Posting to keep this at the top. We've got an entire room in our dorm where every computer has this problem. That made me think it was a virus, but it seems to be linked to the network connection also. The error does not occur when the network connection is not present. Other errors still occur however, microsoft word files which have been saved to disk since the error surfaced cannot be loaded.

0

We've fixed the problem by installing a cd copy of ole32.dll. I personally think the problem may be related to a recent microsoft update, because we've found a correlation between people who have updated recently and people who have the problem. But don't just take my word for that, I'm just some random college kid.

0

Ok, I lied. I thought it was fixed, but it's back.

0

Never mind. It came back, I'm sorry to anyone who was mislead.

0

Same problem here. I finally re-installed Windows (ME). I did an overinstall so I did not lose any data - just a bunch of settings and tweeks to the O.S. that I need to switch back. Anyway, that seems to have solved the problem. I am going on over an hour now without an eror. It takes a while, and is a pain in the butt, but worth it.

0

I have the same problem. I upgraded to IE6 and still get the error. I ran the repair on IE6 and get the same thing. Is this a virus? My McAfee virus program is up to date, and I have run the system restore for about 10 days back and get the same.

0

I am having the same error. "Explorer has caused an error in OLE32.DLL. Explorer will now close." I have to restart and after I do it just does it all over again. I've tried using the fix option for Internet Explorer but that hasn't worked. If anyone knows how to fix this please let me know! Thanks so much.

0

I am having the exact same problem here. Please e-mail me the solution! It is very difficult and frustraing to do anything! The problem 1st appeared 12/01/01. Everything was fine and no new programs were installed except the software to change from @home to Charter Cable. Please e-mail me bobby@pocmin.com.

0

Uncanny, same exact problem. Also started on Dec 1. What happened?????

0

There needs to be a fix for this problem. I posted Nov 8th and 9th. See above. The problem disappeared until Dec. 2nd. If the posting by Brenda Jenkins is correct and the problem is related to IE & Outlook Express. Has anyone tried just removing Outlook Express ? Help ???

0

System info.. Duron 850 512k 66 gig total hd WinMe OS. I removed Outlook Express and the problem continues. Has anyone tried starting from scratch and did that work? Bobby

0

We must be the only ones in the world with this problem. I have searched high and low on the Microsoft web page and can not find any listing that addresses this error message. What gives ? The problem is a pain, I can only go 4-5 minutes before it appears. Makes it very hard to post on this board. I am doing this from work now otherwise could not get this posted. Has anyone a solution that works ????

0

I am now another victim of this ridiculous error. My problems started a few day ago. Sometimes I can run for hours and sometimes only for minutes before IE locks up and spits back that repetive error message "Explorer causing OLE32.dll error. Explore will now close". I have been running IE without Outlook for quite some time now with no problems until recently. So, I do not think it is an Outlook/IE problem. Clearly, something fishy is going on here. Do any of the other users with this problem have high speed access? If so, are you aware of any updates that may have automatically been downloaded onto your computer? I am suspecting an automatic windows update has somehow caused this problem...?

0

I re-installed WindowsME and so far it has been ok. Mine was pre-loaded, so I didn't have a disk. But go to windows\options\cabs\setup to re-install. I have Comcast Excite@home, and we know their problems right now. I, too, am suspicious of the windows updates, because I had no problems until a few days ago. I also found that Netscape worked better than IE, though I'm back to IE 5.5 now.

0

After dis-connecting and re-connecting my cable modem I am confident their is a conflict between the Cable modem and Explorer. I'm just not smart enought to find it. Without my cable connected I can use my pc for hours, minutes after re-connecting the "Explorer" crashed. Bobby

0

Be sure to put a set point in system restore when (if?) you get everything working right. For some reason, system restore was turned off after I re-installed windows. You have to go to control panel, system, performance, file settings, troubleshooting, and uncheck the disable system restore box. Talk about non-intuitive!

0

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/security/bulletin/MS01-054.asp Seems microshaft does have an answer, you just have to dig deep (FAQ) within the url above no keys-------------- For Windows 98, 98SE, and ME: 1. Select Start, then Settings, then Control Panel 2. Select Add/Remove Programs 3. Select the Windows Setup tab. 4. Open the Communications sub-item If the checkbox for Universal Plug and Play is checked, the service is installed and running. For Windows XP: 1. Select Start, then right-click on My Computer and select Manage 2. Select Services and Applications, then select Services 3. Scan the list of services and locate the one named Universal Plug and Plug Device Host. 4. Check the column titled Status. If it says Started, the service is installed and running. If UPnP is running on my machine, will turning it off protect me against the vulnerability? Yes. If the service isn’t running, the vulnerability can’t be exploited. How can I turn off the service? For Windows 98, 98SE, and ME: 1. Select Start, then Settings, then Control Panel 2. Select Add/Remove Programs 3. Select the Windows Setup tab 4. Open the Communications sub-item 5. Uncheck the Universal Plug and Play selection For Windows XP: 1. Select Start, then right-click on My Computer and select Manage 2. Select Services and Applications, then select Services 3. Scan the list of services and locate the one named Universal Plug and Plug Device Host. 4. Right-click on the service, and select Properties 5. In the section titled Service Status, click on Stop 6. In the pull-down box titled Startup Type, select Disabled no keys The text below was taken from post THANKS!http://computing.net/windowsme/wwwboard/forum/16722.html You need to follow that link to Microshaft and read up on what is going on. How can I determine whether the UPnP service is installed on my machine? >>This is in relation to an exploit that allows other users (possibly) to crash your system remotely. Here is the Microsoft release: >>http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/security/bulletin/MS01-054.asp >>Also you will notice, if you unplug your ethernet and restart, the problem goes away until some point after you re plug in. >>http://halfhonk.com

0

This bug killed my university. However, this bug hit around the beginning of November first, as an isolated incident, with the exact same error, crashing all Win ME machines connected. An hour later, everything was fine. It happened once more, but again we thought nothing of it. On Dec 1, however, an unusually large amount of traffic went over our network, and is still going. This coincided with all machines crashing. This led to someone thinking this was a virus, and this led to an angry mob of about 20 people coming to my door demanding to see an "HP Pavilion laptop with IP..." 144.118.something, as someone had traced the origin of this traffic and was actually traced back to my dormitory floor. It very well could be a virus of some sort, as my firewall is currently going crazy with access attempts trying to come in and go out of my computer to seemingly random places on the network, but with the numerous virii previously found on our quite unsecure network, I don't think much of it. Of course, this has spurred much talk of the big bad hacker who crashed everyone's PC, and it's all pretty funny. I'm now the only one left who hasn't upgraded to Win XP in my entire building, and right now I'm the only person who still has all of his programs in working order, thanks to this information. I'll probably be a hero for finding this out. Thank you so much, I never would have thought of going to Microsoft for a solution.

0

I have the exact same problem. It started on the 12/09. I have Windows ME and found here because I was searching for a solution to the problem. I did link it to something in the ethernet connection but didn't know what to do. I also performed automatic window upgrades on my computer. I'm going to try the above remedy and see if it works right now.

0

I am now getting the OLE32.DLL error when my Earthlink 5.0 DSL software tries to start. The error message says to restart the computer, but this has no effect. When this started, the Earthlink toolbar launches but all the icons have been blown away. Reinstall of Earthlink software has been unsuccessful as the installation hangs. I have not yet tried reinstalling Windows ME, guess that is next.

0

For those with this problem, as I was until recently and hopefully for awhile. Try the following solution. Try uninstalling all of your TCP/IP adapters. Then re-install. I tried this and it worked. My problem was only present when my cable modem was connected. According to the provider the TCP/IP adapters must of gotten corrupted. Good Luck

0

I concur with Rick this is the FIX. We have experienced this same aggravating problem with multiple WindowsME machines since the end of November ’01 and yes they all use Windows AutoUpdate/AutoNotify. I don’t know if you have also noticed that your I/O times are very slow and degrading on your WindowsME machines as well. I noticed that many of our WindowsME machines had degrading response times over the Intranet. While our Win98 and earlier were just fine. I traced the problem and found the OS attempting to verify data via the TCP/IP ports on the WindowsMe machines with error responses and retries eventually eating up all processor time and simulating what looked like a total lockup. Our WindowsME machines were eating up resources attempting to work with bad TCP/IP drivers. SOLUTION: R&R your TCP/IP drivers and your problem should disappear. ALL of our machines are working fine and FAST. If your problems don’t totally go AWAY check your ole32.dll file size, date, version. On the chance that you have loaded a piece of software designed for Win95 where some bonehead didn’t take into count some of the simple rules of creating an “Installation Program” (i.e., Never replace an NEWER file with an OLDER version!). You may have received an OLE32.DLL file of OLDER vintage. Check to see that your files are the right version (Right Click|Properties|Version) for your particular OS against Microsofts Database at http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/fileversion/dllinfo.asp If you do need a new DLL use MSCONFIG to "Extract" a new copy of the file in question from your installation CABs(Start|Run|MSCONFIG) Good Luck to you all Garth

0

This patch for Windows ME seems to have worked. http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/security/bulletin/MS01-054.asp Thanks Bobby.

0

The patch from the following site works for win98 and 98se as well. http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/security/bulletin/MS01-058.asp

0

hellp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

0

I am still receiving the above mentioned error message although I tried all the tips and installed the upnp-patch. OS: Win98SE + IE6. Also IE 6 detects a problem when I finish it and tries to start sending information to microsoft. All the problems did not occur before installing ie6. Thanks for your help Uli

0