Freeing up files in Windows 98

I am following Major Attitude's tutorial "DO NOT POST UNTIL YOU HAVE READ THIS: How to: Spyware, Trojan And Virus Removal ", and it worked great on my Windows XP system. But I have an old laptop running 98 and I can't seem to boot up in Safe Mode with Networking, that's not an option.

When I ran Trend Micros online scan, it fojund a trojan file but could not delete it because the file was in use. It seems I need to find a way in 98 to boot up without using all the normal files, but still be able to log on to the online scans. Any suggestions?

 

In the TUTORIAL it says:

1: Virus And Trojan Scanning (do not skip these two scans or you will be asked to run them before continuing)
a) Win9x (Windows 95, 98, 98SE) users boot normal mode.

* do an online scan at Trend Micro's Free Online Virus Scan
* do an online scan at Symantec Security Check
* now boot in safe mode (and remain there) and run McAfee AVERT Stinger. See how to boot in safe mode below.

I don't think you have that choice with 98

 

You're right. Sorry. But what should I do if a Trend Micro online scan receals a problem that can't be deleted due to "file in use"? Should I count on one of the other programs to remove it?

 

We may have to use HijackThis or something else to remove it. Many times the virus programs will say they can't remove it - that happens. Write the virus name or file name down if you can. Work your way through the TUTORIAL as best you can and give us the results.

After doing ALL of the above if you still have a problem:

Make sure you have HijackThis 1.99 and follow the guidelines on where to install it and how to post a log as an attachment. This is all covered in the sticky thread NO HIJACK THIS LOG FILES BEFORE READING THIS: HJT Tutorial & LOG File Posting

Now post a HijackThis log as an attachment to your message (Do not post the log inline). All running programs should be closed, INCLUDING YOUR WEB BROWSER, e-mail. Close before running Hijack This!

To repeat: Do NOT run Hijack This from the Desktop, a temp folder, or a sub-folder of C:\Documents and Settings, or choose to run it directly from the downloaded ZIP file. Place it in its own folder for example C:\Program Files\HJT