spybot, adadaware, antivirs not working

Had major problems with my computer. Still don't know what was wrong as I called my son to take a look and he thought the computer was just ready for the trash heap. As a last resort he decided to reformat the hard drive. He reinstalled what he could, I did all the microsoft windows updates, reinstalled norton system works, norton internet security, spybot and adaware. Thought everything was fine till I started running checks. Spybot is missing the icon names and keeps coming up with a DSO exploit. Adaware now freezes when I try to run it. And the autoprotect on the norton anti virus, which I did enable on reinstall, is now disabled and when I try to run the antivirus it freezes and does nothing. I personally know just enough about a computer to be literally dangerous myself.
Operating system:windows98
Operating platform:windows9x/ME
Major version:4
Minor version:10
Service Pack: A
Boot type:normal
Pentium Pro/PentiumII
Total Physical Memory 167,133,184 bytes (159.39MB)
In Use Physical Memory 162,263,040(154.75MB)
Available Physical Memory 4,870,144 (4.46MB)
Total Virtual Memory 2,143,289,344(2.00GB)
Total In Use Virtual Memory 34,209,792(32.63MB)
Total Available 2,109,079,522(1.96GB)

Is there anything else you need to know before you can offer me some help? I have no idea what else to do and I am so tired of trying to fix this myself and of being afraid to use my computer. Please? Someone help me!!!

 

link to firefox
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=2248

 

I printed out the page you suggested so it would be easier to follow instructions. Already I'm in trouble. I'm running windows98 and of course when I right click my computer and then properties I do not have a system restore tab as in windowsxp. It sounds very important to be able to turn off system restore so I thought I'd better stop before I created more problems and asked your advice once again. How do I turn off system restore in windows98 or is this even an option for me?

 

To answer your question on the DSO Exploit in Spybot. It is just a glitch in the program and it will always display that even if you delete it. When you first delete it on spybot don't worry cuse its gone. It will show up on other scans though. This problem is going to be fixed in there next release. It's crazy how many people have had the same problem with that .

 

My guess why your Norton Antivirus isn't working is because in a Scan or something you deleted it, it is a very easy fix, all you need to do is have your CD on Hand and look it up on there website, they have a guide for fixing that problem.
I had the same problem, fixed it in about half an hour, spent most of the time looking for my cd =-<