting pop-up saying this system has preformed an illegal operation and will shut down. And it does. Anyone know how to fix this problem? It's a windows 98

shunned

I couldn't say offhand what it is, but I think win 98 was the worst op sys I've ever owned, so I would suggest upgrading to win xp home.
But if that's not an option, check start>settings>control panel>system and look for yellow exclam points.

Northwind_Dagas

This could be caused by any number of problems, and 98 is not great at 'self-healing.' Often times, errors are caused by spyware/adware/malware programs that may be running without you knowing.

Download Spybot Search & Destroy and run a scan to see if it finds anything (it likely will.) If you are still having messages afterwards, try reinstalling Internet Explorer, as I seen this fix some reoccurring system errors before.

If none of that works, let us know!

You've obviously never had Windows ME.

ScottGem

Foiled by the spread feature. I was going to answer something similar Dagas. Win Me is, by general consensus, the worst version of Windows. Win 98, especially SE was the best of the Win 9x line.

Suggesting an upgrade to XP is not the best solution because a Win 98 machine may not have the hardware to effectively run XP.

Look for posts from Fredg on maintenance tips for Win 98. He has a good collection. Make sure you have defragged and run SCANDISK.

Also, does this occur when doing a specific task or just generally. If a specific task what are you doing at the time. It would also help to know more about your system.

fredg

Hi, Esquire,
I also use Win98/98SE, and still do, due to some programs my wife likes will not run with 2000 or XP.
I have learned that some Maintenance on 98 will sometimes fix most problems; unless it's corrupted the kernal32.dll file, which is Windows 98/98SE.
Here are some things to try, and if they don't solve the issue, then it's probably time to reinstall 98.

Registry Repair should be done whenever there are problems:

To Repair the Registery:
Turn off the computer; or reboot; then immediately press F8, (or, could be F5) located on top of the keyboard. Keep it pressed down (or release and press, release and press) until an options window comes up, then release it.
(If F8 or F5 doesn't work, then re-boot, and immediately press down the CTRL key, hold down until it comes up to the options screen).
Use the up and down arrow keys on the keyboard to select "Command Prompt Only".
Press Enter
You will now see C:\>
Type in SCANDISK , all small letters, and it will look like:
C:\>SCANDISK , then press Enter. Takes about 5 min. maybe.
When finished:
Type in SCANREG /FIX (there is a space between the G and the / ).
You will now see C:\>SCANREG /FIX
Press Enter
This will take about 5 minutes or so.
when finished, press Enter for OK.
Manually, turn off the computer, wait a few seconds, the turn it back on.
If you don't have the "Command Prompt Only" option, then re-boot the computer normally.
Go to Start/ShutDown, then choose "restart in ms-dos mode".
It will come up to C:\windows.
Type in CD C:\
It will look like C:\windows CD C:\
Press Enter.
It will then be at the C\:> prompt.
Continue with the above.
When it returns to the C:\> prompt, then manually turn off the computer, and turn it back on.

Win98/98SE Regular Maintenance
All of these should be run whenever Win98/98SE starts giving problems. It will keep the computer running smoothly.

Before doing any of the following; turn off wallpaper and screensavers before re-starting or re-booting the computer.

Virtual Memory; Notes:
Windows 98/98SE does NOT defrag the swap file; win386.swp; or Virtual Memory. Go to Start>Control Panel>System>Performance tab>Virtual Memory button. Then, click on "Disable Virtual Memory"; a pop-up will say "don't do this", but do it anyway. Click on OK, then Apply, then OK to reboot. This makes the configurations take place. Don't forget, after running Defrag, to come back and re-set it to whatever you used for Virtual Memory. I use twice the RAM number, for both the Min. and Max numbers.

Safe Mode is best where indicated, because most programs are not running meaning their files are closed, or not in use. This allows them to be scanned much better, repaired, or defragged better.

1. Scandisk
Start in Safe Mode by:
Re-boot the computer, and immediately after starting up, Press and hold down (or press and release, press and release,) F8, at top of keypad.
When the options show on the screen, use the up and down arrow keys on the keyboard to select
"Safe Mode".
Press Enter
After it boots to Safe Mode, go to Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools, and click on Scandisk. Yes, run Scandisk again.
(It is faster if set on "Standard", the "Thorough" usually is not needed and takes a long, long time).
Click on "Start" and let it run until finished.

2. Defrag
When Scandisk is finished, click on "Close".
Now, go back to the same place, but this time, click on "Defrag".
Click on OK, and wait until it finishes (might take 1 hour if not done within a month).
After it finishes, Click on OK or whatever.
Then, re-boot.

Re-set your Virtual Memory, re-boot, then turn on screensavers, wallpaper.

The following Boot Disk has to be done only one time.

Also, a "must have" is a Boot Disk, for Win98/98SE. One never knows when the computer might not load windows and go to the desktop...it does happen.

Here are steps to make one:

Insert the Win98/98SE CD in the CD-ROM drive.
Go to Start/Programs/Windows Explorer
Double click on D:/ , if that is your CD-ROM drive letter.
Find and open the folder; Tools/Mtsutil/Fat32ebd (stands for Emergency Boot Disk)
Double click on the file Fat32ebd.exe and follow the instructions to create the Boot Disk.
Then remove the CD from the CD-ROM.

Now, we must test the Boot Disk to see if it works.
Shut down the computer; then turn it back on with the Boot Disk still in the computer.
When a screen comes up, use the up and down arrows on the keyboard to select "Boot with CD-ROM support". Then press Enter.
It will show some things about the computer, and then come up to the A:\> prompt.
Now, insert a CD (any will do) into the CD-ROM.
Wait until it "spins" and the light goes off.
Now, at the A:\> prompt, type in DIR D:
It will now look like A:\>DIR D:
It should show all the files on the CD.
If so, the Boot Disk is good. If NOT, repeat all the above.
If it's good, then remove the CD, manually turn off the computer, and remove the Boot Disk. Turn on the computer and it's ready to go.

Here are some "tweaks" for Win98/98SE that really work well.

Win98SE Tweaks for better performance
http://www.speedguide.net/read_articles.php?id=170

Win98SE USB Updates:
http://www.usbman.com/win98seusbguide.htm

Virtual Memory
http://www.cyberwalker.net/columns/nov01/081101.html

There are different opinions on Virtual Memory, but setting it to twice the RAM works better for me, than letting Windows manage it.
Do the Scandisk, and then the Scanreg /fix. Then, in SafeMode, run Defrag as suggested.
If all that doesn't work, and you keep getting a "blue screen of death", then it's time to reinstall Win98/98SE.
I do wish you the best, and good luck.

shunned

Actually I used to have that too, and didn't have as much problems with that one as I did with '98.

Northwind_Dagas

Then you were very fortunate.

Curlyben

If you are getting the message alot, NOT dependant on which program you are using, then it's time for a rebuild.

shunned

I had so many crashes with '98 I was considering getting airbags..

Win 2k pro was the best, by general consensus.

I don't like expee, does anyone else?

ScottGem

I don't know what "general consensus" you are listening to, but XP is by far the most stable, best performing version of Windows by every consensus I've heard from. And Win ME was the worst. Of the Win 9x line 98SE is generally considered the best.