WIN 98 problems

hey there

problems started on my Win 98 compy when we lost MSN msgr and couldnt download any version of it on to our compy.

virus scans dont go thru all the way.

currently, i'm using BSafe. today i tried running the free version of Adaware, KAV (kaspersky) and SAS (um, um, um...). all got hung up on CAB files (d:\98SE\WIN98_24.CAB. i'd been told i could delete the file, so i did; then it hung up on the same file, except #25. i deleted that and it hung up on 26, etc... i stopped deleting files).

i've run CCleaner and spybot successfully.

the kids have complained about how slow it is and while i've been trying to 'fix' things, i get a window saying my system resources are low (with only this window open, i've got 66%. seems before i just rebooted, i was at 70-some % with no windows open).

scan disk cannot run all the way thru and when it tries to run defrag, it starts starting over and over again, never finishing.

i dont even know where to start. this is just the kids' computer so there arent many important files or photos, etc., on it - just their pgms, which can be reloaded from disks or online.

suggestions please???

 

Kids computer... There's the problem!

By the way... welcome to Major Geeks karenl.
Actually...
"Free" stuff is usually a main culprit.
I have to de-garbage my computer every time my niece visits.

First off...
Try to see if you can get a copy of "Hijack This" into it. You can find it here in the downloads section.
Run and post results.
Also see what programs are installed.
Usually can be found in Start\Settings\Control Panel\Add or Remove Programs.
Also look in C:\Program Files to see if there is anything there suspicious.

To get MSN 8.0 into Windows 98SE you'll have to be sure you got IE 6.0 installed.

 

Just a thought - been a while since I have dealt with Win98 in depth . . . just a few things to try.

Manually remove the PC from the internet (unplug the physical connection) Call up the Task Manager (Ctrl-Alt-Del) . . . And then note all the processes listed (for later research on the internet), then shut down any process listed except "Systray" and "Explorer". If I recall correctly, these two are the minimum you need to run Win 98. Now try running your anti-virus and mal-ware programs. This procedure also helps if you are just having a problem running defrag all the way through.

Check the start-up menu (Start - Programs - Startup - ?). Delete any entries that are there that you don't recognize/need. One major problem I had with kids and Win 98 was that most of the "free" stuff they download tends to install itself in the start-up menu - in other words, whenever you reboot, a whole bunch of crud is in the "que" of your boot-up process. I HATE programs that want to be running all the time . . . it's like leaving your car running on the outside chance you might want to pop out and get something . . . if I need to use a particular program, I'll use the extra few seconds to start it myself!

Restart

Then, go to "Run" in the Start menu, and type in msconfig, and hit return. Choose the "Startup" tab that appears. Look over the items listed there. Anything that is labeled "Windows" is generally a system process (barring mal-ware and virus problems). See what else is listed and weither or not you recognize it. If you are unsure, you can Google the item and see what comes up (I assume you have another PC about). Uncheck anything that looks unneeded - this way when you reboot these processes will not load 90% of the time - the other 10% will create a new instance of themselves.

As I recall, the most problems I had with Win 98 and kids involved music videos and associated programs.

These things have helped me in the past . . . I'll venture into the basement later and fire up the kids' old Win98 PC (that hasn't been used in a while . . . they went and grew up and got married and silly stuff like that ) and see if my memory can be jogged a bit.

Good luck!

 

Also try running the virus scans in safe mode. They should run all the way through there.

 

Re: WIN 98 problems - update

ok. after a grueling hour, here's an update:

i did not install HiJack this as i'm afraid of the system resources being even lower.

i went to Add/Remove Pgms and got rid of as many as i could. interesting that some we could not get rid of... also interesting those deleted didnt all show up in the Recycle bin???

did the C:/program files and deleted some more things

did the ctrl+alt+del and tried to 'end' all but Systray and Explorer. after system froze three times and having to reboot 3 times, i've given up.

i noted some items running in the syst tray (right side) that i was able to 'exit' or 'end' the pgm but upon reboot, they came back up. how do i permanently remove those pgms?

first, it hung up on Qttask; then Msnappau; then Loadqm.

someone suggested running scan disk (what else can i run??) in safe mode... how do i do that?

at the last reboot, i curiously checked resources after all the deleting i'd done. no change. still at 77%. my hard drive is partitioned. C drive is about 80% free; D drive is easily 90% free.

appreciate the welcome and any and all help!!

 

i've discovered how to run in safe mode. it was recommended that i end all pgms running (except Systray and explorer), but, again, i'm not able to successfully end them all, so i'm leaving all of them and am launching in to safe mode to run the scans, etc.

i'd asked about items in the task bar. upon further research, i discover the area i'm asking about is the systray. from what i'm reading, however, it sounds like its better not to end those pgms running there? three i wanted to end are: SAS, web cam and quick time.

 

Re: WIN 98 problems UPDATE

i've been running ScanDisk for over 17 hrs (but of course, not much happened while we slept). it fixed a couple errors on the C drive and we are 85% thru the D drive, w/92 'found bad' so far.

this is the first time in ages we've run this far thru scan disk. kids usually get frustrated at having to wait to use compy, they stop the scan.

 

FYG Qttask is Quick Time and Loadqm is MSN Messenger. These can both be disabled in MSCONFIG ie uncheck and reboot.

In respect of Scandisk, you should run this in safemode also. After you have run that do a Defrag also.

HijackThis v1.99.1 is a very small program that does not actually install itself of your pc as such. Download it create a folder at root level ie C:\ and just run a 'System scan' and save a log file in .txt. Then go to www.hijackthis.de copy paste your logfile from HJT and it will give you a good idea of what is wrong.

As a tip when you hit Ctrl+Alt+del ideally you should not have more that about 9 or max 10 items listed. My childrens' pc (which dual boots 98SE & XP) has 9.

Good Luck

 

i'm not compy smart enough to understand this... dont i type 'msconfig' in to 'run'?

yep. i'm in safemode. thanks for the tip to defrag the same

i'll give it a go after scandisk and defrag are done (IF they ever get done, lol. scandisk is still at 85% complete, but still working!!).

so, if i've got more than 9-10, i need to take something off, eh? since i'm obviously several more hours before i'll be able to get back on that compy, i cant remember whats running on it now. will it be easy to determine what to take off the list?

thanks! i appreciate all the help here!!

 

1) how did you lose your messenger?
2) how long have you been using kaspersky and which version?

abri

 

i really dont know how we lost msgr. kids just went to use it one day and it wouldnt log in. got the error 0072EFD. we've wandered all over google and tried downloading different versions but none work now.

the win 98 comp doesnt have KAV installed on it; i've used it before on my XP and trust and like it. i just used their free online version.

thanks!

 

Ok...
This is a very cheap fix...
But when all ells fails "sometimes" works.
Simply put the installation CD in...
"X" out the Windows auto start window...
Enter "My Computer"...
Right click the CD icon...
Chose to Explore...
Then double click "setup.exe"

This will re-install all the system files without bothering installed componants.
Then once again try to do the search and destroy you feel is best for your situation.
Natakel had a good one.
But I would also check what's running by going to...
Start\Run... type in msconfig - (click) "Ok"
Click the "Startup" tab and see what's starting up.
Post here if you can.

 

thanks, PC... ScanDisk is "still" running; i think we're still at 85%. so we've been at the 85% complete (of drive D) for 24 hrs. but its still working. the kids said, "wouldnt it be bad to have a power outage now..." glug!!

i just hope this thread doesnt get 'cold' before scandisk finishes!!

but when scandisk finishes and i run defrag, then i'll be back here to do 'the next thing'!!

i noticed, while doing the checking, that there are quite a few windows' updates that we've done over the years. none of that will be bothered when/if we do what you've suggested here - putting the CD in, etc. - ?

 

Re: WIN 98 - REBOOT DISK?? - problems

well, if it could've, it just got worse.

scan disk was running for the 3rd day today. we just watched it and would hit 'F' when scandisk hit a bump. somehow, someone hit the wrong button and the computer restarted.

i started scandisk again in safe mode (its been 3 days since i started it the last time, but it sure seemed like it looked different this time; i launched it from 'programs>accessories', etc).

one time i looked at the screen (watching scandisk's progress) and i got a blue screen of death. fatal error on OE 0167:BFF91B9A. 'enter' did nothing. 'ctrl+alt+del' did nothing. hit the restart key.

now upon reboot, i am told we have 'boot failure' and to insert the boot diskette... i have no idea if i have this or, if i do, where it is...

how in the world could all of that happened when all we've done is run scandisk?

and - now what do i do?

 

Re: WIN 98 - lacking Boot Disk - problems

first let me say - again - thank you so much for your time and patience!!!

2ndly. we have to wipe the whole thing now? thats it? its over? shutting it off, rebooting, nothing will save it??

ok. i followed this link. there is a lot of info on the page. at the very top is a list of boot disks but i dont see one for Win 98. i scroll further down the page and see Win 98 stuff but not sure if its what i want.

WHEN i figure out the boot disk thing and process, i'm assuming everything on the computer will be gone.

i had someone else put this compy tog for me, so i have no idea how we got Microsoft Word on it or Outlook Express. are those going to be easily acquired - read: at no cost?

 

OH OH OH!!! i got brave and clicked on the "bootdisk" link and it brings up Win 98 boot disks. how do i know which one to chose? i've kept the Win Updates up-to-date....

 

yes, it is the kids' but i didnt say i had disks...

now i wonder why you said all this. surely i cant go back and do any of this, right?

can i just email you privately? i know it said somewhere we're not supposed to do that, but you seem to know what you're talking about and maybe it could expedite things??

i just want to know before i do this that there really isnt anything else to be done and that everything will be gone when i open my eyes next... (i want to say "lol" but i'm not laughing too much right now...)

 

ok. i dont have any unused floppies. i erased one and copied the 'custom' win 98 boot disk.

win 98 computer says: "non-system disk. replace and yadda yadda."

i actually found a 98 boot disk but the win 98 compy didnt like it either.

 

well, i've tried 3 different disks and get the same error message.

i dont know if the problem is:

- trying to copy the 'custom' win 98 boot disk
- trying to use used diskettes
- the A drive on the Win 98 comp doesnt work

now what, Boss?

 

ZOIKS! this is at least the 2nd thime this has happened, lol!!!

i refresh my screen, dont see any posts from you, so i add my latest, hit 'post message' and there is a message from you!!!

so, of course, i dont happen to have one of those batteries in my little pocket, it'll have to wait till tomorrow afternoon.

any other words of wisdom for me till then?

 

This thread doesn't make any sense. As a matter of fact, it's a nightmare.

Why would you recommend a reformat, because a messenger doesn't load? Just because children use a computer, doesn't mean there's nothing of value on it. It simply means the chance of unwanted things getting into the computer or of problems like improper interruptions during the loading of software or other things like this can occur with a higher frequency. The chance for errors is greater. It doesw not mean that what is on the computer is less valuable.

It's possible that the scandisk hung up because there's a flaw on the hard disk. There are tools to look for that and fix it. I haven't used Symantec for a long time, but I still keep my Disk Doctor cd to look for these kinds of problems.

abri

 

it is a nightmare to me, abri. but i dont know what else to do now. (heck, i NEVER knew what to do, but i knew the computer was not well...)

scandisk came up with that fatal error.

upon rebooting, i get the note that it wont boot and computer wants boot disk.

what do YOU suggest at this point?

i agree that it is the kids' computer and nothing important was on it that cant be retrieved via the internet later (i hope i can say the same about Word and Outlook...)

 

thanks, abri.

at this point, since the system wont even boot up, whatever anyone else has suggested i do/run is a moot point, eh?

i dont know that i'll have time this morning before i have to leave for work to pull the battery.

is it going to be easy to find??

i've changed my email/private messages, too, BTW.

 

PS - we shut down computer then turned it back on. scandisk started running. we're letting it run. once (IF!) it completes, will it still get stuck on the boot disk part?

 

tim - the first time, it was on day 3 when it restarted (had not completed) - 2 of those days at 85%, but it found over 200 'bad'

is it a standard # or will i still have to take the compy apart? certainly i cant do it while its scanning??

i dont know. it was used when we got it; we'e just had a friend upgrade it for us. maybe 10 years? (gads, that sounds so old in compy years...)

thanks both of you. i'm leaving here very shortly and wont be back for hours. blarg...

 

thats what my compy friend told me months ago...

because of its age, it probably isnt worth putting a 'new' HD in, is it?

just whack the whole thing and get new? (oh, boy... 'toy' buying... mmmmm)

 

(shhhh! i'm at work!! LOL!! so i dont have any of those answers...)

and this is assuming the other drives still work, etc. i'd just rather get a new toy! give kids MY compy and i get the new one! yippee! me love new compy toys!

 

a gateway laptop or a toshiba laptop?

or a gateway PC?

if laptop either, why would i want i laptop over a PC? (Now i'll confess to wanting a laptop!!) and if a laptop, what kind of numbers am i going to be looking for? i know nothing about a laptop! (and i dont want to ask my sister's DH!!)

 

well, ok, scandisk has been running all day and we're no where near where we were when we lost it.

shall i keep running it?

(and, tim, i want to know how you got those great deals!!! give me some links!!)

 

i didnt do the battery as Scandisk was running and i didnt want to stop that if i needed it run.

and - blarg - on your good finds!!!

i about went to the computer shop around the corner at work today and talked to them... but i had too much work to do and didnt have time....

 

i have to wait till christmas??? ok, i'm so going to hope the battery gets us somewhere!!! i just might have to make a special trip somewhere early tomorrow just to get the dumb thing so i can get that question answered asap!!

thanks, tim. you've been great!

and have you noticed, i've not posted anything on the XP issue... that malware stuff is just blowing my mind, lol...

 

holy cow...

i just killed scandisk and the system came up.

i'm afraid now. very, very afraid, lol.

do i REALLY want to shut it down to take out the battery???

speak to me, oh mr tim!!!

 

no R& R... i'd unplugged the internet cable. now i've plugged it in but have no 'net... so no one wants to use the dumb thing... blarg