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Windows 98 ca't run much

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18 replies

by grim509

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Hello, I just got a hand me down computer with window 98 on it. I don't need to do much with it, so I don't need it to be perfect. But the problem is, I can't do hardly ANYTHING with it. I've ran scandisk and defragmenter, and everything shows up fine. But anytime I try to open "my computer" or anything else that would require explorer, the computer locks up. I would like to just redo the puter, but I didn't get any startup or boot disks, or even the windows 98 CD. What can I do to get this to just run the couple of programs I need?
(I get no error when trying to open explorer, it just doesn't do anything. When I go to program manager Explorer will end up showing Not Responding. my guess is, that the folks i got the computer from cleaned out all personal stuff from the computer, they may have removed some important files.)

18 replies

by tig2

Try downloading and installing a Mozilla browser and leave IE alone.

There is a Linux distro called PCLOS that might be helpful for you. It is resource light and easy to understand. Looks and feels just like Windows.

Finally- since Win98 is out of support, you can find full versions of it easily. They are generally very inexpensive. But that will give you the resource media at hand if the computer goes haywire.

Good luck!

by older mycroft

Try this link:

http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Utilities/Explorer_Replacements/2xExplorer.html

Clearly with Explorer not working, some critical system file(s) have been corrupted/removed.

2xExplorer is a Windows Explorer replacement - favoured by many (including me!) because it allows you to view TWO directories simultaneously instead of Windows Explorer's ONE directory.

Once you have it installed it works completely independantly of Windows, so should serve your needs.

Let me know if it works.

by jdclyde

How much free space do you have on your HD?

How much RAM do you have?

Have you run your antivirus/spyware scans?

Does it lock up if you try explorer in safe mode?

by older mycroft

...mainly because whenever it WOULD happen, I get a bright orange message telling me that "[u]the entry has not been submitted because it is a duplicate of your last post[/u]"

I'll try to take a snapshot of it the next time for you! :D

by grim509

Safe mode... man, i'm retarded sometimes. lol. nah, actually i haven't had a chance yet, I just got it and have been trying to run scan disk and defragmenter to clean it up a bit and see if everything's still good on it.

As far as HD free space, if i remember right, there's still several gigs left at least 10 of 20 GB. I'm running 528 RAM
I haven't been able to run the anti virus that's on it.

I can't update any anti-virus or replace explorer, cuz I can't even open "my computer" or any of the drives to load anything from them. I guess I'll either have to buy a new copy of 98 or a newer version of windows or try a boot disk. Anyone know where I can download a good boot disk? I can't make one from the control panel, cuz that won't open either.

But I still have yet to try safe mode. I've only had one day to work on this puter so far and as I said earlier, it took FOREVER to run scandisk and defrag. lol

It doesn't need to be much, as this computer will be solely for running the controller for my xmas light display.

by jdclyde

How much free space do you have on your HD?

How much RAM do you have?

Have you run your antivirus/spyware scans?

Does it lock up if you try explorer in safe mode?

by tig2

You are littering the thread.

Stop that!

I know. It is annoying. Make sure that you are communicating what you are seeing. I know they slapped a patch in last night.

And change your shirt! Don't you have anything more festive? It's Christmas time after all!

:x

by older mycroft

Mind you, the British Army wore bright red uniforms back in the days of the Boer War for just that reason. The uniforms didn't show up where soldiers had been shot!

Wasn't good for morale you know, "just not tennis!"

by jdclyde

Is that festive enough? :x

as for the litter, the page came to one of the MANY TR error pages, so I refreshed. That was enough for a double post.... :(

by jdclyde

and it is a good thing to keep from an accidental double post.

In my case, I hit the submit and ended up on a page not found TR error page (seeing a lot of them lately). I hit refresh and got to where I am now..... :p

by older mycroft

Then when you get hit with the TR error page, the left hand side button takes you back to your entry page. From whence you doth hit 'Submit' once more...

'Hark the herald angels sing
TR is doubling all JD's bling' :D

by tig2

Hard times in TR alley.

Franky I figured you would go for the cat with the extended mid digit. But that might be more Neil's style. Merry F'ing Christmas and all.

Pretty easy to put a Santa hat on that cat!

:x !

by jdclyde

The two little bears are the ones I got the boys to give to girlfriends as gifts and the other is my tree decoration.

They are all on the tree, and was the closest I could come to holiday right now.

I DID look at the digit cat though.... :p

by grim509

Well, I got explorer to work, but I'm still having a few issues. I get an error "oleaut32.dll file cannot start"

deciding to nearly give up on 98, i decided to try to install windows xp, and i get "the file c:\windows\winnt.32adll could not be loadedor is corrupt. Setup cannot continue."

I tried running a 98 boot disk already and i'm still getting nowhere.

by thumbsup2

You said you had a hand-me-down computer. Is it possible to contact the people who gave it to you and ask for the disks and manuals (which include the 98 COA) that go with the computer? After all, they have no use for it.

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