"MSGSRV32 caused error in KRNL386.exe and will now close"

you meant by "a lot of typos"! The problem is I can't even get it to work in safe mode. Is there a way to start the computer in DOS only? I don't use Norton (use free AVG) and just did an AdAware scan a few days ago.

Thanks - I'm checking out the googled links!

Typo's:
Note the difference between
"MSGSRV32 caused error in KRNL386.exe" and
"MSGSRV32 has caused an error in KRNL386.exe".

That two words are the difference between locating the error message in google and not finding it, when using quotes around it. Moreover, I was using a very bad monitor when writing the above post, and thought there was an extra dot in KRNL.386.exe. And I found 3 to be 'a lot'. Sorry, it only were 2, and I shouldn't have written what I wrote. Still, note the usefulness of using an exact error message in this forum.

And, yes, if you press f8 to get into the boot menu, you'll get a choice not only between Safe Mode and Normal mode, but also MS-DOS should be listed in Windows ME (not any longer in Windows XP). But I wonder if it would have any use. Most tools nowadays require Windows.

It's good to run Adaware, and free AVG should be good enough to find viruses. Still, it's possible some malware is around. Try panda and housecall online scan, and spybot if you are able to get into Windows again.
You will have read in the mean time that MSGSRV32 is kind of a do-all-program, and this error could mean practically anything, including a bad driver or bad hardware.

I really fear that formatting the hard disk and reinstalling Windows ME might be necessary. If you care about your data, it's good to know that you only have to delete (from MS-DOS) the Windows and the Program File folders in stead of formatting. This will leave your documents and music in My Documents and My Music. You might even be able to copy your Outlook Express data from the default Windows folder to a folder in My Documents before deleting it.

You can also search the Microsoft Knowledge Base with the exact error message (as outlined above). The best way for that, maybe, is to use Google with site:support.microsoft.com in the search terms.

Good luck, and let us know what you find.

Kees

MS-DOS is not listed when I boot to F8, but I was able to scan the disk using one of my Dell CD's - didn't help though. You're saying I should delete the whole, as in TOTAL, Windows and Program directories? (Sorry, not that savvy about some of this). Sounds a little scary! I'll give it a try tonight though.

Thanks!