Help! Win 98SE, My Computer cannot right click

Hi,
I have been a memeber here for a little while and have never posted. I hope you can help me

Yesterday, I tried to go to Windows Update and it would not even scan. It gave me the error message 0x800b004.

I looked up this error report, did the things it asked me to do and it did not help. I filed an online help request and was told that it was being turned over to a proffsional, but it may take a while since the release of the Service pk 2 for XP. OK fine.

Today, I try to RIGHT click on my computer and it will not open. I have to ctr alt del to release it and it says that EXPLORER is not responding ????????? I could do it yesterday fine before I did all of the things that the error report told me to do. Things like, delete the temp file in the Win Update folder, clear all files and cookie, check security setting, and run these porgrams:

REGSVR32 SOFTPUB.DLL
"" INITPKI.DLL
" MSSIP32.DLL (THIS ONE WOULD NOT RUN SUCCESSFULLY AND THE OTHERS DID)

I tried to file another report and got into a loop. Clicked support, file online report, did windows come with your pc, yes, contact manufacturer. (Gateway) I did and they directed me to Microsoft. Then it gives you the option to make the report. When I click on it, it loops me back to the welcome to support page. UUUUUUGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH Good ole Microsoft.

I am only trying to figure out what to do to be able to right click on My Computer.

Any and all advise would be greatly appreciated!
Debbie

 

Hi Debbie,

When you accessed Windows Update what were you trying to download / update?

You have Windows 98SE and everything I come across with that error code (0x800B0004) is for XP.

Kind of retrace the events if you can, I know it will help me and some of the other geeks figure this thing out.

Welcome to MG.

Steve

 

Thanks for your reply, what I did was this:

Last week windows prompted me to do an update. I did not even let it scan. I could not do it at that time.

Then 2 days ago, I went to Win Update and tried to run it. It wold not even go as far as the scan. The error number I gave you is correct. I don't know why it would give me a Win xp error number. So under that error number, when you look it up on Microsoft.com, there is a list of things to do to fix the problem. I did all of them.

Now my problem that is most important is that i can no longer right click with my mouse on ANY ICON! It gets stuck and I have to ctrl alt del to get the close menu. I have to do it several times before I can get out of it. Then the close menu thinks I am trying to access Explorer (???????) AAAAARrrrrggggggggghhhhh.

Bottom line, after trying acces Win update, could not, went to Microsoft to get solution, did all that was suggested for that error number and now I cannot use the right click feature on my mouse on icons. Very frustrating and Microsoft is telling me I have to wait for the folks with the service pk problems to get fixed first.

Thanks!!
Debbie

 

I thought you said you had Windows 98 SE. I do not see what Win 98 has anything to do with Windows XP SP2, which is for a totally different operating system.

So do you have Windows XP or Windows 98? Either way, the best way is to search the knowledge base @ http://support.microsoft.com/, which solved a lot of my problems. Another way is to look on google before asking formal tech support.

 

She is saying that Microsoft is too busy to help her because of the XP sp2 rollout.
This may sound dumb, but make sure that your time and date are correct. I once had a similar issue where the windows update scan wouldn't work and that was all that was wrong. I would suggest a system restore, but to the best of my knowledge 98SE doesnt have that feature, but I could be wrong.

another thing you might try, is running Registy Mechanic. It's good about fixing problems in windows like this. I had an instance where the start menu would not appear when you click on it, and registry mechanic solved it for me. it can be downloaded here http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=3306

let us know what happens.

 

I'm sure that is what she means.

Debbie,

Starting to understand now, did you do the steps listed here, http://www.updatexp.com/0x800B0004.html

I'm not saying to try it, just want to know if that or somthing similar is what you have tried, especially the re-register some DLL files part. Or better yet, give us the link to the Microsoft Support page with the things you tried.

Steve

 

I do a search of error messages on Microsofts site and this is what is says to do:

You cannot gain access to the Windows Update Web site

View products that this article applies to.


SYMPTOMS

You cannot gain access to the Windows Update Web site. The Windows Update.log file may contain the following error messages:
Error IUCTL Digital Signatures on file C:\Program Files\WindowsUpdate\V4\iuident.cab are not trusted (Error 0x800B0003: The form specified for the subject is not one supported or known by the specified trust provider.)

Error IUCTL Digital Signatures on file C:\Program Files\WindowsUpdate\V4\iuident.cab are not trusted (Error 0x800B0004: The subject is not trusted for the specified action.)

CAUSE

This error may occur if your computer cannot connect to a component of the Windows Update site.
RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, use one or more of the following methods, in the order that they are presented: Method 1: Update Microsoft Internet Explorer

Verify that you are using the current version of Internet Explorer. At the time of this writing, the current version is Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1. For more information about how to install the current version of Internet Explorer, visit the following Microsoft Web site: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/default.asp If you are still unable to gain access to the Windows Update Web site, use the following method: Method 2: Check the proxy server settings

If you are using a proxy server, ask your network administrator to make sure that the proxy server is set to allow anonymous connections to the Internet. Also, enable the Use HTTP 1.1 through Proxy Connections setting. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Start Internet Explorer.
2. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
3. Click the Advanced tab, and then select the Use HTTP 1.1 through proxy connections check box.
4. Click OK.

If you are still unable to gain access to the Windows Update Web site, use the following method: Method 3: Register the DLL files

To register the DLL files, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type regsvr32 softpub.dll in the Open box, and then click OK. When you receive the message that the DllRegisterServer succeeded, click OK.
2. Click Start, click Run, type regsvr32 initpki.dll in the Open box, and then click OK. When you receive the message that the DllRegisterServer succeeded, click OK.
3. Click Start, click Run, type regsvr32 mssip32.dll in the Open box, and then click OK. When you receive the message that the DllRegisterServer succeeded, click OK.
4. Click Start, click Run, type regsvr32 wintrust.dll, click OK, and then click OK when you receive the message that the DllRegisterServer succeeded.

If you are still unable to gain access to the Windows Update Web site, use the following method: Method 4: Check the Hosts file

The Hosts file is a text file that you can edit with any text editor (such as Notepad). The Hosts file is used for host name resolution. Verify that the Hosts file does not contain an incorrect entry or a static IP entry for the Windows Update Web site. Depending on your operating system, the Hosts file (or the Hosts.sam file) may be found in the following locations:

• In Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me), in Microsoft Windows 98, or in Microsoft Windows 95, the Hosts file is in the C:\Windows\ folder.
• In Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows 2000, or in Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, the Hosts file is in the C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\ folder.

To open the file using Notepad, start Notepad, and then use a drag-and-drop operation to drag and drop the Hosts file (or Hosts.sam file) into the open Notepad document.

"Web accelerator" programs, including TweakMasterDNS, sometimes add static IP entries for the Windows Update site into your Hosts file. When this occurs, you may receive the error message listed in the Symptoms section of this article.

If there is a Hosts (or Hosts.sam) file on your system that has an entry for the Windows Update site, delete the entry.
The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Windows Update, when used with:
  • the operating system: Microsoft Windows XP
  • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 2000
  • the operating system: Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
  • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition

• I did these except for number 4, not for Win 98.

• When I do the run files on 3, the file MSSIP32 will not run. It gives me this message:

• Load library failed Get Last Error returns 0x000000002.

• I have gone to my mouse website, downloaded the stuff ofr it again, I still canot right click on any file or icon. I CAN use the right click to copy, paste, etc, so the button is working.

• Please understand that I went to Win Update to check for an update, it would not let me even scan, it gave the erroor message 0X800B0004 8-(

• I am sooo frustrated with this. I see that that someone posted a site that fixes thing sliek this, I am going to try it now and BRB TIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I ran the registry mechanic and did a defrag and I still cannot use the right click feature on my desktop. I cannot even use it inside My Doc. It works to copy and paste. And I still cannot access Win Update. I also downloaded the drivers and program for my Logitech Optical Mouse and nothing, so far has worked. Do I need to re-install Win 98 and if so how do I save my information? I have lots of programs that I do not have disks for and nned them. TIA! ~ Debbie

 

I wouldn't do anything that drastic right now. Since you have 98SE let's try this first. I am posting a link here, http://download.microsoft.com/download/msninvestor/patch/1.0/win98/en-us/mcrepair.exe for the mcrepair tool. Just download and run it.

Be sure to answer "yes" to everything, that's important. When it's done just restart your computer and that should hopefully fix your update problem.

Let us know. Steve