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multiple problems with windows 98 after much money & time
i have several problems, some i've had for a while, some new, and need help
badly. 1.right after having my computer crash, and spending 200 to re-load and fix, i started getting a message about system ini files missing, and device files missing, which a come up each time i start. i have tried for months to fix this. when i posted here about it, i was swamped with viruses, and could never get these files back. it affects my ability to open certain programs, etc. 2. recently, using symantec, i was informed in ended up at an innocent looking site, that infected me with trojan start page virus (said it may be called something else now??) . symantec said it couldn't fix, repair, etc. and quarantined it along with the original files. i found them, with the prompt C:\WINDOWS\Temporary Internet Files\\Content.IE5\4VF3YWt5\file[1].dat. i found this file, and deleted what appeared to be copies of internet viewed files, and saved the one it said was a program file only, which i'm guessing is also altered. did i do the wrong thing? how do i restore the quarantined system file? i am at a loss, and afraid to even post. i've tried to speak to alan again, who helped me once, contacting him directly, and again was swamped with viruses in emails just from trying to contact him through microsoft personal directory?? how am i getting viruses sent to me just by sending direct emails to support personel? i'm not listing my current email address for fear of this as i had to change my address to stop it. i will bookmark this page and look for a reply...that's all i know to do. please include instructions for looking for a reply, hopefully from the very kind and helpful alan, without exposing my email for further problems. i do have the original windows 98 updated version. scan disc detects no problems after doing all this. the files i removed are still in my recycle bin if i need them. i'm also wondering how to avoid this since i NEVER opened any email. the instructions on symantec are too confusing! 3.i also am unable to download ANY updates...many people advised this can help in these situations....it says i need to be an administrator, and i spent hours trying to do this, only to get the message that i am unauthorized to even download updates from windows...is this normal? would that help? how do i get to be able to get these updates? 4.finally, how can i periodically get rid of my temporary internet files that contain sites visited? it doesn't take them off when emptying cookies? i really, really need help, as i depend on this computer, and am at a loss as to what to do. please include pointers in how i can read responses to this question, without listing my actual email address...i've posted it twice, and each time had to change my address because of all the viruses i started getting. help alan! jennifer |
#2
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"jennifer" wrote:
i have several problems, some i've had for a while, some new, and need help badly. Hi Jennifer. Your message would be a lot easier to read if you used proper capitalization and also broke it up into smaller paragraphs, especially the various questions you have asked. 1.right after having my computer crash, and spending 200 to re-load and fix, i started getting a message about system ini files missing, and device files missing, which a come up each time i start. i have tried for months to fix this. when i posted here about it, i was swamped with viruses, and could never get these files back. it affects my ability to open certain programs, etc. You *must* have an antivirus program installed if you are going to be using the Internet or email; and you *must* keep it constantly updated. An antivirus program that has not been updated with the past week is seriously weakened and if it is a month or more out of date then it is worse than useless because you think you have protection but you really don't. 2. recently, using symantec, i was informed in ended up at an innocent looking site, that infected me with trojan start page virus (said it may be called something else now??) . symantec said it couldn't fix, repair, etc. and quarantined it along with the original files. i found them, with the prompt C:\WINDOWS\Temporary Internet Files\\Content.IE5\4VF3YWt5\file[1].dat. i found this file, and deleted what appeared to be copies of internet viewed files, and saved the one it said was a program file only, which i'm guessing is also altered. did i do the wrong thing? how do i restore the quarantined system file? i am at a loss, and afraid to even post. i've tried to speak to alan again, who helped me once, contacting him directly, and again was swamped with viruses in emails just from trying to contact him through microsoft personal directory?? how am i getting viruses sent to me just by sending direct emails to support personel? i'm not listing my current email address for fear of this as i had to change my address to stop it. i will bookmark this page and look for a reply...that's all i know to do. please include instructions for looking for a reply, hopefully from the very kind and helpful alan, without exposing my email for further problems. i do have the original windows 98 updated version. scan disc detects no problems after doing all this. the files i removed are still in my recycle bin if i need them. i'm also wondering how to avoid this since i NEVER opened any email. the instructions on symantec are too confusing! Anything and everything in the Temporary Internet Files folder is perfectly safe to delete and you should do so whenever you suspect any sort of problems with the computer. You should also delete everything in the \Windows\Temp folder on a fairly regular basis, but only do so immediately after the computer has been booted up. Many viruses pretend to be emails from antivirus software companies and/or various support sites (including Microsoft). Be very suspicious of anything that comes in an email with a file attached to it. And again, make sure your antivirus software is fully up to date at all times. I have mine set to check for new updates on a daily basis. 3.i also am unable to download ANY updates...many people advised this can help in these situations....it says i need to be an administrator, and i spent hours trying to do this, only to get the message that i am unauthorized to even download updates from windows...is this normal? would that help? how do i get to be able to get these updates? It sounds very much as if your computer is infested with a virus and/or spyware. Download AdAware (free) from http://www.lavasoft.de and install it. Let it do both the update and the full system scan which it will want to do when the install is completed. Anything and everything that AdAware identifies as a problem should be removed, and the program will do this for you. If you are unable to download AdAware or have problems installing it post a response back here with this information and we will try something else. 4.finally, how can i periodically get rid of my temporary internet files that contain sites visited? it doesn't take them off when emptying cookies? Open Control Panel - Internet Options and click on the "Delete Files" button on the General tab. In the Delete Files window click on the checkbox for "Delete all offline content" to select it and then click on OK. i really, really need help, as i depend on this computer, and am at a loss as to what to do. please include pointers in how i can read responses to this question, without listing my actual email address...i've posted it twice, and each time had to change my address because of all the viruses i started getting. help alan! jennifer Good luck Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada -- Microsoft MVP On-Line Help Computer Service http://onlinehelp.bc.ca "The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much." |
#3
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multiple problems with windows 98 after much money & time
"jennifer" wrote:
i have several problems, some i've had for a while, some new, and need help badly. Hi Jennifer. Your message would be a lot easier to read if you used proper capitalization and also broke it up into smaller paragraphs, especially the various questions you have asked. 1.right after having my computer crash, and spending 200 to re-load and fix, i started getting a message about system ini files missing, and device files missing, which a come up each time i start. i have tried for months to fix this. when i posted here about it, i was swamped with viruses, and could never get these files back. it affects my ability to open certain programs, etc. You *must* have an antivirus program installed if you are going to be using the Internet or email; and you *must* keep it constantly updated. An antivirus program that has not been updated with the past week is seriously weakened and if it is a month or more out of date then it is worse than useless because you think you have protection but you really don't. 2. recently, using symantec, i was informed in ended up at an innocent looking site, that infected me with trojan start page virus (said it may be called something else now??) . symantec said it couldn't fix, repair, etc. and quarantined it along with the original files. i found them, with the prompt C:\WINDOWS\Temporary Internet Files\\Content.IE5\4VF3YWt5\file[1].dat. i found this file, and deleted what appeared to be copies of internet viewed files, and saved the one it said was a program file only, which i'm guessing is also altered. did i do the wrong thing? how do i restore the quarantined system file? i am at a loss, and afraid to even post. i've tried to speak to alan again, who helped me once, contacting him directly, and again was swamped with viruses in emails just from trying to contact him through microsoft personal directory?? how am i getting viruses sent to me just by sending direct emails to support personel? i'm not listing my current email address for fear of this as i had to change my address to stop it. i will bookmark this page and look for a reply...that's all i know to do. please include instructions for looking for a reply, hopefully from the very kind and helpful alan, without exposing my email for further problems. i do have the original windows 98 updated version. scan disc detects no problems after doing all this. the files i removed are still in my recycle bin if i need them. i'm also wondering how to avoid this since i NEVER opened any email. the instructions on symantec are too confusing! Anything and everything in the Temporary Internet Files folder is perfectly safe to delete and you should do so whenever you suspect any sort of problems with the computer. You should also delete everything in the \Windows\Temp folder on a fairly regular basis, but only do so immediately after the computer has been booted up. Many viruses pretend to be emails from antivirus software companies and/or various support sites (including Microsoft). Be very suspicious of anything that comes in an email with a file attached to it. And again, make sure your antivirus software is fully up to date at all times. I have mine set to check for new updates on a daily basis. 3.i also am unable to download ANY updates...many people advised this can help in these situations....it says i need to be an administrator, and i spent hours trying to do this, only to get the message that i am unauthorized to even download updates from windows...is this normal? would that help? how do i get to be able to get these updates? It sounds very much as if your computer is infested with a virus and/or spyware. Download AdAware (free) from http://www.lavasoft.de and install it. Let it do both the update and the full system scan which it will want to do when the install is completed. Anything and everything that AdAware identifies as a problem should be removed, and the program will do this for you. If you are unable to download AdAware or have problems installing it post a response back here with this information and we will try something else. 4.finally, how can i periodically get rid of my temporary internet files that contain sites visited? it doesn't take them off when emptying cookies? Open Control Panel - Internet Options and click on the "Delete Files" button on the General tab. In the Delete Files window click on the checkbox for "Delete all offline content" to select it and then click on OK. i really, really need help, as i depend on this computer, and am at a loss as to what to do. please include pointers in how i can read responses to this question, without listing my actual email address...i've posted it twice, and each time had to change my address because of all the viruses i started getting. help alan! jennifer Good luck Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada -- Microsoft MVP On-Line Help Computer Service http://onlinehelp.bc.ca "The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much." |
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