Broken my computer ,any ideas ?

[KwikPhix]

I thought I would post in here before I set this machine on fire ! Every time I try to use any program on the computer I get the following message: This program has performed an illegal operation (OWTTE), program performed an invalid instruction in module MFC42.DLL at 017f:6c3722b9. Although the machine wasn't working brilliantly before this, I think the thing that has caused this problem is when i installed the software for my new digital camera (Fujifilm 2600 zoom). I installed the software as per the instruction book and have uninstalled it since. My machine is practically unusable at the moment. to get to the stage where i can post this message took me ages. Any ideas before i go for a total reformat back to factory settings ?

[ORAC]

Try a full reinstall of Windows. Your data directories will be unaffected and your Window settings kept.

If that does'nt work delete the Windows directories and system files (command.com etc) and then reinstall windows (You will have to do a reinstall of the applications though).

If that does'nt work you might want to take the oportunity of buying a new large 40 or 60Gb drive (now cheap(ish). Put in in as the master, install Windows and your applications. Put your present drive in as slave. Copy your data across and then reformat as a spare.

Utilities such as Norton Utilities can have some success in curing problems, but at %50 of the price of a new hard drive you have to decide which is the preferable option.

[bblank]

Have you checked to see if the software installation overwrote the MFC42.DLL file in the C:\windows\system directory? There have been many versions of this module and they are not all compatible. You may in fact have several different MFC42.DLL files in various directories and that is ok. But if you are having the system problems that you mention I would check the aforementioned directory to see if you have the correct dll there. (What I am suggesting should not have happened but it has to me with other system files.)

[FL310]

Now that you have fixed the problem (guess why I know...) re-install your digi cam software again and if you have the same problem re-appearing...just fix it as you did minutes ago...it will work... <img src="tongue.gif" border="0"> :) <img src="tongue.gif" border="0"> <img src="cool.gif" border="0">

[KwikPhix]

You learn something new every day :) , Thanx for the fix FL310, I'll try the re-install tomorrow - it's been a very long day !

Just for the Archive/Info, i had to get a new MFC42.DLL file from a very nice man( i presume from the postcard <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> ) and replace the one that had been replaced...if you know what i mean.