Computer Error Message??? #$@&%?

[tim 360]

My old Dell laptop has suddenly been giving me lottsa error messages and I'm trying to figure out if its software or a chip.  Sometimes won't boot up for awhile. Thinkin' its my anit-virus? I'm computer illerate.

Good Geek needed to interpert this example:

Fatal Exception at 0028:C00047A5C in VXD VFAT (01) 0005A84

Anyway all messages I get refer to VXD, with lots of numbers and letters? 
Thanks, Tim

[catzenmouse]

Just did a search on MS's site. Had to boil it down to "VXD FAT" before I got any results. Here's the link to the results. Don't know if any of these are the problem or not.

http://search.microsoft.com/results.aspx?q=VXD+VFAT+&l=1&mkt=en-US&FORM=QBME1

Do you have a system recovery disk? You'll have to back up any files you have but this would set it back to original settings.

Other option: User Error - Replace User And Try Again 

Ken

[Shadow]

VFAT (the path references a floppy disk drive, a hard disk, or an FTL-formatted Linear Flash PCMCIA card (Flash File System)

VFAT might be the file-allocation table (FAT) which plays a very important part on your harddisk.
Make a backup immediately to be on the safe side of all important files. Especially if you hear some strange sounds when it does not want to boot up.

The same error can happen when a software install program  tries to find a CD or floppy with drivers.  An online-virus check might be a less doom-scenario.

Start saving for a new one  

[BC]

Had some strange stuff going on with my laptop recently, extremely long bootup and eventually a couple blue screens similar to the error messages described above.

Used a disk cloning program to clone a new 2.5 disk via a USB HDD adapter.  An occasional 'burp' from the original drive ensued but the cloning process seemed to proceed normally, switched the drive out and all went well afterwards..

Of course keep your antivirus and anti malware programs up to date.

[tim 360]

Wow! What great Tech Support and Fast. You guys take PayPal?Seems it can be an inherent prob with all Windows 98SE and theres a fix if it gets bad. It was a good read Catzenmouse. Thanks. Now I almost know what VXD in VFAT means.

Shadow & BC: No worries about losing anything on this this thing. I just use this for the internet in differnt parts of the house or outside. Viruses? Doubt it. Has a good viruscan (which I'm thinking of uninstalling) and I still never open email on this and the websites I go to are very tame and almost boring. Except for here.  Cheerio, Tim360

[catzenmouse]

Wow! What great Tech Support and Fast. You guys take PayPal?

 Take the money in a brown paper bag down to the corner of Elm and Main. A big guy with a limp answering to Spike will meet you to pick it up. REMEMBER: Small unmarked bills no larger than a $50.