Windows 98 Will Not Come Up!

[Lanypoo]

I had my computer custom built 3 years ago, and had Windows 98 installed on it. I haven't had any problems with the computer until recently. Last Thursday, I turned on my computer, and it acted like I just installed Windows 98. It asked me for my name and company, then to read and agree to the user agreement

Finally, it asked for my Windows 98 Authentication code. That is the tricky part. I don't have the authentication code. I lost a few disks and handbooks when I moved overseas. There is the 1-800-RU-LEGIT but not sure they will even be able to help me.

Is there any hope? I'd greatly appreciate any tips you can offer me. Thanks!

 

[cdogg]

Windows 98 should not have had any automatic prompt to have you call a number. I would bet that it's a scam of some sort, and that you're likely infected with some sort of virus, trojan, or spyware.

It would be best to try booting in safe mode running a full antivirus scan. But if you can't even get in that way, you might be hosed. Of course, the only way to start over with a clean install would be to have the windows key, which you could get from the registry if you can get access to it.

~cdogg
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[edfair]

This is probably a sign of registry damamge in the area where the CDKEY and serial number is stored.
You might be able to restore to the backup registry and get it back up.
Or possibly get into the floppy based command prompt and use find on the several registry files to locate it:
c:\windows\command\find "ProductKey" c:\windows\system.dat
or the backup file system.da0

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[micker377]

Article on one of the newest scams out there:

http://www.winxpnews.com/rd/rd.cfm?id=050301SE-Scam_Copy&mid=1852032138248034

It's about a "fake" Windows message.