Error Message: Fatal Exception 0028 in VXD Helpwgrd

ID: Q189610

The information in this article applies to:
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SYMPTOMS

When you start Windows 98, you may receive the following error message:

Fatal Exception 0028 in VXD HELPWGRD


CAUSE

This behavior can occur if Dr. Solomon's Anti-Virus is installed on your computer. Dr. Solomon's Anti-Virus is not compatible with Windows 98.


RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, contact Dr. Solomon's to inquire about a possible update to address this issue.

To work around this issue, use the appropriate method:

Uninstall Dr. Solomon's Anti-Virus

If you are able to start Windows 98, uninstall Dr. Solomon's Anti-Virus. To do this, follow these steps:

NOTE: If Windows 98 does not start normally, try to start it in Safe mode. To start Windows 98 in Safe mode, restart your computer, press and hold down the CTRL key until the Windows 98 Startup menu appears, and then choose Safe Mode.
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double- click Add/Remove Programs.


  2. Click Dr. Solomon's Anti-Virus, click Add/Remove, and then follow the instructions on your screen.


Rename the Helpwgrd.vxd File

If you are unable to start Windows 98, rename the Helpwgrd.vxd file. To do so, follow these steps:
  1. Start your computer, press and hold down the CTRL key after your computer completes the Power On Self-Test (POST), and then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu.

    For more information about Windows 98 startup, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
    ARTICLE-ID: Q178548
    TITLE : No "Starting Windows 98" Message at Startup


  2. Type the following commands at the command prompt, pressing ENTER after each line:
    cd\
    cd windows\system
    ren helpwgrd.vxd helpwgrd.xxx


  3. Restart your computer.


After you perform these steps, you may receive the following error message when you start Windows 98:
Cannot find a device file that may be needed to run Windows...
Helpwgrd.vxd

If you receive this error message, there may be references to the Helpwgrd.vxd file in either the [386enh] section of the System.ini file or the Registry. To remove these references, follow these steps:

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall Windows 95/98. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

NOTE: For information about how to edit the registry, view the Changing Keys And Values online Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe). Note that you should make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat) before you edit the registry.
  1. Click Start, click Run, type sysedit in the Open box, and then click OK.


  2. On the Window menu, click System.ini


  3. On the Search menu, click Find.


  4. In the Find box, type helpwgrd.vxd, and then press ENTER.


  5. Place a semicolon (;) at the beginning of the line that contains "Helpwgrd.vxd."


  6. On the File menu, click Save, and then click Exit on the File menu.


  7. Restart your computer.


  8. If you still receive the error mesage, use Registry Editor to export the following registry key:


    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\VXD\HELPWGRD


  9. Use Registry Editor to delete the following registry key:


    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\VXD\HELPWGRD


  10. Shut down and restart your computer.



MORE INFORMATION

If Windows 98 Setup detects that Dr. Solomon's Anti-Virus is running, Setup unloads Dr. Solomon's Anti-Virus from memory and disables it so that it does not run when Windows 98 starts. If Setup is unable to detect that Dr. Solomon's Anti-Virus is running, the error message can occur when you attempt to create an Emergency Boot Disk during Setup.

The third-party product discussed in this article is manufactured by a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.

Additional query words: 98 AV antivirus ebd startup 


Keywords          : kb3rdparty kberrmsg win98 
Version           : WINDOWS:
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: May 10, 1999