At its simplest, a Kernel32 error simply means there is a problem of some sort with kernel32.dll. A DLL file is a dynamic link library file. The three words are important because that defines what the file does. It is a library file that links dynamically, usually in real time. So what is this kind of error, specifically?

Kernel32 is a memory module, responsible for managing memory on the system as well as the memory used by external devices including the keyboard and mouse. There are several things that can cause a Kernel32 error, but they are all related to memory in one way or another.

A common example is when a user has two programs or devices that are giving the computer conflicting commands. For instance, let's say a person installs a freeware application that is free because it is designed to give them advertising periodically. Suppose they also have a pop-up blocker installed, designed to prevent advertising.

This is a Kernel32 error in the making. One application tells the computer that it should display advertising, while another application tells the computer that it should not display advertising. The system naturally can't do both at the same time, since they are opposites. It also doesn't know which command it should be following, for the same reason. So for a brief time, until the error is displayed, more and more memory is used in attempt to reconcile the conflicting commands. If it didn't give the error (and sometimes this will happen), the system will appear to lock up because it won't have the available memory to do anything else but try to figure out the conflict.

Another example is when the hard drive is extensively fragmented. There may be plenty of hard drive space, but because of the fragmentation, it can't be written to. The Kernel32.dll file honestly doesn't have hard drive space to work with, and can give the error.

Yet another cause is when there is physical damage to the hard drive. If sectors of the hard drive have scratches or other physical defects, the system can't write to those sectors. However, it will continue to try to write to them since it won't know they are damaged until a scandisk or checkdisk (depending on version of Windows) is run. This produces a memory problem because it means that files are lost, but the computer has no idea why and tries to access those files. It can then produce the Kernel32 error because kernel32.dll can't manage those memory locations.

The error can also happen if two different programs attempt to use the same file at the same time, if the file isn't designed to be multi-use. This sort of conflict isn't as common as it was a few years ago, but it still does happen and still produces the Kernel32 error.

As with the idea of two programs telling the computer to do opposite things, resulting in the error, two devices can do the same thing. An example of this is when two devices share the same IRQ or Interrupt Request. To simply explain what a Kernel 32 error is, it isn't necessary to explain what an IRQ is. Suffice to say that some devices can share the same IRQ while others can't without producing a conflict that can result in the error.

There are things that can be done to help prevent the error, such as running scandisk/checkdisk, and defrag routinely. There are some relatively easy ways to check for conflicts. Steps for doing this can be found elsewhere. Nine tenths of knowing what to do about a Kernel32 error, though, has to do with knowing what the error means.

The simple answer to understanding this error is that it is a memory error. The more complex answer is in knowing what can cause memory error in the first place.

Learn more about this author, Rex Trulove.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about What is a Kernel32 error??
We want to hear your view. Write now!