Shutdown problem in Windows 98SE

[Gustavus]

My system has been rock stable for over a year running Windows 98SE. Recently it has begun freezing in shutdown displaying an error box saying "This program has executed an illegal instruction". If I look at the details it says that LoadWC.exe in the Windows/System directory is responsible -- which I assume is the Microsoft close windows program. If I try to continue after the error box, Windows opens all sorts of programs that are not opened in startup -- Second Chance, NetMedic etc. The only way out is to manually power down and then let Disk Doctor run on rebooting. It shuts down normally half the time and fails half the time. I would appreciate any suggestions. I do not want to do a full reinstall if it can be avaoided.

 

[bacillus]

no real answer here but have you run sfc to check for damaged or corrupt system files?

 

[Gustavus]

baccilus
Thanks for the suggestion. sfc does show that loadwc.exe was changed from the original installation from the CD -- but the date of that change was May of last year when I downloaded and installed one of Microsofts updates. The problem only appeared in the last month so I can't imagine the two are related.
Gustavus

 

[bacillus]

hmm, on my win98 system, I've got a 15kb file dated 17/08/01.
if you want, I can send you a copy to see if it makes any difference! 🙂

 

[bacillus]

btw, I assume you've checked your OS for a virus or trojan!

 

[Gustavus]

bacillus
Thanks for the help. I keep Norton AV up to date and running. My loadwc.exe is dated Nov/05/99 and is version 5.00.2919.6304. This one is 13.7K If you wish to e-mail the file to me my e-mail is gus@math.unm.edu What puzzles me is that the system shuts down correctly about half the time and hangs about half the time. I hate it when computers do that -- behave irrationally that is.
Gustavus

 

[hk29]

What is SFC?

 

[bacillus]

<< What is SFC? >>


system file checker! 🙂