Windows 98 2nd edition service packs

shadow

Ok, I'll try to do it--I'll first do the deskop PC, as that contains the most files, saved e mails, etc, and appears to be easiest to do (relative to PC's using XP)

I'll have questions concerning intermediate "how to do's ???", and will do
(or try to do) everything in the tutorial up to "Optional Steps"

my time allocated to this must be stretched out over a period of time, as I have other tasks which must be done, and which consume time

I have no "burning need", anyhow, to use the laptop (with the XP OS)
at this time.

 

No problem, that is why we are here, to help those who wnat help.

 

OK---am starting with the desktp PC (which has 98 SE)

Getting prepared

1. disable etc---ignore this, as doesn't pertain to 98 SE OS

2. Network Security etc---ignore this, as doesn't pertain to 98 SE OS

3. Enable viewing of hidden files etc---DOES pertain to 98 SE OS
--AFTER I "uncheck the hide file extensions", what do I do ??
the tutorial, in that specific paragraph does not explain what one should
do--for example, do I ASSUME ANY and all files ending in .exe. or dll is a
trojan, etc ?? and if so delete those SPECFIC files ??? (and, if delete via
a right click, box drops down, and then left click on "delete" ???)

no point in discussing 4. "downloading tools" etc until I know the answer(s) to the above

 

You are not going to delete anything here. This step just ensures that all files on the computer are now visible.

After you down load the tools in step 4. I want you run the steps under Scanning And Cleaning Steps: (These 4 steps are NOT optional and must be run!!)

 

OK--I won't delete anything after that showing of hidden files, and will go to step 4 (the downloadng etc)

--but not tonight

 

No problem

 

adding

I've already set up a new folder for those items I will (hopefully) download
ie won't put those programs (??), to be downloaded, into C/Programs

and I assume to install (when am supposed to install) that requires a double left click on the relevant icon (??) which (??) will appear on my desktop window---I hope the specific (and relevant) words "exit", and "Enable all"
will appear (to left click on), and what on earth does "unzip to a folder" (re CWShredder, and Kill2me, and about.buster) mean ?? I've never seen "unzip to a folder" in any little box which "pops up"

am curious also WHICH programs (in my Programs file ??) automatically
continuously run in "the background"---obviously Windows 98 SE runs (or sort of runs) in "the background" ALL the time---when I first bought the desktop PC same had 128K of RAM (and this was prior to upgrading, and "maxing out" the current motherboard, to 512K RAM)---but at 128K, or 512k RAM (can't remember), I had MANY "crashing problems"---so, I phoned Compaq (warranty was still in effect ie some five years ago) and they told me to uninstall or delete, some programs running in "the background", and told me specifically WHICH programs to uninstall (or delete), which I did---and the crashing became less frequent AFTER I did that uninstalling or deleting

 

adding something else (and a side "issue" ?)

my ISP has (as a sponsor ?) "USA Today", so, I receive stufuf from "USA Today" via my ISP

in tomorrow's (??) "USA Today" there will appear a short article about a CIA operated drone (a Predator) killing an Afghanistan terrorist with one or more Hellfire missiles---I would guess that event was controlled by an Air Force pilot, or CIA "pilot", in say Florida, directing that---the point mentioning this is that there may not be ANY B2 bombers for your daughter to fly in the future---a "wave of the future" is pilotless bombers and pilotless fighter
aircraft (and Predators, and Hellfire missiles, and drones SMALLER than Predators, and missiles SMALLER than Hellfires)---this is public knowledge---even fighter pilots, months ago, were publicly "griping" about their future as ONLY "video game players"---course, the prior comment might, in part,
reflect the opinion of a former aerodynamicist (ie me)

 

Actually I know where those Pedators are flow and operated from. And it isn't Florida. I did Intel work for 3 years before I retired. I used to watch 'live feeds' from the 'Stan while at my secure terminal here in the states.

 

Can't recall where (publicly reported) Predators are launched from---possibly from aircraft, or from land, or from sea--"pilots" for those drones can be located anywhere (but I recall reading they are located in Florida)---range, maximum speed, operating altitude, have all been publicly reported
--I don't have a "neeed to know" and my secret (not top secret, or higher) DOD security clearance possibly expired forty (40) years ago (but "that's OK")

 

Predators are probably launched from within 500 miles of their intended targets (limited range)

 

They have a fairly descent cruise time. One squadron operates out of Forlida, and we're getting a squadron up here in the next couple of years.

 

I find it difficult to believe currently all Predators are launched from Florida (unless they refuel in the air)---geez, Afghanistan must be some 4000 miles
from Florida---there are other drones under development (public knowledge
ie per various publicly published publications)

in any event, back to my PC problems ??

 

I probably should have said based out of instead of operates out of.

How is it going with the computer.

 

I had previously saved, to a folder, the tutorial---went to te first thig to download (Ad-Aware SE), and left clicked on same--a box openred up which sai (in effect) "if this doesn't start downloading--the---"

a major geeks window came up (with lots of stuff)

I left clicked on "download site # 4" (or someting like that)

a window came up (the one with the letter flying thru the air)
having

file download
getting file information
aawsepersonal.exe from files4.majorgeeks.com
a blank box
download to (a blank box next to)
transfer rate (a blank box next to)

then I checked (rather, looked at) the number of bytes "flying"
---after about 3,800,000 "bytes received",
and about 260,000 "bytes sent", anothrer box (error message ??)
came up which said "Internet Explorer cannot download aawsepersonal.exe from files.major geeks.com. Internet Explorer was not able to open this internet site. The requested site is either unavailable or cannot be found. Pleae try again later"

"bottom line" ?? I failed again to download something.

 

Which computer are you using?

 

the desktop PC (with 98 SE)

I'm connected to NetZero at 26,400 bits (not bytes, right???) per second
my "duration" at this instant in time has been about 56 minutes
my "bytes received" has been/is 4,846,029
my bytes sent has ben/is 445,884

my ACTUAL connection speed, I suspect, has been far less than 26,400 bps
(which is/has been "fairly typical" EVERYTIME I've connected with a modem at non-DSL speeds)

 

Ok, your connecton speed is pretty typical behavior. You should be able to get higher connection rates. But that all depends on several factors, conditon of your in house phone lines, condition of the phone drop-line from the pole to the house. Your modem-phone line from the computer to the phone jack, line noise and other factors.

Have you tried to download the files using your laptop?

 

I have not tried to download Ad-Aware SE to my laptop

I must go out personal matters) shortly until after 1100 PM EST
and I could try to do that after 1100 PM EST (possibly tomorrow)

the laptop has IE 6.0, whereas the desktop PC has IE 5.5 [IE 5.5 without, I guess, any patches, or updates, or upgrades (??)]

 

I also have not tried (re the laptop) to download service pack 2 (re the XP OS)---don't know (can't remember) if there is a service pack one---should I download, to the laptop, service pack 2 (and/or service pack one, if it exists) BEFORE trying to download, to the laptop, Ad-Aware SE ???

 

After. If there are any problems with the laptop the updates could complicate things.

 

I got back earlier than expected (it is around 1115 PM EST)

I guess you want me to shift to the laptop and try, if not, let me know

if "yes", I'll go back to step 1 (as the laptop has the XP OS), and follow
the instructions in "diable and enable System Restore"

After that I'll go to step 2 (Network Security etc) but I don't have (is it a download ??) "about:blank or system search hijack", so, do I left click on that (in the tutorial) and then download "about:blank or system search
hijack" ?? and follow some further instructions (from "about etc") AFTER
I download "about etc" ??

if successful re step 2 above, I'll again try to download (and install),
Ad-Aware SE to the laptop, and then move on (if successful) to Ad-Aware VX2 Cleaner Plug in (but where is it ?? in Ad-Ware SE ?? some other place ??) re the laptop

I ASSUME if all that works (downloading and installing various stuff re the laptop) then I can burn that on a CD (via my laptop burner), and then insert that CD into the desktop PC, and then I'll have that stuff in both the laptop, and in the desktop PC---there willl be additional questions, such as, re "CWShredder" what does "just unzip the folder" mean ?? eg what folder
(where ??) and how does one "unzip" ??

 

Your laptop looks to be the best option for downloading right now.

You will only need the fix for "about:blank or system search hijack" if your system is infected by them.

 

OK---I'll shift to the laptop

and I should skip (for now) step 2 ("Network Security--- etc") for now ???
ie do step 1, then "jump over" or ignore (for now) step 2, and then try to do step 3 ???

going out (coffee, read newspaper, loaf) for couple of hours

 

Go ahead and skip step 2 for now.

 

Ok---I'm back on the laptop (and it took about an hour
to connect with you---various pop errors etc)

will start with step one

 

Sounds like it is infected. At least you are online with it right now.

 

don't know if the laptop is infected--but it sure is slow
(relative to the desktop)---even offline the laptop
is slow---it is a Sony, and they may (don't know)
have THEIR software running "IN THE BACKGROUND" ??

have completed step one

started (Whoppee !!) to download the Ad-Ware SE
--2.6 megabytes at a speed (varying) between 1.3 MBS
(that's megabits) and 2.5 MBS---would have taken about
40 minutes to download, but must go out (again) for
about four or five hours, so, cancelled same after about 15
minutes---will "start again" in around five hours

I need (for example) DSL---yeah, "patience (sometimes)
is a virtue" ??---and I'm not usually "a patient person"

 

Ok, whenever you can

 

I'm back---it took me about a half an hour to connect
with Netzero (problems ther

obvious (?) error in my prior posting---should have been
transfering at kilobits per second, not megabits per second

will do/complete Ad-Aware SE now

 

1150 PM

Re AdWare---, suspect I installed same
could not connect re updates

Re VX2 cleaner plug in, installed same

Re CCleaner, installed same but PC said I already
had same in PC---feedback said I have the latest
version (or update ??)

mess with spybot---setup done---can't install
some message popped up which said "server
---address---not resolved

 

You get the Ad-aware SE referencefile from here and the Spybot Search and Destroy Detection Update from here.

CCleaner should be version 1.19.105

 

must get up early tomorrow--will check (including what version of CCleaner I have) all that out probably tomorrow night

I'm "acquiring" numerous shortcuts on my desktop (on my laptop)
and am going to try and "drag and drop" those shortcuts into an already designated folder---I don't mind having shortcuts (and basic programs) in, say, two or three separate folders, but I guess basic programs duplicated within one's C drive could "screw things up"---I do a LOT of "dragging and dropping" (eg, to have more free space on my desktop window in/on my desktop PC) of files, and/or folders, between folders

I'm getting some weird (??) messages from Zone Alarm---to the effect XYZ is trying to "access the Internet"---shouldn't that message be saying "trying to access YOUR PC" ??--sometimes, re such, I "click" "allow", other
times I click "deny"---and I still don't know what Windows messenger is or does (eg, some vendor, not Microsoft ??)---ZCast or Zcast is one (1) such
"trying to access" party, and I'm wondering if Zcast is REALLY NetZero
(my ISP), and they are just trying to verify (??) my phone number,and "loop around" re their services (re this "bytes received", "bytes sent")

 

ZoneAlarm message "trying to access the Internet" is an outgoing connection.

Windows Messenger is a MS product primaryily used by Network Administrators to communicate with users on the network. It is also used by hackers, it shouldn't be trying to access the internet. Keep blocking it for now, we will fix that later.

Yes ZCast is used by NetZero allow that to access the internet.

There are many files that will try to access the internet. If you don't know what they are are what they do it is ok to block access until you figure out what the service or program is that is trying to access the internet.

 

thanks---Zcast sure gave a lousy indication that it WAS/IS NetZero

am back on the desktop PC (need to scan material into this PC----bills & neewspaper articles)

can't "we" eliminate some of the programs "running" in the background
in the desktop PC ?? with 512 RAM, and about 25% of my 60 gigs of hard disc (30 gigs of that on the C drive) filled, my "resources" are down to about
52% AFTER I connect to NetZero--and that means, I guess, I'm about to "crash"--I've got about 25% of the 30 gig filled re the C drive, and about
25% of the 30 gig filled on the D drive, both separate drives in two (2) different bays (the D drive, I guess, containing no programs)--I don't know which programs, in/on the C drive, to eliminate or uninstall (or "delete" ??)

 

You should be fine. You should still have over 200MB of memory free, That's enough to do what needs to be done.

 

on the laptop

have downloaded defs.zip & spybotsd__to the desktop
of the laptop---now drag & drop those two icons into ??

I never completed, last night, the install of spybot
(was that "resolving" "issue)

 

def.zip you unzip in C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware SE Personal

spybotsd_includes.exe is an installer and will install the updates into C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy

 

I'm back on the desktop PC (easier to type stuff)

forgetting your immediately below at this time, I suspect I've downloaded (and installed as necessary, and have goten updates as recommended)
the following (but PERHAPS not place/saved in the CORRECT folder)
in/on the laptop

for stuff put in programs, there is (after I click on start, programs)

AntiVir-Personal edition
CCleaner
Lavasoft
Spybot-Search & Destroy
Spyware Blaster
Zone Labs
three (3) Net Zero programs---the first has a "weird icon", the second has the "usual" icon, and the third is EXACTLY the same as the second except next to it is (2), which I assume means copy two or copy one) ---don't know
if I should TRY to delete (right ckick, click on delete) re the first, and third, of thse NetZero folders (??) in "Rograms"

for the desktop (of the laptop) have a mixture of short cuts, and non shortcuts, as follows

avwnsfx.exe
antiVir XP shortcut
zls Setup_55__ dot dot dot
aawsperson dot dot dot
Ad-Aware SE personal shortcut
plvxz cleaner dot dot dot
ccsetup119.exe
ccleaner shortcut
spybotsd14rC2.exe
defszip
spotbotsd_in dot dot dot
Spywareblaster dot dot dot
Spybot_Search shortcut
Stinger.exe
cwshredder.exe
killme.zip
aboutbuster.zip
hsremove.exe

I believe I forgot to click on "enable all", re Spyware blaster, somewhere "along the way", so, may not (don't know) have installed same,
nor gotten all updates for Spyware Blaster


note in the above there are four (4) shortcuts---don't know if such is redundant (or "my option to do")

don't REALLY know IF I've installed everything, nor gotten ALL recommended updates, nor if, say, some of this desktop stuff (on the laptop) SHOULD really be in the Programs folder IN the laptop PC

still don't know how to "unzip"----but can we first clear up IF I've installed everything ??, if I've updated that recommended ???, what and what not should be in the programs folder ?? what I can REMOVE from the desktop (of the paptop) ?? and what I can drag and drop into a DIFFERENT folder ??

sidenote issue---ran the laptop ONLY on battery for the FIRST time---only lasted (??) about an hour (prior to needing a charge)---isn't that rather "poor" ??

 

forgot to mention (re your 5/15/05 2309 posting) I downloaded (??) those two (2) things, but don't know where such "ended up" or was saved to, or etc etc

 

Now I am confused. The more you place on your desktop the more confusing things get. Delete everything from your desktop that you absolutely don't need on it.

Now I want you to do the following things: From Your Laptop

1. Place your cursor on an empty spot on your desktop.

2. Right click, select New, select Folder

3. Name that folder Major Geeks DL.

4. Now Download, and save the follow to the folder you just created:
Ad-Aware SE
Ad-Aware VX2 Cleaner Plug-In
Ad-aware SE referencefile
CCleaner
Spybot Search and Destroy
Spybot Search and Destroy Detection Update
SpywareBlaster
McAfee AVERT Stinger
CWShredder
Kill2me
about:Buster
HSRemove
HijackThis
AntiVir Personal Edition
ZoneAlarm Free
7-Zip

When you have done that burn everything except HSRemove to a CD. Don't delete anything from that folder.

Let me know when that is done. Then I will talk you through installing and unzippng stuff to were it needs to go.

 

I've already downloaded much (or all) of that stuff, but just put same on the desktop (of the laptop) and in the programs list when I "hit" startup

have already set up a new folder (just didn't use the name you recommended--can always change the name)---can't I just drag and drop that stuff ON the desktop (in the laptop) into that new named folder, in the laptop, and, as a result, that stuff will no longer be on the desktop (of the laptop) ??

when the names listed on the desktop (of the laptop) end in "exe" I get confused as to what the hell they are, ie some names of those icons
end in "exe", and some don't---and some end in ... or "dot dot dot" (which I guess means they have real long names)

but if you really feel I should delete all that stuff on the desktop (of the laptop), and start all over, I will do so

the "desktop clutter", re all this, I didn't expect

--I also, a few minutes ago, "hooked into" "scheduled tasks" and in same is a list of maybe forty (40) computer programs---among those forty (40), or so, are uninstall programs, SOME of which are for stuff I hopefully installed---logically, IF I don't see (on that list) "uninstall XYZ" doesn't that "say", or imply, I never DID install program XYZ ???? ---and what happens if I install, again, something which I've ALREADY installled ?? It would seem to me that I've got to click on those "uninstall" programs (for those programs relevent to all this), in "scheduled tasks" AND uninstall, and then start installing again that stuff you listed/posted below

I suspect I've ALREADY installed, TWICE, the NetZero "connect" software,
and such might be giving me a problem re connecting to NetZero

 

Put the Programs in a folder, on the desktop, as it will make it much easier to find them when we go to install them and burn the CD.

Files ending in .exe are executables. Some are installers, some aren't. Files ending in .zip are archives. We will use 7-zip to unzip them and put them were they need to go. Files ending in .msi are installers.

I need to know what you have already installed.

There is no need to start over, if you know what is what. You need to eliminate the 'Destop Clutter', for obvius reason, and the more stuff on the destop the longer it takes windows to start.

Remove everything from 'Scheduled Tasks', except for antivirus scans. If there is an 'Uninstall' in 'Scheduled Tasks' it will be uninstalled when scheduled, you don't want that to happen.

You definetly should have uninstalled NetZero before you installed the new version. Sometimes having more than 1 copy on the sytem creates problems.

 

I'm online with the desktop PC, but offline (but "power on") with the laptop

Re the laptop

have deleted (from its desktop or window)
the following shortcuts:
antiVir XP
As-Aware SE Personal
CCleaner
Spyware blaster dot dot dot
Spyboot-Search dot dot dot

Also re the laptop, I've dragged and dropped (into a separate folder created on/in the laptop, that folder named "removal spyware, trojans, etc", without the quotes) the following (in the oder of list by name)

a folder named Spyware blaster (and within that folder are 14 files, as I was not allowed to drag and drop the "single icon thing"--the properties of this
Spyware blaster folder are, in part, 3,40 MB, and 13 files, not 14 files)

also dragged and dropped into this "removal spyware, trojans, etc" folder
the following icons (or files ??)
aawsepersonal.exe
aboutbuster.zip
ccsetup119.exe
cwshredder.exe
defs.zip
kill2me.zip
plvx2cleaner.exe
spybotsd14rc2.exe
spybotsd_includes.ece
spywareblastersetup34.exe
stinger.exe

the above (aside from the "folder within a folder) comprise the downloads
from the "old" tutorial, and I assume the above is what you want me to burn on a CD (within the laptop), and later placed in the CD-ROM drive in the desktop PC---correct ??

I have as installed (in programs) within the laptop, the following (or the following ONLY relevant to the "old" tutorial)

CCleaner
Lavasoft
Spybot-Search & Destroy
Spyware blaster

Lavasoft is (I guess) a combination of Ad-ware SE, and Ad-Aware VX2 Cleaner plug in

I was wrong re "scheduled tasks", ie nothing is/was in there (I had lookec at what I was ALLOWED to put in there)

I did not creatre a specific folder named major geeks DL (could always do that later), nor did I re-download on the stuff you posted a few postings ago (could also do that later)---I have NO (to my knowledge) files or folder ending in msi---I still don't know HOW to "unzip" that which must be "unzipped"

---problems with Netzero (but I'll "leave out" such now)---can't even "dial"
(I may have screwed up the NetZero connection hitting various "wrong buttons" within the past 18 hours)

 

adding, as a "double0checking" "tool", clicking on start, then clicking on control panel, then clicking on
add/remove programs, I "see" (relevant to all this)

Ad-Ware SE personal-----3.83 MB
AntiVir ----size not disclosed
CCleaner --1.14 MB
NetZero---.99 MB
Spybot- Search & Destroy 1.4RC2b----11.89 MB
Spyware blaster---V3.4---3.43 MB
VX2 cleaner plug-in for Ad-Aware SE----3.83 MB
Zone alarm---9,68 MB

so, I guess I've already installed that which is ncessary (re or in the laptop)

 

(sigh)
and I MAY have not installed the CORRECT NetZero program (??) in the laptop, as the desktop PC has version 7.0, and the laptop has version QS 7.0 (the QS meaning, I guess, "quick start")

 

Looks good, so far.

 

Wouldn't worry too much about it right now. If it is working fine we will leave it to last.

 

NetZero (re the laptop) is NOT "working fine", ie I can't connect with NetZero (can't get online with the laptop)---as I mentioned, I SUSPECT I clicked on or punched too many incorrect keys (re NetZero and the laptop)
---NetZero re the desktop PC appears to be working "almost fine"



OK---am I "ready" to burn that CD ?? and am I ready "to purge" (??) the laptop of any (or most) "crap" ??

jumping to something else (and posting this reminds me), I expect to receive, by snail mail and within the next ten (10) days, the LATEST
NetZero CD (re installing the proper software)---and I've also bought
those serial cables (for transferring files back and forth between the laptop and the desktop PC---I'm thinking of TRYING to transfer a COPY of the NetZero propgram FROM the desktop PC TO the laptop PC---AND transferring
a COPY of the Acrobat 5.0 FROM the laptop TO the desktop PC

I haven't found a way to drag and drop the Acrobat 5.0, in the laptop, INTO the laptop's window (or desktop)---when I burn stuff in/on or via the desktop PC I always make sure such is in a folder on the desktop PC's
window (or desktop)---whether or not I MUST do the latter is unknown (to me), BUT it/such "works"

perhaps (don't know) one can't burn FULL programs (say 15 MB in length) into CDs, OR burn installed "as is" programs into CDs ?? ?? I can't (and don't want to) burn too much stuff (into CDs) from the laptop, and because putting such a laptop generated CD INTO the CD ROM "slot" might result in
"wriong crap" being transferred FROM the laptop into the desktop PC

--the stuff I've burned into CDs (from the desktop PC), and "shoved" into the laptop, have ALWAYS been TIF image G4 compression files, ie copies of tax returns, newspaper articles, and stuff like that

 

As long as what you put on the CD is the stuff you downloaded you'll be fine.

As far as NetZero not working on the Laptop, need to get it working. You will need an internet connection to do a couple of the steps.

After we get things working the way they are supposed to, you should be able to update your computers, download Acrobat Reader or whatever.