Task Bar Blank (Screen Saver) Button

Since you're running Win98, go to MSConfig.exe (you can access it by hitting the start button, go to the run command, and typing msconfig at the prompt). Once you're there, look for a tab called startup. This lists all programs that are starting up automatically in your system. Make a list of each one and its file location. It may be a bit tedious, but for each file name that you see, go to a site like google.com and enter that file name in the search engine. Chances are, if it's a legitimate program, you'll see references to that. However, if it's malicious, you'll know right off the bat. Once you've determined what each file does, uncheck unnecessary ones. Good luck.

Marvin

Depending on what screen saver app you are running, you may recieve screen saver application pop-ups when you suspend the ss with a mouse move or kb punch. In my office, quite often I will go to a user's desk and find that when suspending the screensaver, there is a small window with or without a button. AFAIK, this is unrelated to any virus we have encountered thus far - and with users like mine, we get them all... /me wishes he could enforce a decent security policy, but he digresses.

To sum up, external SS apps often have a dialog box with an OK after interrupting the SS. It is not unusual, particularly with packages like WebShots. If NAV is not turning up anything, no more concern is warranted.

These are simply a left over from the screen saver running, nothing to worry about really. They just "eat up" system resources. For some reason, 98SE has this problem with releasing the resources after going to screen saver mode. You may try lookingat MS's site to see if there is a fix, but I don't believe there is one. However, once you click on these blanks, the resouces are released.

Hope this helps,
Ray