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WINDOWS PROTECTION ERRORS
Last updated March 19, 2003
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Windows Protection Errors can occur due to many different causes, including: virtual driver (VxD) problems, including conflicts between real-mode and protected-mode drivers, or when a protected-mode driver already initialized is loaded from SYSTEM.INI, or when a VxD file is damaged; a damaged Registry; a virus; a damaged WIN.COM or COMMAND.COM file; CMOS settings errors; Plug-and-Play malfunction; and hardware problems, including a malfunctioning cache, malfunctioning RAM, or a damaged motherboard. The articles and other links below should be quite helpful in identifying and resolving these problems.

OVERVIEW. See: Troubleshooting Windows Protection Errors.

SEARCH FOR MORE WPE’s. If you cannot find your Windows Protection Error message below, try these links to search the Knowledge Base for others in Win95 Win98 Win ME.

• Windows protection error. Error occurs at startup. You need to restart your computer. {KB 153044} Win95, Win98, Win ME A valuable, general article. Alternate error messages for this are:
  • “Cannot find Win386.exe needed to run in 386 enhanced mode; check to ensure the path is correct or reinstall Windows.”
  • “You have started your computer with a version of MS-DOS incompatible with this version of Windows. Insert a Startup diskette matching this version of Windows and then restart. The system has been halted. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart you computer.”
  • “An error has occurred. To Continue: Press Enter to return to Windows.”
• Difficulties Using AMD K6-2 or Athlon Central Processing Unit {KB 192841} Win95 This information also applies to Pentium-III & 4 processors, not just the K6. Specific error messages it may generate include the following. (See also: Errors May Occur When Installing Win 95 on PCs with P-III or P-4 Processor.)
  • Device IOS failed to initialize. Windows Protection Error. You must reboot your computer.
  • Windows Protection Error. You must reboot your computer.
  • While initializing device IOS: Windows protection error.
• Initializing Device IOS Windows Protection Error {KB 263466} Win95, Win98, Win98 SE (During startup.)
• While Initializing Device filename Windows Protection Error [-OR-]
  While Initializing Device NTKERN: Windows Protection Error {KB 192397} Win98, Win98 SE, Win ME (After setup: Defective RAM)
• While Initializing Device CONFIGMG: Windows... {KB 187612} Win98, Win98 SE, Win ME (During setup.)
• While initializing device IOS: Windows protection error. You need to restart your computer. {KB 268084} Win95 OSR2, Win98 (During startup.)
• While Initializing Device MSMINI: Windows Protection Error {KB 302956} Win98, Win98 SE (Restart after setup: Damaged mouse driver)
• While Initializing Device PTVCD: Windows Protection Error {KB 296240} Win98, Win98 SE, Win ME (PCTell modem driver issue)
• While Initializing Device VKD — Windows Protection Error — You Need to Restart Your Computer {KB 263318} Win95, Win98 (During startup. Keyboard is not working correctly.)
• Windows Protection Error After Upgrading to Win98 {KB 187212} Win98, Win98 SE (During setup.)
• Windows Protection Error After Upgrading to Windows ME {KB 298839} Win98, Win98 SE (with McAfee VirusScan or Panda Antivirus)