Win 95 problems

Linked to my post OLE 2.0, I seem to be having numerous problems with my setup, especially installing programs.
The Internet explorer icon does not do anything, so I thought I would try to install IE 4.0 from a CD I had. When clikcing the install icon on the splash screen, the hourglass appears briefly, the CD starts to spin, then nothing happens.
I tried to install Who Wants to be a Millionaire (UK edition), and the machine started to run the Windows Installer program, then promptly froze and gave me a "Fatal Exception OE" message.
As well as Paint not working (see earlier post), Windows Imaging will not load, nor Wordpad, due to the OLE problem.
I have now reisntalled Win 95 from both HD and CD several times, chosen Custom installation to ensure that nothing is left out, all to no avail.
It may be worth mentioning as well that Printer sharing does not work, although drive sharing does, and Internet sharing won't work (partly due to the fact that IE won't install!)
It has been suggested by Larry and others that I should upgrade to 98 SE, but it now appears that my copy is tied to the manufacturer of my other machine and refuses to install - Therefore I am stuck with W95!
Anybody able to advise?

1. RE: Win 95 problems
lbyard Jul-06-01 02:19 PM
In response to message 0

What is the make and model of the computer that SE "tied" to? Larry

2. RE: Win 95 problems
turve Jul-06-01 02:47 PM
In response to message 1

A Gateway 2000, can't remember the model, but I think its a GP6 something

3. RE: Win 95 problems
lbyard Jul-06-01 03:40 PM
In response to message 2

Gateway makes a pretty much generic computer. Exactly, what happens when you try to install Win 98 SE on computer with the problems? Larry

4. RE: Win 95 problems
turve Jul-09-01 08:09 AM
In response to message 3

It starts to run the checks as usual, then before it actually starts to install, a message appears telling me that this version of windows is for Gateway Copmputers only. The installation program then ends.
But, I did a clean reinstall of W95 following fdisk and format, and the OLE problem has now ceased, but I get messages about vserver.vxd being damaged, and frequent crashes instead!

5. RE: Win 95 problems
lbyard Jul-09-01 08:39 PM
In response to message 4

I would do another clean install, but first, after formatting, I would scan the hard disk and check it for viruses. Also, it may help to pull all expansion boards except video to do the install. Add one board at a time after installing Windows. Larry

6. RE: Win 95 problems
turve Jul-10-01 08:19 AM
In response to message 5

Thanks, I'll try that

7. RE: Win 95 problems
turve Jul-13-01 07:58 AM
In response to message 5

I did another clean install, and installed cards one by one, still with frequent crashes. It then decided that several critical files were damaged or missing, and insisted I run setup again.
Out of curiosity, I pulled the memory (128mb) and replaced it with 32mb, and lo and behold, everything works - IE, file and printer sharing, ICS - everything!
Does this mean my 128mb is dead? it would be a shame to waste it!!!!!
Thanks for your help though, Larry - it saved me giving up and paying somebody to sort it for me!!!

8. RE: Win 95 problems
lbyard Jul-13-01 02:51 PM
In response to message 7

The memory was probably bad or not properly seated. Bad/marginal memory is a common cause of these kinds of problems. Bad motherboards and noisy (voltages with noise superimposed) power supplies are among other reasons for it. Larry