KB: Error: “_inst5176 performed an illegal operation in Softlocx4.ocx”

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KB#: 047
Last updated: November 27 2006

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The information in this article applies to:

• BigShot 2.xx

PROBLEM

When installing BigShot 2.0 onto a system containing Windows 95, the following error may occur:

"_inst5176 performed an illegal operation in Softlocx4.ocx"

CAUSE

This error is only known to occur on systems containing the retail version of Windows 95 (version 950). This problem occurs as a result of missing system components that are required to install and run BigShot. These components are included in Windows 95b (OSR2) and Internet Explorer 3.02  and all later versions of Windows and IE.

SOLUTION

There are two solutions for this problem:

Solution 1: Install Windows 95b (OSR2) or later.

Upgrades and updates for Windows 95b and later can be purchased from Microsoft and/or downloaded from Microsoft's website: www.microsoft.com/windows/.

Note: The retail version of Windows 95 (version 950) cannot be 'upgraded' to Windows 95b (OSR2). Instead you must perform a complete installation of Windows 95b (over the retail Windows 95). The retail version of Windows 95 can be upgraded to Windows 98 (or later).

Solution 2: Install Internet Explorer v3.02 or later.

Microsoft no longer distributes Internet Explorer 3.02 (IE3). If you do not have a copy of IE3, you can download Internet Explorer v4.01 (IE4) or Internet Explorer v5.01 (IE5) from Microsoft's website:

www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/default.asp.

If you choose to download and install IE4, we strongly recommend that you also download and install IE4 Service Pack 2 (SP2), which contains critical updates for the IE4 browser.