Anyone re-installed Windows before?

[littlesista06]

Can you really mess your stuff up? I know everything that's not saved to a floppy will be lost. I'll save my address book and junk like that, but I don't have that much of importance on here.

I've gotten rid of the stupid worm I had and found I had a virus, but have gotten rid of that too. I just can't get "Explore" on my Start menu to work. I keep getting and "illegal function" message. Dh wants to wipe out Windows and re-install (you use your Restore disks, right?). I'm leary as I'm not THAT educated in computers.

[KarlaB]

We have had someone do it for us before and my bil just did it for my mom. As long as you have all of your discs to re-load stuff you should be okay. I really want to do ours, but like you am leary - would rather have someone do it for me since I am pretty computer illiterate and dh is even worse. He works on a Mac at school and rarely uses our computer at home ~ and when he does he is asking me of all people questions. LOL Good luck!

[darlene]

Jen... I showed this message to dh and he wants to know what you mean by explorer...windows or internet?

He is the computer whiz, so he may be able to talk you through it!

:)

[littlesista06]

Darlene, explore in Windows. When I right click on "start" down on my taskbar, I try to go to "explore" and get the illegal function message.
Also, if I left click on "start", then "settings", I can't get into my control panel either. I get the illegal function message there too. (I can use "favorites", "documents" and "programs").

Thanks for telling your dh, maybe he'll have a clue what my problem is. lol

[AnnW]

Sounds like you still have the virus. Does your operating system have any kind of restore feature? You may need to disable that and then run your virus scan again.

You are wanting to reformat. I usually call Gateway and they walk me through it. You need to make sure you have all your system cd's, internet ect.

[darlene]

Darlene, explore in Windows. When I right click on "start" down on my taskbar, I try to go to "explore" and get the illegal function message.
Also, if I left click on "start", then "settings", I can't get into my control panel either. I get the illegal function message there too. (I can use "favorites", "documents" and "programs").

Thanks for telling your dh, maybe he'll have a clue what my problem is. lol

What version of windows is it?

[littlesista06]

Darlene, it's Windows 98.
Ann, all my scans say I'm clean of worms and viruses.

[AnnW]

Darlene, it's Windows 98.
Ann, all my scans say I'm clean of worms and viruses.

did you disable system recovery first?

this is a really good cleaner/scanner that I use as a backup to McAfee
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

[littlesista06]

No, I don't know how to do that.

[AnnW]

It doesn't tell you how to do it in your help files?

[darlene]

Darlene, it's Windows 98.
Ann, all my scans say I'm clean of worms and viruses.

The problem is most likely inh your system.ini file. The virus may have modified that. Go to Start->Run and type in sysedit.exe. This program will help you modify your file.

In the [boot] section of your system.ini file there should be a line with "drivers=mmsystem.dll" if that is missing, you will need to put it back in.

Good luck.
Doug

[littlesista06]

Whoaaaa! That freaked me out! I did what you said Doug (which THANKS, by the way!) and I had about 5 windows pop up on top of one another.

I did have the systemini window and I see the driver you mentioned: drivers=mmsystem.dll power.drv
So, I guess I don't have to do anything to it...... I'm ready to drop this thing off with a guru and let them figure it out. I don't know what do to anymore.

Darlene, thanks so much for sharing my trouble with your dear dear hubby!

[darlene]

Too bad you didn't live closer and I could just send him over. :lol:

Hope you can get it fixed. :banghead:

:)

[littlesista06]

I FIXED IT! I FIXED IT! I FIXED IT!

No need to re-install Windows, yay!! I cleaned out the bugs, got some spyware and adware junk and now I can go anywhere and do anything! Yahooooo!!!!!!

Thanks all for the info, advice and tips!! :)

[AnnW]

Yea!!! What fixed it?

[littlesista06]

I'm guessing getting the spyware off.