Windows protection error

I get this message when starting my computer (WIN98SE)
"Windows protection error. You need to restart your computer."

I have tried somethings already, probably making matters worse...

I can get the machine to run Windows 98SE in safe mode.

1 st probable red herring:
I first suspected the Grisoft anti virus (free edition) as this appears to
write a line in autoexec.bat to run AVG7/bootup.exe (since rem'd out)

2nd possible red herring:
The only changes made to the system hardware were in Device Manager settings
for the Monitor.
There seemed to be an issue over the display settings.

My Computer/Device Manager /Monitors
The monitors entry was 'difficult to set the display resolution correctly',
so on a whim it was deleted thinking the hardware would be re-detected on
boot up. But 'Monitor' in Device Manager has not re-appeared.
After running Windows Setup from the WIN98SE disk there is still no
'Monitor' in Device Manager.

The actual monitor is funtioning and displaying safe mode, so it must be in
the list...

Could this be the problem and how can it be corrected?

I read earlier post about deleting enum in the registry.. worth trying?

Of course the real problem could be nothing to do with either of the above
issues.

Note the computer was connected by wired network connection via switch to
this XP computer, but is now unplugged -makes no difference to the problem.

Roger R

"Roger R" wrote in message
...
I get this message when starting my computer (WIN98SE)
"Windows protection error. You need to restart your computer."

I have tried somethings already, probably making matters worse...

I can get the machine to run Windows 98SE in safe mode.

1 st probable red herring:
I first suspected the Grisoft anti virus (free edition) as this appears to write a
line in autoexec.bat to run AVG7/bootup.exe (since rem'd out)

2nd possible red herring:
The only changes made to the system hardware were in Device Manager settings for
the Monitor.
There seemed to be an issue over the display settings.

My Computer/Device Manager /Monitors
The monitors entry was 'difficult to set the display resolution correctly', so on
a whim it was deleted thinking the hardware would be re-detected on boot up. But
'Monitor' in Device Manager has not re-appeared.
After running Windows Setup from the WIN98SE disk there is still no 'Monitor' in
Device Manager.

The actual monitor is funtioning and displaying safe mode, so it must be in the
list...

Could this be the problem and how can it be corrected?

I read earlier post about deleting enum in the registry.. worth trying?

Of course the real problem could be nothing to do with either of the above issues.

Note the computer was connected by wired network connection via switch to this XP
computer, but is now unplugged -makes no difference to the problem.


Hi Roger,

Is this a desktop or laptop computer?

"difficult to set the display resolution correctly" is not a known message in Device
Manager, that I know of. Can you give the exact message that was shown?

Are you NOT getting a Windows Protection Error when you start in Safe Mode, and when
you shut down from Safe Mode?

In Device Manager while in Safe Mode, are there any Monitor entries?
Any entries under the "Other" category?
What is shown under the Display Adapter category?

How to Troubleshoot Windows Protection Error Messages
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=149962

--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.net/
http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm

"glee" wrote in message
...
Hi Roger,

Hi, thanks for your response.

Is this a desktop or laptop computer?

Desktop.

"difficult to set the display resolution correctly" is not a known message
in Device Manager, that I know of. Can you give the exact message that
was shown?

Sorry, no.
The phrase described the experience, not a message.

Are you NOT getting a Windows Protection Error when you start in Safe
Mode, and when you shut down from Safe Mode?

No. The message occurs when the computer boots without intervention.
Note: the computer is set for selective start up from msconfig,
Disabled process config sys file
Disabled process autoexec bat file
Process System ini file
Process Win ini file
Start up files are all enabled with exception of AVG virus checker, modem,
Office start up, MS fast find, and a third party product registration.

Control key is held down at end of DOS screen messages during boot sequence
to get the startup mode option.
I notice that every time there is very brief blink of 'updating system drum'
before the safe mode message appears.

Shutdown normal with message: 'it is now safe to turn your computer off'.
(it didn't used to be)

In Device Manager while in Safe Mode, are there any Monitor entries?
No

Any entries under the "Other" category?
Yes, PCI Ethernet controller -Yellow question mark. (no driver files
avialable for this device)
So problem there, but updating driver returns 'no files found'.

What is shown under the Display Adapter category?
NVIDIA Ge force 4 MX 440 (correct for card)

Resume of course of events regarding monitor.
There were so many circular paths, deleting unwanted monitors that
subsequently re-appeared and trying to set the screen resolution which also
seemed to reset itself, that it is now difficult to recall the exact course
of events.

However, briefly, there were two monitors listed in Device Manager.
As it was impossible (or so it seemed) to delete the obsolete one and retain
the desired monitor, both were deleted, then also the Monitors branch was
deleted, so now there is no 'Monitor' branch off 'Computer' in Device
Manager'.

I thought this would re-appear when WIN98 Setup was run from the disk, but
it has not.
What needs to be done to get it appear again?

Roger R

"Roger R" wrote in message
...

"glee" wrote in message
...
Hi Roger,

Hi, thanks for your response.

Is this a desktop or laptop computer?

Desktop.

"difficult to set the display resolution correctly" is not a known message
in Device Manager, that I know of. Can you give the exact message that
was shown?

Sorry, no.
The phrase described the experience, not a message.

Are you NOT getting a Windows Protection Error when you start in Safe
Mode, and when you shut down from Safe Mode?

No. The message occurs when the computer boots without intervention.
Note: the computer is set for selective start up from msconfig,
Disabled process config sys file
Disabled process autoexec bat file
Process System ini file
Process Win ini file
Start up files are all enabled with exception of AVG virus checker, modem, Office
start up, MS fast find, and a third party product registration.

Control key is held down at end of DOS screen messages during boot sequence
to get the startup mode option.
I notice that every time there is very brief blink of 'updating system drum'
before the safe mode message appears.

Shutdown normal with message: 'it is now safe to turn your computer off'.
(it didn't used to be)

In Device Manager while in Safe Mode, are there any Monitor entries?
No

Any entries under the "Other" category?
Yes, PCI Ethernet controller -Yellow question mark. (no driver files
avialable for this device)
So problem there, but updating driver returns 'no files found'.

What is shown under the Display Adapter category?
NVIDIA Ge force 4 MX 440 (correct for card)

Resume of course of events regarding monitor.
There were so many circular paths, deleting unwanted monitors that
subsequently re-appeared and trying to set the screen resolution which also
seemed to reset itself, that it is now difficult to recall the exact course
of events.

However, briefly, there were two monitors listed in Device Manager.
As it was impossible (or so it seemed) to delete the obsolete one and retain
the desired monitor, both were deleted, then also the Monitors branch was
deleted, so now there is no 'Monitor' branch off 'Computer' in Device
Manager'.

I thought this would re-appear when WIN98 Setup was run from the disk, but
it has not.
What needs to be done to get it appear again?

Are you quite sure that NVIDIA Ge force 4 MX 440 is the correct display adapter
driver?

Have you tried Control Panel Display Settings tab Advanced button Monitor tab,
click on Properties, then Driver tab Update Driver?

No driver for the Ethernet controller? Sounds like you are playing with a "found"
machine with no driver disks to install from.

Run Everest or SIW to check that your display adapter is actually what you think it
is.

SIW :: System Information for Windows
http://www.gtopala.com/

EVEREST Free Edition:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/EVEREST_Fr...ion_d4181.html

From Safe Mode, use Control Panel Display to set your colour depth and resolution
to lower settings, and lower the refresh rate if you can, from Control Panel
Display Settings tab Advanced button Monitor tab.
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.net/
http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm

"glee" wrote in message
...
Are you quite sure that NVIDIA Ge force 4 MX 440 is the correct display
adapter driver?

The video (AGP) card has written on it: NVIDIA GeForce4 MX440
I bought it new, but the driver has since been upgraded to the latest
version downloaded from the Nvidia site (v81.98) and used successfully.

Have you tried Control Panel Display Settings tab Advanced button
Monitor tab, click on Properties, then Driver tab Update Driver?

Yes, but there is no doubt of the adaptor and it has the correct driver.
Re-installing today was thwarted with the message:
'cannot detect any Nvidia chips, installation aborted'.
I cannot account for this message but believe it to be another red herring.
Since I have a display at 640x480 which must come from the graphics card.

Info:
Control panelDisplaySettings:
below the picture of monitor: Display: (unkown Monitor) on (Unkown device)

Control Panel Display Settings tab Advanced button Monitor tab,
err, no Monitor tab on settings page.
But on, Settings Advanced, no 'properties' tab, but on Adaptor tab
adjacent to card icon: 'NVIDIA GeForce4 MX440'

In Device ManagerDisplay Adaptors= NVIDIA GeForce4 MX440
Properties: Status not available when running in safe mode.

I would comment that there have been no changes of adaptor card in this
machine since new, and it has been working perfectly satisfactorly prior to
the changes to the Monitor settings.

No driver for the Ethernet controller? Sounds like you are playing with a
"found" machine with no driver disks to install from.


Sounds like you are jumping to incorrect assumptions before all the facts
are in.


I assembled the machine some years ago from new components and it was
my main machine that worked well. I have the installation disk that came
with the mainboard if that is to what you refer.

Run Everest or SIW to check that your display adapter is actually what you
think it is.

Ran SIW from floppy,
('this program is not designed to run in safe mode' proceed anyway? yes)

Under Hardware PCI VGA controller Nvidia corp Device= 017h GForce4 MX440
PCI class 03h display
PCI Class Type 30000h VGA controller

HardwareVideo = Name NVIDIA GeForce4 MX440
HardwareVideoMonitor = (blank)
HardwareVideoModes =Current: mode=0, width= 0, height= 0, Default.
Supported: (blank)

From Safe Mode, use Control Panel Display to set your colour depth and
resolution to lower settings, and lower the refresh rate if you can, from
Control Panel Display Settings tab Advanced button Monitor tab.

In Control PanelDisplaySettings = In safe mode the only resolution
available is 640 x 480 at 16 colours.

In Control panel there is also separate icon for nView Desktop Manager,
opening this has six tabs all greyed out except an info tab with 'Display
Settings'. Here again limited to 640 x 480 x 16 colours as above.

Extra info:

Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/System Information/Components/
Display: 'There are no display devices'
Problem Devices: 'There are no devices with problems on this machine'

Some registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Enum/MONITOR/
HSL06AD/
PCI_VEN10DE&DEV_0171&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_A3_000800 _1

HKEY_LOCAL-MACHINE/CONFIG/0001/Display/Settings/
data: Resolution = "640,480"
data: UpgradeToDefaultMode = ""
PCI_VEN10DE&DEV_0171&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_A3_000800 _1
data: Resolution "640,480"

Monitor:
Fujitsu C776. Manual states has VESA-DDC-Compatable VGA interface.
I assume this means its 'plug and play' - though the manual can't bring
itself to actually say that.

Roger R

"Roger R" wrote in message
...

"glee" wrote in message
...
Are you quite sure that NVIDIA Ge force 4 MX 440 is the correct display
adapter driver?

The video (AGP) card has written on it: NVIDIA GeForce4 MX440
I bought it new, but the driver has since been upgraded to the latest
version downloaded from the Nvidia site (v81.98) and used successfully.

OK.


Have you tried Control Panel Display Settings tab Advanced button
Monitor tab, click on Properties, then Driver tab Update Driver?

Yes, but there is no doubt of the adaptor and it has the correct driver.
Re-installing today was thwarted with the message:
'cannot detect any Nvidia chips, installation aborted'.
I cannot account for this message but believe it to be another red herring.
Since I have a display at 640x480 which must come from the graphics card.


I didn't suggest to do anything with the display driver....I referred to the
*Monitor* tab, and trying the Update Driver button. You state however that you do
not have a Monitor tab, so that's out anyway.

I'm sorry, but I was under the mistaken impression from some of what you posted that
you were still able to get into normal mode some of the time. Much of what I
suggested needs to be done from normal mode rather than Safe Mode. If you can
*only* start in Safe Mode, then you will be limited in what you can do.

The fact that you have a640x480 display through the graphics card in Safe Mode
doesn't mean that the graphic chipset is working correctly, nor does it mean that
the video RAM is OK, nor does it mean that the NVidia drivers are not damaged.


Info:
Control panelDisplaySettings:
below the picture of monitor: Display: (unkown Monitor) on (Unkown device)


Well, that would be expected under Safe Mode.


Control Panel Display Settings tab Advanced button Monitor tab,
err, no Monitor tab on settings page.
But on, Settings Advanced, no 'properties' tab, but on Adaptor tab
adjacent to card icon: 'NVIDIA GeForce4 MX440'

In Device ManagerDisplay Adaptors= NVIDIA GeForce4 MX440
Properties: Status not available when running in safe mode.

I would comment that there have been no changes of adaptor card in this
machine since new, and it has been working perfectly satisfactorly prior to
the changes to the Monitor settings.


I still don't know exactly *what* changes you made to the "monitor settings", so it
is pretty much guesswork from this end on that account.


No driver for the Ethernet controller? Sounds like you are playing with a
"found" machine with no driver disks to install from.


Sounds like you are jumping to incorrect assumptions before all the facts
are in.


I only know about your machine what you tell me.


I assembled the machine some years ago from new components and it was
my main machine that worked well. I have the installation disk that came
with the mainboard if that is to what you refer.


If the Ethernet controller is onboard (built into the motherboard rather than a
separate card), then the chances are good that the driver will be on the motherboard
disk.

snip

In Control panel there is also separate icon for nView Desktop Manager,
opening this has six tabs all greyed out except an info tab with 'Display
Settings'. Here again limited to 640 x 480 x 16 colours as above.

Extra info:

Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/System Information/Components/
Display: 'There are no display devices'
Problem Devices: 'There are no devices with problems on this machine'

Some registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Enum/MONITOR/
HSL06AD/
PCI_VEN10DE&DEV_0171&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_A3_000800 _1


The ^above^ PCI_VEN number is listed under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Enum/MONITOR?
PCI_VEN 10DE&DEV_0171 is the NVidia GeForce4 MX 440 chip, NOT a monitor. If that is
appearing under Monitor in the Registry, something is apparently amiss. You might
try backing up the Monitor registry key, and then deleting it.


HKEY_LOCAL-MACHINE/CONFIG/0001/Display/Settings/
data: Resolution = "640,480"
data: UpgradeToDefaultMode = ""
PCI_VEN10DE&DEV_0171&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_A3_000800 _1
data: Resolution "640,480"

Monitor:
Fujitsu C776. Manual states has VESA-DDC-Compatable VGA interface.
I assume this means its 'plug and play' - though the manual can't bring
itself to actually say that.

That appears to be a 17" CRT, and yes, it should be PnP:
http://www.fujitsu-siemens.co.uk/rl/...c776/c776.html

There's also this, which is supposed to be a "universal" .inf file (installer) for
Fujitsu 15" and 17" CRTs:
http://members.driverguide.com/drive...driverid=34015

Not much else I can offer......
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.net/
http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm

I'm sorry, but I was under the mistaken impression from some of what you
posted that you were still able to get into normal mode some of the time.

At one time I could do that, but I'm inclined to think now that this was
only after starting in DOS mode and restoring an earlier version of the
registry.

I have now run out of working registry backups in their normal location but
have a further store of old backup registies in a separate location I
created in 'My documents'.

I am thinking to use one of these, created last May, but have installed a
number of applications since then, incl MS Office.

Will it be necessary to uninstall these applications before restoring this
old registry or won't it matter? ( though of course the app's won't then
have their data in the registry and will need to be re-installed later)


HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Enum/MONITOR/
HSL06AD/
PCI_VEN10DE&DEV_0171&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_A3_000800 _1


The ^above^ PCI_VEN number is listed under
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Enum/MONITOR?
PCI_VEN 10DE&DEV_0171 is the NVidia GeForce4 MX 440 chip, NOT a monitor.
If that is appearing under Monitor in the Registry, something is
apparently amiss. You might try backing up the Monitor registry key, and
then deleting it.

It is definately under Monitor, which is certainly curious.
I will have a go at this and see where it leads.

It was useful to find what the PCI_VEN refence referrs to.
Can you give me a link to the cross reference table for PCI_VEN ?

Roger R

"Roger R" wrote in message
...
I'm sorry, but I was under the mistaken impression from some of what you
posted that you were still able to get into normal mode some of the time.

At one time I could do that, but I'm inclined to think now that this was
only after starting in DOS mode and restoring an earlier version of the
registry.

I have now run out of working registry backups in their normal location but
have a further store of old backup registies in a separate location I
created in 'My documents'.

I am thinking to use one of these, created last May, but have installed a
number of applications since then, incl MS Office.

Will it be necessary to uninstall these applications before restoring this
old registry or won't it matter? ( though of course the app's won't then
have their data in the registry and will need to be re-installed later)


I'd uninstall them first if possible....but in Safe Mode that may not be possible.
Uninstalling will save you a LOT of fiile cleanup later, as Office installs a lot of
files all over, and you won't be able to do a formal uninstall once you revert to a
Registry prior to the Office installation.

If you've already restored previous Registries with no change, I don't know that
going back even further will help.


HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Enum/MONITOR/
HSL06AD/
PCI_VEN10DE&DEV_0171&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_A3_000800 _1


The ^above^ PCI_VEN number is listed under
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Enum/MONITOR?
PCI_VEN 10DE&DEV_0171 is the NVidia GeForce4 MX 440 chip, NOT a monitor.
If that is appearing under Monitor in the Registry, something is
apparently amiss. You might try backing up the Monitor registry key, and
then deleting it.

It is definately under Monitor, which is certainly curious.
I will have a go at this and see where it leads.

It was useful to find what the PCI_VEN refence referrs to.
Can you give me a link to the cross reference table for PCI_VEN ?


For about 8 years, I've used "Advanced PCI Info" by Alex Minas. It uses a text file
database that has been updated by users for years, called PCIDevs.txt

Download Advanced PCI Info (in apciinfo.zip) and PCIDevs.txt, unzip them into the
same folder, overwriting the PCIDevs.txt that is already in apciinfo.zip. Then run
apciinfo.exe, to see the Vendor IDs (PCI_VEN) and the Device IDs (DEV) of your
attached hardware.

http://www.benchmarkhq.ru/files/apciinfo.zip
http://members.datafast.net.au/~dft...ads/pcidevs.txt

You can then key in the Vendor IDs and Device IDs here, and click the appropriate
Search button:
PCI Vendor and Device Lists
http://www.pcidatabase.com/

Alternately but not as easy, you can go he
Linux PCI ID Repository
http://pci-ids.ucw.cz/
and search the Vendor IDs on this page:
http://pci-ids.ucw.cz/iii/

Once you find the Vendor ID you are searching, click its link to see the list of
Device IDs associated with it.
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.net/
http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm

"glee" wrote in message
...
have a further store of old backup registies in a separate location I
I am thinking to use one of these,

If you've already restored previous Registries with no change, I don't
know that going back even further will help.

I'll try something else.


It was useful to find what the PCI_VEN refence referrs to.
Can you give me a link to the cross reference table for PCI_VEN ?

For about 8 years, I've used "Advanced PCI Info" by Alex Minas. It uses a
text file database that has been updated by users for years, called
PCIDevs.txt

Download Advanced PCI Info (in apciinfo.zip) and PCIDevs.txt, unzip them
into the same folder, overwriting the PCIDevs.txt that is already in
apciinfo.zip. Then run apciinfo.exe, to see the Vendor IDs (PCI_VEN) and
the Device IDs (DEV) of your attached hardware.

http://www.benchmarkhq.ru/files/apciinfo.zip
http://members.datafast.net.au/~dft...ads/pcidevs.txt

Thanks for those, much appreciated, however the pcidevs.txt link returns
'server error', perhaps a members log in was needed?

Roger R

"Roger R" wrote in message
...
"glee" wrote in message
...
have a further store of old backup registies in a separate location I
I am thinking to use one of these,

If you've already restored previous Registries with no change, I don't
know that going back even further will help.

I'll try something else.


It was useful to find what the PCI_VEN refence referrs to.
Can you give me a link to the cross reference table for PCI_VEN ?

For about 8 years, I've used "Advanced PCI Info" by Alex Minas. It uses a
text file database that has been updated by users for years, called
PCIDevs.txt

Download Advanced PCI Info (in apciinfo.zip) and PCIDevs.txt, unzip them
into the same folder, overwriting the PCIDevs.txt that is already in
apciinfo.zip. Then run apciinfo.exe, to see the Vendor IDs (PCI_VEN) and
the Device IDs (DEV) of your attached hardware.

http://www.benchmarkhq.ru/files/apciinfo.zip
http://members.datafast.net.au/~dft...ads/pcidevs.txt

Thanks for those, much appreciated, however the pcidevs.txt link returns
'server error', perhaps a members log in was needed?

Oops....that's what happens when I copy and paste off a web page instead of off the
address bar.
Here's the complete link:
http://members.datafast.net.au/~dft0...ds/pcidevs.txt

It may open in the browser as a text file rather than downloading the text file to a
folder, depending on your browser and configuration. You can right-click the link
and choose Save Target As...
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.net/
http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm