Invalid Page Fault Opening File in Microsoft Paint

• Microsoft Windows 95
• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0
• Microsoft Office 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

After you install Microsoft Office 97 on your computer, you may receive the following error message when you open an image file in Microsoft Paint:

   This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down.
   If the problem persists, contact the program vendor.

   MSPAINT caused an invalid page fault in module MSPAINT.EXE at
   0137:0042d3fe.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because of a conflict between Microsoft Paint and the graphics import filters included with Microsoft Office 97.

The problem may occur when you open the following types of files:

   DRW
   EPS
   GIF
   JPEG
   JPG
   PCD
   PICT
   TGA
   TIFF

The problem does not occur when you open PCX (PC Paintbrush) or BMP (Windows bitmap) image files.

RESOLUTION

Windows 95

1. Download the Paint95.exe file from the Microsoft Software Library to an empty folder.

2. Double-click the file you downloaded in step 1 to expand it.

3. Copy the Mspaint.exe file to the Program Files\Accessories folder.

4. Copy the three .dll files to the Windows\System folder.

5. Restart your computer.

Windows NT 4.0

1. Download the Paintnt.exe file from the Microsoft Software Library to an empty folder.

2. Double-click the file you downloaded in step 1 to expand it.

3. Copy the .exe and .dll files to the Winnt\System32 folder.

   NOTE: You may not be able to copy the Msvcrt.dll file if it is in use. If this is the case, boot your computer to Windows 95 or MS-DOS and then copy the file. If your hard drive uses the NTFS file system, you must rename the file first, and then copy the new Msvcrt.dll file.

   If you receive an error message stating "Cannot rename Msvcrt: The specified file is being used by Windows" you must rename the original Msvcrt.dll file and copy the new version to the Winnt\System32 folder from a Windows NT command prompt.

4. Restart your computer.

Obtaining the Updated Files

The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Software Library:

 ~ Paint95.exe (size: 754670 bytes) 
 ~ Paintnt.exe (size: 1206048 bytes) 

   ARTICLE-ID: Q119591
   TITLE     : How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Office 97 for Windows. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

The graphics import filters included with Microsoft Office 97 are not compatible with the versions of Microsoft Paint included with Microsoft Windows 95 and Microsoft Windows NT version 4.0.

If you have not installed the patch, do not attempt to open image files in Microsoft Paint unless they are either PCX or BMP files.