Frequently Asked Questions

Eliminating Fatal Exception Errors and Software Conflicts in Windows 95

Description:

A Fatal Exception Error occurs during installation of the Twain driver, or Fatal Exception Errors occur during scanning on flatbed scanners in Windows 95.

Note: These instructions are for all computers except Compaq Presarios. Click here to go to the Compaq Presario version of these instructions.

Solutions:

Option 1: Install The Twain Driver In Windows 95 Safe Mode

Fatal Exception Errors are usually caused by conflicts between programs that run simultaneously. If the Fatal Exception Error is occurring during installation of the Twain driver, you will need to boot your computer in Safe Mode during installation of the driver. Booting your computer in Safe Mode will temporarily disable the software that is interfering with the Twain driver installation process. To see a list of programs currently running on your computer, press the CTRL, ALT and DELETE keys simultaneously. One or more of the listed programs are preventing the Twain driver installation.

Steps to install the Twain driver in Safe Mode

If installing from the Scanner Solutions CD, you must copy the contents of the CD to your hard drive before you boot in Safe Mode because your CD-ROM drive will not operate in Safe Mode. Here are the steps to do this:

Insert the Scanner Solutions CD in your CD-ROM drive.

Click the START button and choose PROGRAMS, then start the Windows Explorer. Refer to the diagram below.

Locate the icon for your CD-ROM drive in the LEFT window of the explorer and double click it.

Highlight the Setup95.exe file as well as all of the folders in the RIGHT window of the Explorer. You don�t need to select Tbcl96.31, Tbcladoc, Setup31.exe, Setupmac.exe or Start.wav files. Holding down the control key will allow you to select more than one item. Item names may not match this picture exactly depending on your CD version number.

Click open the FILE Menu and select COPY then close the Explorer.

Using the RIGHT mouse button, click in the lower portion of your Desktop. From the Pop-up Menu, select PASTE. The files needed to install Scanner Solutions in Safe Mode will now be copied to your Desktop. You may drag them to the Recycle Bin after installation is complete.

Reboot your Computer in Safe Mode. Here are the procedures to do this:

Click START and select SHUTDOWN.

Highlight "Restart The Computer?" then click YES.

Your computer will shutdown then restart. During the restart, you will see a message on the screen that says "Starting Windows 95..." When you see the message, hold down the F8 key until you see the Windows Startup Menu.

Select "3. Safe Mode" and press the Enter key on your keyboard. Your computer will now begin to boot in Safe Mode. Be patient as it takes longer than a normal boot.

Now that you are in Safe Mode, you may install the Twain driver from floppy disk or from the Scanner Solutions files that were copied to your Desktop. To install from floppy, click START and select Run then type A:\install and click OK. To install from the Scanner Solutions files on your Desktop, double click the Setup95.exe Icon. Use the Windows 95 File Finder to locate the Setup95.exe file if it does not appear on your Desktop. Here are the steps for using the File Finder:

Click START and select FIND FILES OR FOLDERS.

In the Named Dialog Box, type SETUP95.EXE.

Click FIND NOW.

Once the File Finder locates Setup95.exe, double click it and the install program will begin to run.

After you get to the installation screen that asks what type of Interface card you are using, you will be given an opportunity to select an I/O Port Address for the scanner. The latest drivers prompt you to Select an I/O Port. With earlier versions of the Twain driver, an address can be chosen on the screen where you perform the Scantest.

Perform a Scantest to see if the Address you have chosen performs satisfactorily. If not, reboot in Safe Mode and try another Address until you pass the Scantest.

After passing the Scantest, click install to finish the software installation. Restart your computer in Normal Mode. If you still have trouble scanning, proceed with the steps outlined in Option 2 for simplifying your Windows 95 startup configuration.

Option 2: Simplifying The Computer�s Windows 95 Startup Configuration to eliminate software conflicts

The best solution is to reduce the number of programs that automatically run when you start your Windows 95 computer. This procedure is more complex than booting in Safe Mode but will make your system more stable in the end.

Steps to simplify startup configuration in Windows 95

Click the START button and select RUN.

Type SYSEDIT and click OK. This opens the System Configuration Editor which is a simple word processor. Each of your system files will be open in its own window. Refer to the diagram for the remaining steps.

Close the Autoexec.bat file without making any changes to it.

In the Config.sys file, locate a line containing the following:

DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS (there may be additional text here)

Type the word REM and one space in front of this line as below:

REM DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS

Still in the Config.sys file, locate a line containing the following:

DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE (there may be additional text here)

Type the word REM and one space in front of this line as below:

REM DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE

Click on the FILE Menu and click SAVE, then close the Config.sys file.

In the Win.ini file, locate a line that says:

RUN=

10.

If there is anything after the equal sign, type the word REM and one space as you did above.

11.

Still in the Win.ini file, locate a line that says:

LOAD=

12.

If there is anything after the equal sign, type the word REM and one space as you did above.

13.

Click on the FILE Menu and click SAVE, then close the Win.ini file.

14.

Click on the FILE Menu and click EXIT.

15.

Next we will empty the STARTUP Program Group.

16.

Using the RIGHT mouse button, click START, then click OPEN and the Start Menu folder will open.

17.

Double click the Programs folder and it will open.

18.

Open the Program folder�s FILE Menu and select NEW, then FOLDER.

19.

Name the new folder OLD STARTUP then press ENTER.

20.

Double click the STARTUP folder and press CTRL + A to highlight all of the items in it.

21.

Open the EDIT Menu and select COPY.

22.

Open the Old Startup folder that you just created.

23.

Open its FILE Menu and select PASTE. The contents of the Startup folder should now be in the Old Startup folder.

24.

Double click the Startup folder and press CTRL + A to highlight all of it�s contents.

25.

Press the DELETE key and confirm deletion of the items in the Startup folder. These programs will no longer automatically load when you boot your computer. If you wish to undo this later, reverse the above process to move them from OLD STARTUP back to STARTUP.

26.

Close all folders and restart your computer.

27.

You may now install the software in accordance with the installation instructions included with your scanner.

NOTE: If you ever need to call your computer manufacturer�s Technical support line, inform them of the changes you made to the system. Below is a summary of the changes made:

Disabled HIMEM.SYS and EMM386.EXE in the Config.sys file.

Disabled RUN= and LOAD= lines in the Win.ini file.

Emptied the Startup Program Group.