Troubleshooting Unrecoverable Errors (Faults) in Internet Explorer

This article was previously published under Q276393

 

SUMMARY

This article provides information to help you diagnose and resolve issues that occur when you receive an unrecoverable error (fault or exception) message when you use Windows-based Internet Explorer.

 

MORE INFORMATION

Unrecoverable errors are also known as user-mode faults or exceptions. Programs such as Internet Explorer run on your computer in what is known as user-mode (or Ring3).  Processes that run in user-mode do so in their virtual address spaces and do not have direct access to hardware or memory that was not allocated to them.  Because user-mode processes are effectively isolated from the system and other user-mode processes, they do not interfere with these resources.  Therefore, they do not compromise the integrity of your computer. For example, if a process tries to read or write to a memory location that has not been allocated to it, the result is an unrecoverable error (in this case, an exception).  When these unrecoverable errors occur, you must close the affected program or process to maintain your computer’s integrity.

Note that most programs interact with other user-mode processes.  You can extend some programs by using add-on features that share their memory space. In the case of Internet Explorer, ActiveX Controls, Browser Helper Objects, tool bands, and other components can add custom functionality to the browser, such as additional toolbars, wallpaper or banner ads.  These components run in the same memory space as the browser, and may generate faults or exceptions on Internet Explorer or one of its components.  Like most programs, Internet Explorer also interacts with other parts of your computer.  For example, you use your display driver, display hardware, and installed fonts to display Web pages. You use your printer driver and hardware to print Web pages.  Other programs may also interact with Internet Explorer.  These interactions with other software or services can also cause unrecoverable errors in Internet Explorer.

Troubleshooting Unrecoverable Errors

To troubleshoot unrecoverable errors in Internet Explorer, follow these steps. After you perform each step, stop and test to see if the issue is resolved. If not, continue troubleshooting with the next step.

  1. Use the Microsoft Internet Explorer Error Reporting tool.  To do so, click Send Error Report when you are prompted to send the error report to Microsoft.  If a fix or workaround is available, click the More information link after you send the error report to Microsoft to obtain the fix or information about how to work around the issue.

    By default, the Internet Explorer Error Reporting tool is installed with Internet Explorer 5.5 Service Pack 2 (SP2) and later and Windows XP and later.  If you are running Internet Explorer 5.5 Service Pack 1 (SP1) or earlier on Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows NT 4.0, or Windows 2000, you can add the Internet Explorer Error Reporting tool from the Windows Update Web site or by upgrading to Internet Explorer 5.5 SP2 or later.  For additional information about the Internet Explorer Error Reporting Tool, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

276550 Description and Availability: Internet Explorer Error Reporting

For additional information about how to obtain the latest Internet Explorer 6 service pack, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

328548 How to Obtain the Latest Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack

For additional information about how to obtain the latest Internet Explorer 5.5 service pack, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

267954 How to obtain the latest Internet Explorer 5.01 service pack

  1. Click the click here link on the Internet Explorer Error Reporting dialog to view the error details. You then see error signature information similar to the following:

AppName: Iexplore.exe AppVer: 6.0.2600.0 ModName: module.dll ModVer: 5.0.1.10 Offset: 0007d934

If the module listed for ModName is not a Windows or Internet Explorer file, you may be able to isolate the issue by removing or disabling any programs, services, or drivers that are associated with the affected module.  To do so, locate Module.dll on your hard disk, right-click the file, click Properties, on the Version tab, and then view the Company box to verify that the file is a Microsoft file.  If not, the Company and Product Version boxes may indicate which program, service, or driver the file is associated with.  If not, try searching the Internet for information about the file.  When you determine which program, service, or driver the file is associated with, remove the program, service, or driver to see if the issue is resolved.  For example, to remove a program or service, use the Add or Remove Programs tool in Control Panel, or contact the manufacturer of the program or service for information about how to remove it.

  1. If you have the Internet Explorer Repair Tool, use it to locate Internet Explorer files that are out of date or incorrectly registered.  For additional information about the Internet Explorer repair tool, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

194177 Description of the Internet Explorer Repair Tool

  1. Disable third-party browser extensions.  For additional information about how to disable third-party browser extensions, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

298931 How to Disable Third-Party Tool Bands and Browser Helper Objects

  1. Incompatible or conflicting software that is running at the same time as Internet Explorer may cause some faults.  To determine if this is causing the issue, perform a "clean boot" of Windows.  A clean boot helps you to isolate the issue by temporarily eliminating items in your computer configuration that do not help to start Windows and Internet Explorer.

    To perform a clean boot, view the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Microsoft Windows XP

310353 How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows XP

Microsoft Windows 2000

281770 How to Perform Clean-Boot Troubleshooting for Windows 2000

Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me)

267288 How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows Millennium Edition

Microsoft Windows 98 and Windows 98 Second Edition

192926 How to Perform Clean-Boot Troubleshooting for Windows 98

Microsoft Windows 95 and Windows 95 OEM Service Releases

243039 How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows 95

If the error messages do not occur in a clean boot configuration, a conflict between Internet Explorer and some of your installed programs, drivers, or services is causing the issue.  In this case, add items back to your configuration one-by-one or in groups until the issue returns.  When you have isolated the conflicting program or service, contact the manufacturer for information about known issues or possible updates.

  1. If the fault only occurs when you visit certain Web sites, then the issue may be related to damaged Internet Explorer favorites, cookies, history (including AutoComplete), temporary Internet files, or ActiveX Controls.  To resolve this issue, delete each of these items.  To do so:
    1. Export your cookies and favorites by using the Import/Export Wizard in Internet Explorer.  For additional information about using the Import/Export Wizard, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

221523 Description of the Import/Export Wizard that is included with Internet Explorer 5.0 or later

Note: If this step does not resolve the issue, you can now use the Import/Export Wizard to restore your favorites (from Bookmark.htm) and cookies (from Cookies.txt).

    1. Delete your cookies.  For additional information about how to delete cookies, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

278835 How to Delete Cookie Files

If the issue occurs when you click an item in Favorites, delete your favorites.

    1. Delete all the Temporary Internet Files. To do so:
      1. Start Internet Explorer.
      2. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
      3. On the General tab, click Delete Files, and then click to select the Delete all offline content check box.
      4. Click OK.

If this does not resolve the issue, move your Temporary Internet Files folder to another location, delete the old folder, and then (if you want to) move your Temporary Internet Files folder back to the original location.  For additional information about this procedure, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

301057 Temporary Internet Files Use More Disk Space Than Specified

    1. Remove all ActiveX controls.  For additional information about how to remove ActiveX controls, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

154850 How to Remove an ActiveX Control in Windows

  1. Reinstall Internet Explorer.  If you are using the version of Internet Explorer that was included with your operating system or an operating system service pack, repair or reinstall your operating system or reinstall your operating system service pack.  For additional information about how to determine which version of Internet Explorer you are using, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

164539 How to Determine Which Version of Internet Explorer Is Installed

Unrecoverable Error Messages

Unrecoverable errors in Internet Explorer generate different error messages depending on whether Internet Explorer Error Reporting is installed and enabled.

Windows 98 Without Internet Explorer Error Reporting

This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down.  If the issue persists, contact the program vendor.

Windows Millennium Edition Without Internet Explorer Error Reporting

Iexplore has caused an error in module. Iexplore will now close. If you continue experiencing problems, try restarting your computer.

Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 Without Internet Explorer Error Reporting

An application error has occurred and an application error log is being generated.

iexplore.exe Exception: access violation (0xc00000050), Address:memory address

Windows XP and Earlier Windows Versions With Internet Explorer Error Reporting

Internet Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience.

If you were in the middle of something, the information you were working on might be lost.

Please tell Microsoft about this problem.
We have created an error report that you can send to help us improve Internet Explorer.  We will treat this report as confidential and anonymous.

To see what data this error report contains, click here.

 

REFERENCES

Note: Although the following articles are sorted by the appropriate version of Internet Explorer, some information may apply to more than one version of Internet Explorer.

Internet Explorer 6

281849 Random General Protection Faults with Comet Cursor Version 1.5 Installed

259684 Invalid Page Faults Occur If You Run IE 5.5 and Aureate Radiate

262900 Error Message with Netscape 4.06 TuneUp Installed

Internet Explorer 5.5

253364 IPFs Occur If Internet Explorer 5.5 and Gator Software Installed

271582 Problems Printing to HP DeskJet if BD Denver Font Is Damaged

274419 Error Message with Damaged Font or Mlang.dll File Not Registered

275154 IEXPLORE Caused an Invalid Page Fault in Module Mshtmled.dll

Internet Explorer 5

197625 STB Velocity 128 Installation Program Does Not Work Properly

218983 Err Msg: IExplore Caused an Invalid Page Fault in Module...

219008 Remedy Help Desk Notifier Causes GP Fault in Module Tirpc.dll

219267 Problems Installing HiJaak 95 on Computer Running Internet Explorer

224540 Err Msg: IE5WZD Caused an Exception C0010000H in Module...

224492 Err Msg: Invalid Page Fault in Module Vbrowseui.dll

224813 Err Msg: Invalid Page Fault in Module Apitrap.dll

240242 Err: Acmsetup Caused an Invalid Page Fault in IE 5 Setup

243713 Err Msg: Iexplore Caused an Invalid Page Fault in Module...

249064 IEXPLORE Caused an Invalid Page Fault in SHELL32.DLL

254490 "Invalid page fault in module Urlmon.dll" error message when starting Internet Explorer

258594 Internet Explorer Error Message If NetZip Is Installed

261156 GP Fault in Module Gdi.exe Printing from Internet Explorer

245096 Access Violation in MSHTML Error in Internet Explorer 5

250841 "Module Webcheck.dll" error message when opening My Computer or after Internet Explorer upgrade

257675 Windows Explorer May Hang When Viewing Images

257936 Internet Explorer Hangs When Viewing a Redirected Web Page

257994 Access Violation When You Close Internet Explorer Window

Internet Explorer 4

171745 Invalid Page Fault When Installing Additional Components

182027 Error Message When You Quit Internet Explorer

185512 Illegal Operation or "Application Error" Opening a Web Page

189035 Err Msg: IEXPLORE Caused a Segment Not Present Fault in...

191607 Invalid Page Fault Quitting Internet Explorer or Sending E-mail

194176 Illegal Operation Error Message When You Try to Print a Web Page

234846 General Protection Fault When You Quit Internet Explorer

250483 Err Msg: IE4Wzd Caused an Invalid Page Fault in Module...

188706 Problems Connecting to Secure Web Site with 128-Bit Encryption

193847 Mshtml.dll Error When Closing Window Before Rendering Finishes

Non-specific Version of Internet Explorer

155163 Java Program Does Not Run with Java JIT Compiler Enabled

169747 Error Message: Invalid Page Fault in Mshtml.dll

174858 Problems Using Matrox PowerDesk Drivers With Internet Explorer

184087 Error Message: Invalid Page Fault in Module Wtieclient.dll

188095 Err Msg: Iexplore Caused an Invalid Page Fault in Shell32.dll

187965 Err Msg: Mprexe Caused an Invalid Page Fault in Module Kernel...

194359 Error Message Scrolling Through Web Page Frame with Wheel

221085 Error Message Typing Address in Address Box or in Open Box

238468 Invalid Page Fault in Explorer when Using Netzero ISP

249191 Blank Desktop or Illegal Operations Error Message Occurs

256122 Internet Explorer Causes "Invalid Page Fault" in Wininet.dll

171665 Error Starting Computer with Damaged Shortcuts on Start Menu

177323 Error Renaming Files or Folders with Thumbnail View Enabled