Exception Errors
and
General Protection Fault Links

Invalid Page Fault

An invalid page fault may occur when parameters are passed between programs and the Windows operating system. An invalid parameter may cause a program to run invalid instructions, which results in an invalid page fault. Invalid instruction can occur in any of the following situations:

• If the virtual memory becomes unstable due to a shortage of physical memory (RAM)
• If the virtual memory becomes unstable due to a shortage of free disk space
• If the virtual memory area is damaged by a program
• If a program attempts to access data that is being modified by another running program

General Protection Fault

A general protection fault (GP fault) often indicates that there is a problem with software or you need to update a device driver that you have installed on your computer. If you cannot find a Microsoft Knowledge Base article to address your specific issue, the Dr. Watson tool can help you identify the cause of the error message.
Dr. Watson is a diagnostic tool that takes a snapshot of your computer whenever a fault occurs. Dr. Watson intercepts software faults, identifies the software that faulted, and offers a detailed description of the cause. Dr. Watson can often diagnose the issue and offer a suggested course of action.
After you receive a GP fault, run the Dr. Watson tool so that you can "catch" the error the next time that it occurs. To start Dr. Watson, Click Start, click Run, type "drwatson" (without the quotation marks), and then click OK.
When you enable Dr. Watson, an icon is displayed on your taskbar.
If a program fault occurs, Dr. Watson generates a snapshot of the software environment. Click the Details button in the error message to view the information that is gathered by Dr. Watson.
To generate a log file, double-click the Dr. Watson icon on the taskbar. Dr. Watson gathers information about the operating system, and then a Dr. Watson dialog box is displayed.

Windows Protection Error

Windows Protection error message occur when your computer attempts to load or unload a virtual device driver (VxD). This error message is a way to let you know that there is a problem with the device driver. In many cases, the VxD that did not load or unload is mentioned in the error message. In other cases, you may not be able to determine the VxD that caused the behavior; however, you should be able to find the cause of the error message if you use clean boot troubleshooting.
Windows Protection error messages can occur in any of the following situations:

• If a real-mode driver and a protected-mode driver are in conflict
• If the registry is damaged
• If either the Win.com file or the Command.com file are infected with a virus, or if either of the files are damaged
• If a protected-mode driver is loaded from the System.ini file and the driver is already initialized
• If there is a physical input/output (I/O) address conflict or a random access memory (RAM) address conflict
• If there are incorrect complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) settings for a built-in peripheral device (such as cache settings, CPU timing, hard disks, and so on)
• If the Plug and Play feature of the basic input/output system (BIOS) on the computer is not working correctly
• If the computer contains a malfunctioning cache or malfunctioning memory
• If the motherboard on the computer is not working properly
• If you installed Microsoft Office 97 and you are using the Novell Client 32 software

Missing or Damaged Files

• For Windows 98, go to Start, point to Find, and then click Find Files or Folders. Type the name of the file you are looking for and then press Go.
• For Windows Me, go to Start, point to Search, and then click For Files or Folders. Type the name of the file you are looking for and then press Search Now. NOTE: Make sure that the correct hard disk is selected in the Look in box.

• Is there a program on your computer that when you try to start it, it will not run? This may be the source of the issue. If an important file is missing or damaged, programs will not run.
• Do you get an error message when you use a specific program? Maybe the core files of the program allow you to run the program, but as you are using the program one of the dependent files for a function you are trying to use is busted or damaged. The file that shows up in your error message might belong to that program.
• Did you recently install or remove a program or utility? If you try to install a program and it only partially installs, you may be receiving error messages because the program is looking for files that did not get installed. Another possibility could be that you removed a program, but some of the files for that program remain on your computer, some times this can cause problems as well.