WINDOWS 98 TURNED INTO A SNAIL 1

[ScotsLass]

I HAVE A WINDOWS 98 COMPUTER THAT WAS WORKING FINE LAST
WEEK. SINCE FRIDAY, IT HAS TAKEN ON THE FEATURES OF A SNAIL.
I HAVE DONE A CHKDSK AND DEFRAG. I HAVE RUN SEVERAL NAV'S
AND CLEANED OUT THE TEMP FILES. WHEN WIN98 LOADS IT LOSES
THE START KEY WHEN PRESSED TWICE. ANYBODY GOT ANY IDEAS?
CAN I JUST LOAD WIN98 AGAIN? WINDOWS EXPLORER SEEMS TO
BE IN A BAD WAY AND WON'T LOAD AS QUICKLY AS IT USUALLY
DID. IT ALSO LOSES THE SMALL ICONS FROM THE TASKBAR.

 

[Rob2806]

Do the usual things first

Up to date Virus Check
Spyware check
run msconfig
do a step by step confirmation to find out if something is taking a long time to load.

Then start looking to do the hard things.

 

[ski]

D/L either Ad-aware or Spybot, and remove any spyware.

Also, did you update your AV with the latest files before searching for a virus?

 

[ScotsLass]

Tried all your suggestions, but still having the following problems.
1) The Start button will not work when I click it.
2) Windows Explorer will not respond even when I right-click and
try to use the "open" function.
3) The taskbar loads and then disappears.

Other icons work fine when I click them. In safe mode everything
works, the start button, windows explorer and the taskbar loads.

 

[ski]

It appears that there's a software conflict in the normal mode. Do a clean boot to troubleshoot it:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q192926

If that does not work, then reinstall Windows over itself.

If still no luck, then back up all critical files, reformat the HD, and do a clean Windows install.

 

[Rob2806]

As everything is OK in safemode then I would suggest that you run msconfig and go through the startup programs and do trial and error to find out if a specific program is being loaded that is causing your problems.

you also have the option in there on the general tab of a diagnostic startup.

 

[ScotsLass]

Thanks for the tips. I tried to reinstall Windows98 over itself and it would
not let me. Is there a secret to doing this? This seems to be the most
logical way out since I have tried almost everything else.

 

[ski]

Check here:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;250928&Product=w98

 

[mpnut]

When you say it won't let you, what do you mean? Do you get a message the Windows has detected an OS and can't continue?

 

[ScotsLass]

Thanks to everyone who responded to my plight. I reinstalled win98
over the existing one and everything works fine now. Special thanks
to SKI who suggested the reinstall.

 

[ski]

You're welcome, ScotsLass.
Glad to hear that your system is running normally again.
And thanks for posting back with the solution.

 

[runas]

In addition to all of the above on FDISK/mbr,Format, etc.After you format and install win98 you might want to use the excellent(IMHO) Ieradicate program found here:

http://www.litepc.com/download.html

before you re-install IE 5.5.(or any other IE addon)