Windows 98 2nd edition service packs

shadow

Windows 98 2nd edition, or Internet Explorer 5.5, would not allow, nor permit, me to save your (??) ""description of the Internet Explorer Repair
Kit", so, I right clicked on that window, and printed same out---is/was
(the printout) seventeen (17) pages in length---gasp !!!!!

geez, I have "problems with even my problems solutions" !!
--I think/believe that Adobe SHOULD buy Microsoft, as Adobe seems more
"squared away" than Microsoft---maybe I should PHONE Bill Gates re "getting his house in order" ??---shoot, I was never "shy" when conversing with Generals (or "to be eventually" Generals) back in the USMC, and that includes a certain Lt. Col. Louis Wilson (who bacame Commandant of the Marine Corps around 1979)---Wilson even earned the Medal of Honor when a "lowly Captain" re Guam in WWII

 

shadow

I even (??) get "boiling mad" when I read of not enough armor plate
protecting humvees etc AND when I do NOT read of enough 50 caliber Barrett sniper rifles being used in Iraq---better to "pop" a guy from say 1800 yards, than from, say, 999 yards

don't "they" "kick enough a---" back in the military...today or yesterday ???
---and "my butt was on the line" when others, back around the Spring of 1960, "gave thought" to invading Cuba (which was BEFORE the Cuban missile crises, BEFORE the Berlin "mess", and BEFORE the "Bay of Pigs Invasion")

 

I don't think the guys at Micro$oft, really care anymore. They keep integrating more and more into the OS. They should concentrate on making it a compact stable platform, instead of a swiss army knife.

More Armor plate, sniper rifles & body armor. They'll scream even louder at the cost. It took 15 years to field the new protective mask to the entire force. And they want all the vehicles to have armor plate, and the soldiers to have the latest body armor. Let me see $240 Pro-mask vs. several thousands of dollars worth of modifications to all the unarmored vehicles. Not going to happen, costs too much.

I can take down an enemy soldier at 500 meters with a M16 without a scope. We don't need more sniper rifles. Just more marksmanship training. You'll like this one, the Army has now begun to organize its units in manner that is similar to a MEU, and before I retired the mindset became every soldier is a Rifleman first.

Military pay is definetly good for the Senior NCOs. I retired as a Sergeant First Class, that would be 'Gunny' to you, my annual income was something like $58,000. I joined the Army after my first year of college. Couldn't understand why I was spending all that money, to learn what I was taught in HS. My first assignment was with the 82nd ABN (Infantry), yes I was originally a 'ground pounder' to, the off to Germany (Nuclear), sorry no details, then the 10th MTN (Survey), Recruiting Command (Enough said), 4th ID (Operations), 1st Army (Ground Forces Readiness Enhancement Program), and then with the 10th MTN (Operations & Intel). Quite a diverse career.

 

Agree re their ridiculous patching of their OS (plural).


Re armor plate and MORE snipers rifles (say about 10,000 more
50 caliber Barrett snipers rifles, and putting armor on ALL vehicles),
that cost is "peanuts" compared to the jet fuel for jet fighters (costing maybe $3 mil each) dropping $50,000 (EACH) bombs on camels---not familiar with body armor

500 meters is about 500 yards---geez, you were unique, and/or the rifles got more accurate, and/or there was little wind on that day (??) you shot
---There were maybe 200,000 Marines on active duty in 1959, and about thirty (30) of those some 200,000 shot better than me "plunking targets" in 1959---course, there was no (or little) wind on that day

what's an MEU ?? the USMC has always had, so far as I know, the mindset,
wisely or unwisely, that all Marines are rifleman first---I still believe "popping 'em" at 1800 yards (or meters) is better, and I guess
more marksmanship training is needed (I never had much such training, ie just, more or less, picked up the rifle and shot---course, had a "practice run" (of about 50 shots) about a week before that "fateful day on the range".

$58,000 for a Sergeant First Class is certainly better than they got around 1960---you certainly had a diversified military career---I guess 82nd stands for that Airborne Division---have no (or limited) idea what your other duty stations did

seventeen (17) pages of "who knows what"---must I check to see if EVERY file mentioned (re Windows 98---the seventeen pages doesn't really emphasize 2nd edition) in there is in my PC ??---and am not sure what to do if I find one or more of those files missing (and possibly can't download them anyhow)---the seventeen pages ALSO includes "file checking"
for Windows NT (Intel), and for Windows NT (alpha), AND there is some
duplication re those seventten (17) pages (which I guess means Microsoft should ALSO "patch" those seventeen pages, or al least eliminate their duplication)

Microsoft has "almost sold me" re buying a Wndows XP CD and shoving same into THIS PC, and then "uninstalling" (??) Window 98 2nd edition---course (sigh) then I must download drivers for my scanner, and for my printer, since they won't work with Windows XP---I don't believe I can even use
my current scanner, and printer, on a NEW desktop PC, as I don't believe the current scanner, and printer, will operate having a USB 2.0 connection (and all NEW PC's have USB 2.0)

 

No need to really go through every file listed. The part on how to repair IE is what is really important.

I was a better shot than most. And, Yes the rifles have gotten more accurate. We train our soldiers to engage targets from ranges of 50 to 300 meters. Qualification consistents of 40 targets. The vast majority of those targets are between 150 to 250 meters in range. You have to hit 26 targets to qualify. Starting with the M16A2 soldiers are able to enagage single targets out to 500 meters. Only a hand full of people can do that with any constinecy.

The Army is like the Marines when it comes to getting money. Congress will spring for a 5 Billion dollar Aircraft carrier, but when the Army wants $1 million to buy flack vests they say sure, but you have to spread to cost out over the next 5 years.

 

I'll "slog thru" that seventeen pager later.

I've heard the USMC also changed how they do things on the rifle range, and I guess similar to how the Army currently does things on the rifle range---back in 1959 it was, as best I can recall, 50 rounds in each "session",
spread out as follows---ten (10) rounds, slow fire standing, at 100 yards, 1st target---five (5) rounds, rapid fire sitting, at 250 yards, 2nd target
---five (5) rounds, rapid fire kneeling,at 250 yards, 3rd target---twenty (20) rounds, spread out "I can't remember how" over the 4th and 5th targets
---lastly, ten (10) rounds, slow fire prone at 500 yards, at the last target
---maximum possible score 250---I shot 238 (with all bulls at 500 yards)

with a Colt 45 sidearm I was "terrible"---never fired the old BAR---and never
threw a hand grenade, and never fired any machine gun---never even went to "boot camp"--course, guess I COULD have thrown a hand grenade which
"curved in flight", having been a pitcher etc (ha ha ??)---and I probably WOULD have "taken flak" if I had ever done that.

aircraft carriers are "silly" in this "day and age"---geez, MORE aircraft carriers (don't we "own" say ten (10) aircraft carriers ALREADY, and
how many countries even OWN/HAVE aircraft carriers ???)---geez, as it "stands" the USA could "turn the world into a cinder" if we wanted to,and so could Russia and/or some of their former Republics (??)---simple,
ICBM's with hydrogen bomb warheads

 

Tight budgets, smaller force, increased mission load has forced all the branches to change the way they do business.

 

Well, in my opinion, we don't need MORE 60 ton tanks, nor MORE aircraft carriers, nor MORE long range BIG bombers, nor MORE "hydrogen bomb
tipped" ICBMs---but the advocates of increases for such will fight "tooth and fang" on that until "hell freezes over", as their "turf" is being threatened

shall we "attack", next, the social security, and medicare/medicaid (and hospital costs, and health costs) messes ???

 

Love to solve all the problems of the world, but then I would have to live with the snakes in DC.

Let me know how the Repair IE goes.

 

that's a good comeback (although I've found out at least
"some of those guys in DC" are OK guys)

the "Internet Explorer Repair Tool" seventeen pager is a mess

The top of one (1) column says "Internet Explorer Repair Tool Verification and Registration for Windows 95 and Windows 98 (doesn't say Windows 98 2nd edition)"

the next printed line says "File Verification"

the next line says "file name" space space space etc "Version"
---the line under that says (under file name) Actxprxy.dll,
and under Version says 5.00.2014.0200

and stuff like that goes on (and on, and on) for around 80 file names, and versions


then, after all that, I read/see "File Registration"
and under that Actxprxy.dll, and that goes on (and on, and on)
for about 35 line items

hmm, I have a "need to know", or "lack of intellectual capacity", problem on my hands, or I had better read (if I've bought) Internet Explorer for dummies" ??---but it is still not "time to punt"

I have an old co-worker (that co-working years ago) who told me, about
three (3) years ago, that he was "cleaning up his registry" (or register, and my eyes "glazed over" when I heard that)---I think I had better phone him

 

To use the Internet Explorer Repair tool:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Add/Remove Programs.

2. On the Install/Uninstall tab, click Microsoft Internet Explorer 5, click Add/Remove, click Repair the current installation of Internet Explorer, and then click OK.

If the Internet Explorer Repair tool detects an error, you may receive an error message that is similar to the following error message:

Internet Explorer 5 cannot be repaired. Please reinstall Internet Explorer 5.

If you click Details, you may receive an explanation for the problem. For example, you may receive any of the following explanations:

Internet Explorer 5 cannot be repaired due to the following errors:
File file_name is missing.

-or-

Internet Explorer 5 cannot be repaired due to the following errors:
Version 4.72.3110.0 of file file_name exists but needs to be greater than 5.0.808.1000.

To resolve either of the problems that are associated with these error messages, it is recommended that you reinstall Internet Explorer 5.

 

shadow

your below is exactly what, in part, my printout says (and I assume
when they have said "click Microsoft Internet Explorer 5", they mean, also, Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5)

I'll try to do that, but I'm in trouble if I must reinstall Internet Explorer 5,
as I don't know where (in what box---cardboard box, or similar) I might have
some Internet Explorer 5 CD--ie I assume there is a "to be reinstalled" or "recovery" CD named "Internet Explorer 5", and I don't where such a CD might be
---I got/received maybe (who remembers) five (5) CDs when I bought this desktop (about five years ago) and have never "shoved" any of them into the CD-ROM "read thing" in this desktop

Say, if you're up near Syracuse, I've got (??) a local judge buddy (we were classmates back at Cornell), and I could "put in a good word" should you get, say, a parking ticket---am not sure (at this instant in time) if he's near Syracuse or some other city "up North" in New York State

 

well, I found a possible problem "long before" I even got to click on
"Repair the current installastion of Internet Explorer"


when I click on the "insatall/uninstall tab", sure enough a lidst of programs shows up BUT "Microsoft Internet Explorer 5" (nor "Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5" is even on that list

the closet things on that list are (plural) "Compaq IE Custom", and
Compaq IE Customization", and "Internet Explorer Q832894"

when I left click on "---Custom" nothing happens, and when I left click on
"---Customization" nothing happens

and when I left click on "Internet Explorer Q832894" a box comes up which says

"This program uninstalls Q832894 and restores your previous configuration.
Do you want to uninstall Q832894 ?" and there are little boxes which say
"yes", and "no", so I clicked "no" (and that big box disappeared)

So, I don't even have a program named "Microsoft Internet Explorer XYZ"
IN my list of computer programs ?? or installed ?? AND Compaq is the "culprit" (or was the "culprit" at the "instant" I purchased this desktop ??

and what the hell is "your/my previous configuration" ?? ie I had no "previous
configuration" PRIOR to buying this desktop

course (??) if I go to a DIFFERENT "thing" in this PC (thru, as I recall, "systems tools") I do see something like "Microsoft IE 5.5 ABC.DEF.HIJ" (plus other stuff like my 512 RAM), and I assume that Microsoft
IE 5.5 ABC.DEF.HIJ means Internet Explorer 5.5

 

Please unistall "Internet Explorer Q832894", that is "Internet Explorer 6 SP1 Update", your system is reporting 5.5, that is left over from the failed install of IE6.

 

I inadvertently did uninstall Q832894 after I sent you my posting below
---but in its place (?), or on that list of programs, a NEW program appeared
titled Q891781---is that the "old configuration?? (ie Intenet Ecplorer 5.5 or 6.0 ??) ---

I also installed last night KB691711, and Q840315, and Q888113, and they,
after that, showed up on the list of programs BUT when I clicked add/remove on each (to see if I would HAVE the option of removing them), they disappeared of their "own choice"---those three(3) still remain on my Windows update thing which records (??) my "history" of what specific updates I have updated ( or downloaded)---I still don't know what the
"---custom" thing (program) is, nor what the "---customization" (program)
is, and NEITHER of them show up when I click start, and then click programs

and I still don't know why (after clicking start, and after clicking programs)
when I click (on that LONG list) "Internet Explorer", what comes up is "my Yahoo"

am going out for a cup of coffee and to read a newspaper

 

Please don't install anything I have not asked you to install. As it may make the problem worse.

I really need to know what is going on inside your OS. Hook up your laptop and get the files from the below thread and install them on the system you are having problems with. There shouldn't be a problem with NetZero or additional charges.

Please follow ALL of the steps below completely. Do not skip anything.

- Run ALL the steps in this Sticky thread READ ME FIRST BEFORE ASKING FOR SUPPORT: Basic Spyware, Trojan And Virus Removal Make sure you check version numbers and get all updates.

- Very Important: Make sure you tell us the results from running the tutorial...was anything found? Were you unable to complete any of the scans?...Were you unable to download any of the tools?...Did you do the on-line scans as suggested? etc.


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

- Download HijackThis 1.99.1

- Unzip the hijackthis.exe file to a folder you create named C:\Program Files\HJT

- 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.

- Before running HijackThis: You must close each of the following:your web browser, e-mail client, instant messenger, and programs like notepad, wordpad, MS Word etc. And any other unnecessary running programs.

- Run HijackThis and save your log file.

- Post your log as an ATTACHMENT to your next message. (Do NOT copy/paste the log into your post).

 

Will try to do what you suggest but how would I install, in this desktop, anything from the laptop ?? By burning a CD (via the laptop) of what I want to transfer, and then putting that burned CD into the CD-ROM "slot" in the desktop ? ---that would have those bits and bytes in my F drive---then do I drop and drag those bits and bytes to my desktop window, or to some new folder, or to some folder "I don't know what" ??

I've never transferred stuff from the laptop to the desktop, but have transferred stuff from the desktop to the laptop by doing this "reverse burn" etc ---has been just files of scanned documents, AND (hopefully)
the netzero stuff which would let me use, if I ever wanted to,
netzero as my ISP connection to the laptop

Another posting will almost immediately follow this (and before I attempt to connect the laptop to the Internet), but I will wait until I get a response from you to this posting

adding, I don't have hubs, WiFi, wireless connections of anything, optical
(infrared ??) connections of anything, and all that---only have wires "all over the place"

 

Yes, burn the programs to CD after you have downloaded them. Then install them on your desktop. Make sure you update the definitions for Adware and Spybot before you search your drive with them. There should be no problem connecting to NetZero with your Laptop, just install their software, and set it up like your desktop.

 

but "FIRST FIRST" I must burn on a CD THIS string, and/or print out THIS string, from THIS desktop, as I can NOT connect this desktop, and the laptop,simultaneously to the Internet, and I need in front of me your relevant
instructions a few postings ago, as I can't remember all that stiff on your
recent postings

and I don'yt know WHY Q891781 appeared on/in that add/remove propgrams propertties list---I certainly didn't install same within the past month (or maybe not installed same within the past two years)

---don't know HOW to post an attachment to my "herein" postings
---when I send an e mail attachment I do "simple stuff" ie set up a new folderr named, say, DC 5-8-05 shadow---then drop and drag "whatever"
from a DIFFERENT folder---than rename that stuff DCA frog bites dog (1st atachment), DCB Dilbert joke (2nd attachment), etc etc

then I set up the email, and in the subject box I put DC 5-8-05
---then to attach I hit "insert" and bring up folder DC 5-08-05 shadow
---then I jjust left click on each "to be" attachment, and each attachment is attached---then I e mail, with a message, all that---must have done that a minimum of 10,000 times over the past five years

 

You only need one computer conected to the Internet at a time. You just need the laptop to download the tools in the tutorial. Then burn them to CD and install them on the desktop. Connect your desktop to the internet, and follow the instructions from the tutorial. Print out the turtorial and work from that.

 

I'm partially confused but first let me mention the following

(and I may not get to that burning etc today---have "time crunches"

I may NOT have Windows 98 2nd edition installed in this PC
---when I bring up/open System information i see (in part)

Microsoft Windows 98 4.10.2222A
ie I do not see the specific words 2nd edition, nor SE, nor second edition, and don't know what 4.10.2222A means or stands for--do I have 2nd edition installed ???---I thought somebody (who knows who) told me
a few tears/years ago that I have/had 2nd edition in this desktop

Also in part, in System information, I see
IE 5 5.50.4807.2300, and I assume that stood/stands for Internet Explorer 5.5. but, again, I don't know what .4807.2300 means or stands for

ANOTHER problem is that I coiuld not, about ten minutes ago, save
these cumulative "strings" (or this cumulative string) to a folder,
as a message box from Microsoft "came up" and said (in effect) "could not be saved" , and didn't have that problem yesterday

 

Microsoft Windows 98 4.10.2222A = Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition

IE 5 5.50.4807.2300 = Internet Explorer 5.5 Service Pack 2

If you don't get to it today that's fine.

 

whew (??)---you've "blotted", or removed, some of my "tears" (or frustration
on this)

shall we (?) "skin alive" Bill Gates ??? maybe, next time, I should buy an Apple desktop

 

Macs are good stable, secure platforms. Great for graphics. A bit overpriced for me.

 

shadow

I'm going to burn the CD (from the laptop), and take the other steps, tomorrow (have to do other business tonight)

I stopped into a local Staples, today, and I'm wondering if I should just buy
(costs about $90) XP upgrade, and then install same in this desktop, and then delete (?) Windows 98 2nd edition---nobody knew. at Staples, if that upgrade also contains Internet Explorer 6.0

If I do that (successfully), then I must (??) get update drivers for both my printer, and my scanner, as they are set up to "run" on Windows 98 2nd
edition--I get "spooked" by having to update, or upgrade, anything

I did buy the newest Brother black & white laser printer (for my laptop) a
week or so ago, and same uses the newer USB 2.0 (both the printer and the laptop)---that newest Bother printer was on sale for around $100 (had an immediate cash discount, and a mail in rebate)

drivers (update) exist, I believe, for both my old printer, and my old scanner
via Brother's web site, and Epson's web site, respectively

there was an article yesyerday, or today, re the USMC and some body armor "mess", same in "USA Today"---I printed same out, and will scan same
into this PC (in TIF image G4 compression "format"), but I don't believe,
per THIS web site/form, I can attach ANY document in TIF image G4 compression as I see, below for attachments, bmp, doc, gif, etc etc but no
TIF, nor TIF image, nor TIF image G4 compression, nor perturbations or combinations of such---and I don't know what will happen if I click on (below) "Manage Attachments"

 

Don't get the Upgrade, but the full OS. Yes XP comes with IE 6. Buy the Professional Edition.

 

the upgrade XP Home edition costs about $90---damn, didn't think to ask if there was a XP upgrade home edition, and/or an XP upgrade Professional
edition, and I assume that $90 was/is for the upgrade HOME edition

the full OS XP home edition costs (as best I can recall) either $199 or
$299

the full OS XP Professional costs (as best I can recall) either $299
or $399

BIG difference in prices (and possibly in "aggravation to install", with the most expensive being the easiest to install ???)

I don't expect to have my desktop "looped into" a corporate multi-computer
network, and I thought that was the PRIMARY difference between the home edition, and the professional edition, re the XP operating system---and even have a network card (??) in this current desktop, but NEVER have used same (when an acquaintance installed, physically, my second 30 gig hard drive two or three years ago he also installed that card and told me "well, some day that card might be useful, or worthwhile to have installed")

does the upgrade Home edition ALSO contain Internet Explorer 6.0 ??
the stupid (??) cardboard box containing (??) the relevant CD does NOT
say so

---hey, I've also been "pitching" supercomputer timesharing (which
has "evolved" into beowuff clustering, or grid computing, or distributed
processing, or whatever name one wants to call such) for some twenty two (22) years (that "pitching" to such people as venture capital people)---and can you imagine how dumb I feel, re all this Windows 98 2nd edition mess, etc ??---better to "crunch" at, say, three (3) teraflops per second, than at say 20 gigaflops per second, and THAT's the "main impetus" (??) , or "thrust of the argument", for supercomputer timesharing---an interesting relevant web site on all that can be found by Yahoo searching on Virginia Polytechnic Institute (eg, those guys "built one" that "crunches away" at around thirteen (13) teraflops per second)--and a few (maybe 40 ?? who counts) ven cap people, maybe eighteen (18) years ago, thought I "was nuts" re supercomputer timesharing

 

It is always best to do a clean install vs an upgrade. You can still do a clean install with the XP upgrade, you just need to have your 98SE CD available when it looks for an existing OS. XP Home does not have all the networking and system administration tools of Pro. IE 6 come with all XP editions.

 

but isn't the 98 SE OS already in my PC ?? even if the 98 SE OS is named "Compaq custom XYZ", or has some other name ?? I would think there would be installation (hopefully not too complicated) instructions WITHIN the upgrade CD re how to eliminate or delete the 98 SE OS after
I've shoved (??) the XP OS CD (upgrade or clean/full) into the CR-ROM "slot" in my desktop
----I don'r know where the/my 98 SE OS CD is (probably in some cardboard box somewhere), and I assume you mean the "recovery" 98 SE OS CD

I don't even understand why the 98 SE OS is not listed (or not listed specifically with a name such as Windows 98 2nd edition) on my list of programs in the add/remove program properties box/list, as, after all, isn't the OS (any OS) ALSO a program (or computer program) ??

 

Yes, 98SE is on the HD. However you will want to do a clean install, which will repartition the drive and format it. You will want an NTFS partition, more secure than FAT32.

 

I don't understand re-partitioning, nor formatting, nor want to ask yoiu about that (you've been plenty helpful, and don't wanna "press my luck",
nor ask endless questions)---BUT by secure you mean "less crashing", or less
possibility of others "hooking" information that's in my hard discs, or both ??
---crashing is a nuisance, others having access to what's in my C, and D, drives is "far more" than any nuisance

I think there's FAT32 (or something like that) "working away" when I
transfer files and folders back and forth between my C drive, and my D drive
----my eyes (and brain) "glaze over" when I read of any mention of FAT32

 

When you do a full clean install of XP it will ask you if you want an NTFS or FAT32 partiton. You want NTFS. XP is far more stable the 98. I ran mine for 3 years without a crash. XP on install will partition and format your drive for you. IfF you select upgrade then it wont do any of that, but it will carry over the problems you are having now.

 

thanks---I'll go back to Staples tomorrow and look at the price of
XP full/clean home edition, and not necessarily will buy, and install, same

I'll also, tomorrow, try to set up my laptop to access the Internet, and burn
the CD is you suggested---I may just "switch" to using the laptop for
all web surfing, for downloading (of web pages, and non-web pages), and for all e mailing, for an indefinite period of time, and "sort of retire" the/my desktop, or at least not have the desktop "Internet connected"
---the laptop only has 30 gig of hard disc, however, so would be "bouncing back and forth" between laptop, and desktop, for storage (except for backup
CD's), as I couldn't let the laptop fill up too much with files and folders
---I should become more familiar with XP anyhow ("search" vs "find" buttons/icons, and such)----re the owned laptop, 512 RAM, and 30 gig of hard disc, and a fifteen (15) inch LCD screen is not bad [although that new Toshiba laptop (which I don't own) has a gig of RAM, and 100 gig of hard disc, and a seventeen (17) inch LCD screen]

the desktop may permanently crash soon anyhow, as the hard discs have bearings, and bearings don't "last forever" (and those discs have "spun a lot of RPMs" over the past five years)

Hope your daughter "aced" her SATs

 

shadow

am having problems using (??) netzero as my ISP on my laptop
---the easiest (??) step of all, ie connecting to the internet via net zero

Sony (the latop manufacturer), or their connection software, wants to know

o the settings on my desktop

o net zero's phone number (geez, they have numerous phone numbers)

I've sent an e mail to net zero support on this

I sure don't want to have two (2) separate net zero accounts, and wherein I'll be billed, by net zero, twice each month (and even though net zero is
relatively inexpensive)

 

You won't have to pay for 2 accounts. You have an account with them, and it doesn't matter what computer you access your account with. You can only log into your account from one computer at any one time.

 

I've dug further into the laptop---now I see (re setting up and connecting to the Internet)

"using a serial cable with the files and settings (ah THE SETTINGS !!) wizard", and then a couple of paragraphs on that---so, I'll "check it out" (buying a serial cable, with, possibly, an adapter re 9 pins vs 25 pins) and then connect the two (s) computers physically together

I "interrogated" (??) the Staples guy today about a clean install vs the upgrade (re XP)---he said "yeah, clean is better---but backup (on CDs) EVERYTHING, as you will lose ALL your files in your desktop thru the
formatting process"---he also said Norton, and McAfee, "stink", and McAfee could be the cause of my problems (here)---he recommended buy Panda
(and Panda is "within" the/a new Staples "pack" re antivirus stuff)

well, anyhow, the laptop has Acrobat Reader 5.0, and Internet Explorer 6.0
(implicitly, thru Wndows XP, or within Windows XP), so, maybe I can update/upgrade, in the laptop, to Acrobat Reader 7.0, and do all those Windows XP Service pack update (SP 1, and SP 2, or is SP 1 INCLUDED in SP2 ?)

I've (sigh) got, I suspect, two (2) separate venture capital guys "stringing
me along", and I don't have "infinite patience" re that either

and Google may bring up two (2) or three (3) million web search results, re particular web searches, whereas I just (??) scan into this PC newspaper
articles, and engineering periodicals articles, re "interesting stuff" (and all oriented toward "making a buck")---shoot, who is going to "slog thru" two (2) million web search results ???

--much in life is a "game" and if you ever buy stocks, don't buy ANY which have a P/E ratio over, say, 30---that's "any"

 

Norton and McAfee are very good Anti-virus programs. Don't waste your money on commercial anti-virus packages. There are a few good ones right here at Major Geeks that are free.

They will cost you nothing, nada, zilch, zero to install, use and update.

AntiVir Personal Edition 6.30.00.17
Avast! Home Edition 4.6.623
AVG Free Edition 7.308

And for firewalls you can use any of these for free:
Kerio Personal Firewall 4.1.3
Outpost Firewall Free 1.0.1817
Sygate Personal Firewall Free 5.6.2808
ZoneAlarm Free 5.5.094.000

What ever AV & Firewall you use make sure you only use one of each. As 2 AV programs or 2 Firewalls can and do interfer with each other.

 

Thanks--Netzero sent me an e mail a few minutes ago re how to get the latest version and how to put same on a floppy, and then to put that floppy in the floppy slot in the laptop, and then to etc etc re installing in the laptop etc etc---so, maybe their (Net Zero's) phone number, and/or my "settings" on/in this desktop, won't be necessarry (re successfully
accessing, or connecting to, the Internet thru Net Zero)

hey, I even (?) "pitched an idea" to a retired four (4) Star Admiral
shortly after 9/11---geez, they can't very well court martial me on that, and, SOMETIMES, people add "fertilizer" to ideas---was one (1) of those "patriotic must do" types of things (re my "pitching" that), and don't care if or if not I ever make a nickel on that

 

shadow---am communicating from the laptop (had installed, already, and didn't remember, net zero)

have also downloaded and installed, as you suggested,
AntiVir Personal Edition----must I also install Avast ! etc
and AVG Free Edition ???

AntiVir was about 6.20 MB in length, and was transferred at a speed of about 3.0 kilobits per sec, so took
around an hour to download (and I assume same was installed)---same should have been installed
(or showing up)in my documents and settings folder

haven't gotten yet to burning the CD (to be placed in the
desktop)

some window or box keeps coming up from www.Fixed-PC.com (re 52 errors detected, and that message
dated way back on 2/7/04---do i ignore that message ??

 

Install 1 anti-virus program only.

Navigate to where you saved AntiVir Personal Edition and double click the file to start the installation program. Then follow the prompts. Update the virus definitions immediately after installation.

I also recommend you download a Firewall, ZoneAlarm would probably be the best choice for you.

I would recommend that you also follow the tutorial I gave you the link for, on your laptop also.

Ignore that window for now, your laptop may have some malware on it also.

 

I was going to do the first firewall on your list (not Zone Alarm), but haven't got that far along yet---I'm back on the desktop PC---prior to this going back (to the desktop PC) I double clicked on the anti-virus program, or icon, on the desktop (of the laptop), installed that program, and did a virus scan---it took so long that I went out, came back, it had finished, but I didn't see any report saying "no viruses detected" (and there are possibly 75,000 files in the laptop, if one includes Window XP program files)---when I virus scan with McAfee, on/in the desktop PC, it also takes a LONG time (understandable, as I have some 375,00 files/documents (including Windows 98 SE files) IN the desktop PC)

the laptop has problems

I don't believe I have the latest version of NetZero in the laptop, as the same window (as in the desktop PC) does NOT come up---Netzero probably has an update thing, also, so I'll look for such--Netzero also disconnects too often, from the laptop, and an error message comes up which says "your dial-up connection has been lost for unknown reasons. Netzero will now exit"
---"error code 20"---this message comes up "variously"---sometimes within about two munites, and sometimes not for, say, a half an hour

Another window or box keeps popping up (on the laptop) which says "you have an update for Windows messenger---want to update ???"---what on earth is Windows messenger ?? Outlook Express is "good enough for me"---can I PREVENT that message from coming up again ?? hitting "delete" doesn't work---do I WANT that message to keep reminding me of that ??-------that box is distracting

On the laptop I also get other boxes "popping up"---such as "hey, you've got 52 errors in your registry---wanna clean up that ??"---and there are instructions re what to hit [(and that box is dated around 2/7/04 (yes, 2004)]---appears to have come from a commercial vendor named (??) www.Fixed-PC.com

AND re the laptop I already downloaded a "patch" (again re a 2-7-04 message) which came from www.updatedpatch.info (??)---or I guess I downloaded that year 2004 patch

tomorrow I'm going to look into purchasing a serial connection cable (to cnnect the laptop with the dektop PC), so, hopefully, I can transfer files and folders "back and forth" between those two (2) computers

am "making out better" with one (1) of the venture capital guys---"no deal cut", yet---suspect he's "testing" my "endurance", mental attitude, knowledge of business, and knowledge of (say) aerodynamics--ah, "the great games" adults "play" ??

 

Please don't don't hit any buttons in those pop-ups message boxes. They are most assuredly malware.

Don't have more than 1 Anti-virus program installed on your computer they can and do interfer with each other. Uninstall your McAfee. Update your virus definitions immediately, if you haven't already done so.

Next install a firewall, ZoneAlarm is probably the best for you. It is the most intuitive of the four. Don't have more than 1 third-party firewall installed on your computer, they often interfer with each other.

Run the steps in the Tutorial, then report the results back here.

 

Zone Alarm and Avast work great for me on my laptop. Highly recommend them. See earlier replies for links. Bazza

 

shadow & bigbazza

I've "bypassed" the phone, the answering machine, and the surge protector
by directly connecting the laptop to the female jack in the wall--that appears to work (re the laptop) somewhat better (but not perfect)

don't have McAfee anti-virus ANYTHING in the laptop

have downloaded and installed AntiVir, and Zone Alarm (and "nice pitch"
Zone Alarm re your "professional whatever")--I've ALSO successfully downloaded, and installed, NetZero 7.0 in the laptop (prior to that apparently had had NetZero 1.0 (yes, 1.0) installed in the laptop)
--deleted or uninstalled Net Zero 1.0 too
I still get "pitches" from Windows messenger (whatever that is), and from CNN (is it REALLY CNN ?), and from datapatch.info, and from winregister.com (or something like that) and from Cx-reg.com (or something like that), and from (sigh) others as "incoming" to the laptop---I don't get that nonsense as "incoming" into the desktop PC (perhaps McAfee blocks that ??, re the desktop PC ??)

"progress", if one can call all this progess, is slower than I expected, but I'll
keep "plugging away" re getting the laptop "operative", and re fixing (??)
whatever problems exist on/in the desktop PC (re Windows 98 SE, Internet'
Explorer 5.5, and re, "the botom line", downloading Adobe Acrobat 5.0, or 6.0, into the desktop PC

I still haven't updated (SP 1 ?? SP 2 ?? other ??) XP in the laptop,
nor, in the laptop, patched or updated Internet Explorer 6.0 (not 5.5) which exists (??) in the laptop---bought the serial cable, but haven't tried, yet, to transfer files and folders back and forth between the laptop, and the desktop PC

so, "Rome wasn't 'built in a day'" ?? ----I can believe that

as I side issue, have either of you heard anything good (or bad)
about desktop PCs manufactured/built, alternatively, by Monarch Computer, or Boldata ?? they each have web sites---some guy yesterday told me he "likes" PC's built by Alienware, and by Northgate

 

Were headed in the right direction, we will worry about getting the sytem up to date after we take care of any malware issues you may have. Ignore the popups for now. We will take care of those as you go through the steps in the tutorial.

Do this for both the laptop and desktop.

 

shadow

WHICH tutorial ?? the tutorial within Zone Alarm ??

 

shadow--you mean uninstall McAffe anti-virus, and firewall, stuff in the desktop, and then install say Zone Alarm and AntiVir in the desktop ??

McAffee only costs about $30 per year, and does (convenient to me)
online updates, and I haven't discovered, yet, ANY virus in the desktop
PC (via McAfee's virus scan service)

 

This tutorial from a couple of days ago.

DO NOT POST UNTIL YOU HAVE READ THIS: How to: Spyware, Trojan And Virus Removal

You will need to follow the first four steps of that tutorial.

 

shadow

I've read that tutorial, quickly, a few minutes ago--I don't even understand each and EVERY word, or procedure, in that tutorial, ie maybe 80% of same
I do understand

when you say do NOT post until I've read (which I did), and then done
"the four (4) steps", do you mean I can infect this web site, or "spin" your wheels (and my wheels) by too much posting PRIOR to doing ALL those steps, or both ?? and there are more than four (4) steps, ie there may be eighty five (85) steps

 

That tutorial was meant to cut back on the amount of unnecessary posts. The reason I referred you to it, is that I believe you have malware issues with both your laptop and desktop. I won't know if that is the case, and if it is what issues you have until you complete the first 4 steps.