Question:
I sent Mama Echo an E-mail explaining that we may have a problem. As long as this stupid thing is working, will try to explain it.
We have constant "Illegal operation" messages that knock us completely out of anything we are in.
Mouse locks up. Will operate normally if computer is shut down for about 15 minutes and then rebooted.
Norton has identified 2 problems in Windows and 1 in MOSDOS, but lists both as nonrepairable. Problems are listed as moderate to severe.
Computer is a Compaq, preloaded with Windows and Quicken. Norton is an add on.
Anybody with any ideas--HELP!

Answer:

Save everything you really really want to disk or and online storage area and then restore your computer. You will loss everything when you restore but it should put it back to factory specs. It's what we had to do a few months ago.
Angel

Answer:

Norton hasn't found anything in my puter, I blame AOL for locking up, mine does the same thing.
Real cars Have Two Sticks

Answer:

first I would suggest uninstalling Norton, doing a complete defrag of system but first a scan disk through Accessories...reload Norton and try it again. If this doesn't work then do as angela says
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Answer:

I agree with all of the above but I also have a question or two.
1) What version of windows are you running on the Compaq?
2) What are the symptoms before the lock-up? Does it happen after the computer has been on for a while? After you've been on the Internet for a while? It is possible that you just may not have enough memory to support the programs you are running. Back when I first started with computers, that condition was called 'memory overflow'. It can and usually will lock up a computer.
Hope this helps.
Lisa
Physicians heal, Mother Nature makes well.
Lead your life so you won't be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip.

Answer:

Thanks for the suggestions.
Windows 98 is the version we have, Shaman. Lockup comes with no warning. May happen immediately upon turning on computer, other times after being on for a while.
Just about everything we have is on disc if we want to save it. Learned that early when Quicken burned me once.
Have been running Nortons diagnostic system-eliminating some stuff and rearranging others-seems to be improving.
Have one more system to run through and will see what happens.

Answer:

Sounds like a memory or interrupt conflict. Norton should be able to track it down and fix it, but it may take a while.
Another 'quirk' of Compaq computers - and this is a bad one. Do not unplug your keyboard while your computer is turned on. Doing so will damage the motherboard. You may want to double check your keyboard plug to make certain it is plugged in properly, in fact it wouldn't hurt to check all of the connections.
I hope this helps a little more.
Lisa
Physicians heal, Mother Nature makes well.
Lead your life so you won't be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip.

Answer:

said, "It's what we had to do a few months ago."
I highly suspect it is time for you to consider buying another computer. Perhaps QuartLow would be interested in buying that one for an anchor to use with his boat/ark! No way is that acceptable! I'd go POSTAL if I had to put up with that!
W/C. I too sometimes get the "Illegal Operation" message, but it also includes what program is guilty of commiting this. Does yours?

Answer:

Pretty impressed with Norton right now. Ran thru everything and only lists one problem now as non-repairable. Lists it as moderate so not too worried. Computer is operating faster and without too many glitchs.
After diagnostics, I suspect that our few remaining irritants are in our server (they've had problems) and MNS. Seems to come up there more than anywhere.
Not much I can do about the server since they are the only game in town right now.