Frequent Kernel32 Errors

Frequent Kernel32 Errors

If you have been getting ever increasing numbers of Kernel32 errors on your computer, one of the most frequent reasons for this is corruption in the Windows Swap File. Without getting into a lengthy explanation about the swap file, here is the shortened version.

Aside from the speed of your microprocessor, the elements of your system that have the most bearing on Windows’ performance are memory (RAM or Conventional Memory) and available hard disk space. Windows loves memory. No matter what you run, but particularly if you run large, computation-intensive programs such as graphics editors and computer-aided design programs, you can scarcely have too much RAM on board. In any event, you shouldn’t even try to run Windows 98 with less than 32 MB (megabytes), and if you’re getting unsatisfactory performance on a system with less than 64 MB, one of the first things to consider is plugging in some additional memory.

When Windows begins running out of  conventional memory, it starts using your hard disk as virtual memory, which becomes an extension of your main memory. When conventional memory begins to get overloaded, Windows automatically writes some data from memory to a swap file on your disk. This process is called paging. When Windows needs that information again, it reads it back from the swap file, at the same time (if necessary) swapping something else out of conventional memory.

Armed with this knowledge, let’s talk about the kernel32 errors. From time to time data becomes corrupted on computers, and it can be for any number of reasons. If this data is corrupted and then is transferred out of conventional memory and into the Windows swap file, the swap file then becomes corrupted. When you shutdown your computer, Windows should be clearing out this swap file and reduce its size to zero as a file size. The file doesn’t disappear, its size is just reduce to nothing. When it contains corrupted data, Windows doesn’t know how to handle this file and it doesn’t get reduce at shutdown. It just sits there and grows. When you use your computer again, data is again swapped into and out of the swap file, but this time there is corruption present. Windows will attempt to deal with the corruption, but not before the dreaded Kernel32 error occurs.

Here’s a method to resolve this issue if it is the cause of your Kernel32 errors:

1. Restart your computer, and just before the “Starting Windows…” dialogue comes up, either hold the “Ctrl” key down or begin tapping the F8 key. This will bring up the Windows Boot Menu.
2. Now select MS-DOS Prompt (Not in Safemode!)
3. At the MS-DOS prompt, type CD Windows and touch the enter key.
4. You will now be at the MS-DOS prompt that looks like this C:\Windows.
5. Now type the following: DEL WIN386.SWP and touch the enter key.
6. Now restart your computer normally. Windows will recreate a clean swap file during the boot process.
7. Now run your computer normally. If the kernel32 errors persist, then you may want to review our site for additional solutions.