What does 'illegal operation' mean?

Why does my computer say that it has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down?

This question was answered on May 4, 2002. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.

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I copied this information directly from www.microsoft.com, in their Knowledge Base If you would like to see the exact article, copy and paste the following URL into your Internet Address window: http://support.microsoft.com/search/preview.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q175703

Article #Q175703

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if the protected mode (32-bit) drivers for some of the storage devices installed in your computer are disabled The installation programs for the programs listed at the beginning of this article require protected mode (32-bit) Windows file system drivers

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, make sure the protected mode (32-bit) drivers for all of your storage devices are enabled To do this:

Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel, double-click System, click the Performance tab

Note the status on the File System line

If the status on the File System line is 32-bit, all of the storage devices installed in your computer are using protected mode (32-bit) drivers If this is the case, click OK until you return to Control Panel, and then close Control Panel

If the status on the File System line is Some drives are using MS-DOS compatibility mode, one or more of the storage devices installed in your computer are using real mode (16-bit) drivers If this is the case:

Click File System, click the Troubleshooting tab, click to clear the Disable all 32-bit protected-mode drivers check box

NOTE: If the Disable all 32-bit protected-mode drivers check box is not selected, or if the issue continues to occur, you may need to troubleshoot the Windows file system For additional information about how to do this, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q130179 Troubleshooting MS-DOS Compatibility Mode on Hard Disks

About the author

Posted by Debbi of Chandler-Gilbert Community College on May 4, 2002

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