[Fishermatt202]

I am having serious trouble with my Internet Explorer. Let me tell you what is going on. I have a laptop with wireless internet connection and I have an ethernet port I use too. Every time I click on the Internet Explorer icon on the desktop (or anywhere else at that) it says that it needs to close down because an error has occurred. This message comes up just as soon as I click on my icon. The window comes up and says it is detecting proxy server, but that is all it does. It was working fine until I tried to download something (which didn't even work by the way :mad: ) and it just messed up my internet explorer as soon as it finished. It was like I was downloading a virus. Anyway, I have tried everything. I have uninstalled all the Internet Explorers I have on the control panel in the Add/Remove programs icon. I have installed Windows 98 se multiple times (about 6 times) and nothing has changed. Everything I have done has completely messed up my files so now I will do ANYTHING to fix it. I will even wipe out my whole hard disk (if anyone knows how to do it). If anyone has any ideas on what to do please don't hesitate to provide any information. I will try anything. Thank you for any information. Like I said before, I think I have a virus, but if wiping my whole hard disk clean will help that I will do that. Thank you.

[RickJ]

I worry a bit when I hear "I have uninstalled all the Internet Explorers I have on the control panel in the Add/Remove programs icon." I'm not sure that gives you a clean uninstall of IE.

Yes, formatting your hard drive should solve the issue; and I would suggest doing so if you can easily save your data first.

If that's the case, here's a walk-through of formatting and reinstalling Win98se: http://www.denison.edu/computing/dol...owsformat.html

[fredg]

HI,
I also use Win98SE; and before you reformat, there are a couple of things you can try first. This could take some trouble shooting.
Do you have an antivirus program? If so, please start up into Safe Mode, by pressing F8 when you boot up, and run a virus scan.
If it doesn't find anything, I would then run the Scandisk, Scanreg /fix, and Defrag. This will run the Microsoft Registry Repair tool, and Defrag the hard drive. Sometimes, Defrag has to be run ever 6 weeks or so.
I would also make a floppy boot disk, if you don't already have one.
Here are steps:

Registry Repair should be done whenever there are problems:

To Repair the Registery:
Turn off the computer; or reboot; then immediately press F8, (or, could be F5) located on top of the keyboard. Keep it pressed down (or release and press, release and press) until an options window comes up, then release it.
(If F8 or F5 doesn't work, then re-boot, and immediately press down the CTRL key, hold down until it comes up to the options screen).
Use the up and down arrow keys on the keyboard to select "Command Prompt Only".
Press Enter
You will now see C:\>
Type in SCANDISK , all small letters, and it will look like:
C:\scandisk , then press Enter. Takes about 5 min. maybe.
When finished:
Type in SCANREG /FIX (there is a space between the G and the / ).
You will now see C:\>SCANREG /FIX
Press Enter
This will take about 5 minutes or so.
When finished, press Enter for OK.
Manually, turn off the computer, wait a few seconds, the turn it back on.
If you don't have the "Command Prompt Only" option, then re-boot the computer normally.
Go to Start/ShutDown, then choose "restart in ms-dos mode".
It will come up to C:\windows.
Type in CD C:\
It will look like C:\windows CD C:\
Press Enter.
It will then be at the C\:> prompt.
Continue with the above.
When it returns to the C:\> prompt, then manually turn off the computer, and turn it back on.

Win98/98SE Regular Maintenance
All of these should be run whenever Win98/98SE starts giving problems. It will keep the computer running smoothly.

Before doing any of the following; turn off wallpaper and screensavers before re-starting or re-booting the computer.

Safe Mode is best where indicated, because most programs are not running meaning their files are closed, or not in use. This allows them to be scanned much better, repaired, or defragged better.

1. Scandisk
Start in Safe Mode by:
Re-boot the computer, and immediately after starting up, Press and hold down (or press and release, press and release,) F8, at top of keypad.
When the options show on the screen, use the up and down arrow keys on the keyboard to select
"Safe Mode".
Press Enter
After it boots to Safe Mode, go to Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools, and click on Scandisk. Yes, run Scandisk again.
(It is faster if set on "Standard", the "Thorough" usually is not needed and takes a long, long time).
Click on "Start" and let it run until finished.

2. Defrag
When Scandisk is finished, click on "Close".
Now, go back to the same place, but this time, click on "Defrag".
Click on OK, and wait until it finishes (might take 1 hour if not done within a month).
After it finishes, Click on OK or whatever.
Then, re-boot.

The following Boot Disk has to be done only one time.

Also, a "must have" is a Boot Disk, for Win98/98SE. One never knows when the computer might not load windows and go to the desktop... it does happen.

Here are steps to make one:

Insert the Win98/98SE CD in the CD-ROM drive.
Go to Start/Programs/Windows Explorer
Double click on D:/ , if that is your CD-ROM drive letter.
Find and open the folder; Tools/Mtsutil/Fat32ebd (stands for Emergency Boot Disk)
Double click on the file Fat32ebd.exe and follow the instructions to create the Boot Disk.
Then remove the CD from the CD-ROM.

Now, we must test the Boot Disk to see if it works.
Shut down the computer; then turn it back on with the Boot Disk still in the computer.
When a screen comes up, use the up and down arrows on the keyboard to select "Boot with CD-ROM support". Then press Enter.
It will show some things about the computer, and then come up to the A:\> prompt.
Now, insert a CD (any will do) into the CD-ROM.
Wait until it "spins" and the light goes off.
Now, at the A:\> prompt, type in DIR D:
It will now look like A:\>DIR D:
It should show all the files on the CD.
If so, the Boot Disk is good. If NOT, repeat all the above.
If it's good, then remove the CD, manually turn off the computer, and remove the Boot Disk. Turn on the computer and it's ready to go.

All the above shouldn't take more than maybe 1 1/2 hours. If you successfully do the above, and it still doesn't work, then try re-installing IE6, if that's what you use. Post back if you steps on how to do that.