Windows won't start, be a hero & help

Hi, I'm trying to help an elderly neighbor who's having
some problems with her 5 or 6 yr old Gateway.

Windows came up with the error STCLOADER.exe appears to be
corrupt. (modify date is 8/4/04)Re-install the file. Her
computer was running extremely slowly. It took about 8
minutes to boot. She had about 65% free resources.

What I did
I basically just looked around. Freed up some resources by
closing some start up programs.

I tried running Windows Explorer. It wouldn't run. I
assumed STCLOADER has something to do with loading
programs.

She doesn't have a startup disk.

I inserted her System Recovery disk. I tried to browse the
CD but the browse function wouldn't work. I was hoping to
find a copy of STCLOADER.

Removed the CD. Restarted the computer.

What happens now
1) Windows 98 appears to start.
2) No desktop instead dos prompt
3) typing EXIT or WIN at the prompt & these 3 steps repeat.

I have no idea why Windows is going to a DOS prompt.

I tried inserting the System Recovery CD hoping to re-
install Windows. I typed SETUP. I get an error message.
Can't run setup from DOS.

I'm at a loss. I'd like to get her going again. She has a
very small income & can't afford to pay for tech support.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

PS. I kinda suspect a virus for the corrupted exe. Her
grandson was the last person to use the computer (online)
before her problems began.

Doris wrote:
Hi, I'm trying to help an elderly neighbor who's having
some problems with her 5 or 6 yr old Gateway.

Windows came up with the error STCLOADER.exe appears to be
corrupt. (modify date is 8/4/04)Re-install the file. Her
computer was running extremely slowly. It took about 8
minutes to boot. She had about 65% free resources.

What I did
I basically just looked around. Freed up some resources by
closing some start up programs.

I tried running Windows Explorer. It wouldn't run. I
assumed STCLOADER has something to do with loading
programs.

She doesn't have a startup disk.

I inserted her System Recovery disk. I tried to browse the
CD but the browse function wouldn't work. I was hoping to
find a copy of STCLOADER.

Removed the CD. Restarted the computer.

What happens now
1) Windows 98 appears to start.
2) No desktop instead dos prompt
3) typing EXIT or WIN at the prompt & these 3 steps repeat.

I have no idea why Windows is going to a DOS prompt.

I tried inserting the System Recovery CD hoping to re-
install Windows. I typed SETUP. I get an error message.
Can't run setup from DOS.

I'm at a loss. I'd like to get her going again. She has a
very small income & can't afford to pay for tech support.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

PS. I kinda suspect a virus for the corrupted exe. Her
grandson was the last person to use the computer (online)
before her problems began.

Hi Doris,

STCLOADER is an adware-malware file that is causing the problem.

Download, install, update and then scan with Ad-Aware.(It's free.)

I would run it with the computer in safe mode. Choose the full system
scan, not the smart scan.

Download Ad-Aware he http://www.lavasoft.de

Remove all the entries it considers "critical". Don't worry about the
negligible risk items.
Post back if you need more help.

Also, you can get her a free anti-virus program he
http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php

MM

Forgot to tell you, try using win /wx at the DOS prompt. (Leave a space
between win and /wx.)

Or, to get into safe mode, repeatedly tap F8 at boot, before the Windows
logo appears. The Startup Menu should appear, select safe mode from the
list.

Use another computer to download Ad-Aware; you can also download the
newest reference file and manually place it in the folder C:\Program
Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware SE Personal after it is installed.

MM

-----Original Message-----
Forgot to tell you, try using win /wx at the DOS prompt.
(Leave a space
between win and /wx.)

Or, to get into safe mode, repeatedly tap F8 at boot,
before the Windows
logo appears. The Startup Menu should appear, select safe
mode from the
list.

Use another computer to download Ad-Aware; you can also
download the
newest reference file and manually place it in the folder
C:\Program
Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware SE Personal after it is installed.

MM
.
Hi MM,
Thanks for the help & info. Just spoke with my neighbor.
I'll do as you recommend (tomorrow, late here now). I'll
post & let you know how we make out. Once again, thank you!