Invalid Page Fault Starting WordPad or Paint

ID: Q218632

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 WordPad or Paint, you may receive the following error message:

filename caused an invalid page fault in module Mfc42.dll at memory address


CAUSE

This behavior can occur if the registry entries for WordPad or Paint are damaged.


RESOLUTION

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

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys and Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).


To resolve this issue, uninstall WordPad and Paint, delete the registry keys for the programs, and then reinstall WordPad and Paint:

  1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Add/Remove Programs.


  2. Click the Windows Setup tab, click Accessories, and then click Details.


  3. Click the WordPad and Paint check boxes to clear them, click OK, and then click OK.


  4. Using Registry Editor, delete the following registry keys and then restart your computer:


    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Applets\Wordpad


    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Applets\Paint


  5. Start the Add/Remove Programs tool as described in step 1.


  6. Click the Windows Setup tab, click Accessories, and then click Details.


  7. Click the WordPad and Paint check boxes to select them, click OK, and then click OK.


Additional query words: 98 95 


Keywords          : kberrmsg kbtool win95 win98 
Version           : WINDOWS:95
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: May 6, 1999