Windows protection error. You need to restart your computer

This morning, after NO changes(no new hardware or software installed) to my
system yesterday, my Windows 98 machine (with all latest updates) comes up
with the error message above (as a DOS message) which halts the machine and
requires a reboot. It can then boot up properly in Safe Mode, but then on
normal restart comes up with the same error.

I then started from my Windows 98 start disk, then ran scanreg /fix --
received the following message: "Windows found an error in your system
files and was unable to fix the problem. Try deleting some files to free up
disk space on your Windows drive. If that doesn't work then you will need
to install windows to a new directory." (There are 4-5 GB of free disk
space.)

Running scanreg /restore to a previously good boot date results with the
same initial boot error after scanreg saying it successfully restored an
error-free registry.

Any ideas (remember I CAN get into safe mode)?

Thanks in advance,

Raul Freitas

Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/Darnit.htm
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm


Raul Freitas wrote:
This morning, after NO changes(no new hardware or software installed) to
my
system yesterday, my Windows 98 machine (with all latest updates) comes up
with the error message above (as a DOS message) which halts the machine
and
requires a reboot. It can then boot up properly in Safe Mode, but then on
normal restart comes up with the same error.

I then started from my Windows 98 start disk, then ran scanreg /fix --
received the following message: "Windows found an error in your system
files and was unable to fix the problem. Try deleting some files to free
up
disk space on your Windows drive. If that doesn't work then you will need
to install windows to a new directory." (There are 4-5 GB of free disk
space.)

Running scanreg /restore to a previously good boot date results with the
same initial boot error after scanreg saying it successfully restored an
error-free registry.

Any ideas (remember I CAN get into safe mode)?

Thanks in advance,

Raul Freitas

Thanks, but I update and run Spybot Search & Destroy regularly, have
immunized my systems, have up-to-date Norton Antivirus definintion files,
all MS security patches. This doesn't feel like spyware to me.

That said, I'll run Spybot in Safe Mode & see if it finds anything. Thank
you for your suggestions.

Raul
"PA Bear" wrote in message
...
Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/Darnit.htm
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm


Raul Freitas wrote:
This morning, after NO changes(no new hardware or software installed) to
my
system yesterday, my Windows 98 machine (with all latest updates) comes
up
with the error message above (as a DOS message) which halts the machine
and
requires a reboot. It can then boot up properly in Safe Mode, but then
on
normal restart comes up with the same error.

I then started from my Windows 98 start disk, then ran scanreg /fix --
received the following message: "Windows found an error in your system
files and was unable to fix the problem. Try deleting some files to
free
up
disk space on your Windows drive. If that doesn't work then you will
need
to install windows to a new directory." (There are 4-5 GB of free disk
space.)

Running scanreg /restore to a previously good boot date results with the
same initial boot error after scanreg saying it successfully restored an
error-free registry.

Any ideas (remember I CAN get into safe mode)?

Thanks in advance,

Raul Freitas

And Ad-aware SE? CWShredder v2.13?

Have you posted your HijackThis logs to an appropriate forum?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (Shell, IE/OE) & Security

Raul Freitas wrote:
Thanks, but I update and run Spybot Search & Destroy regularly, have
immunized my systems, have up-to-date Norton Antivirus definintion files,
all MS security patches. This doesn't feel like spyware to me.

That said, I'll run Spybot in Safe Mode & see if it finds anything. Thank
you for your suggestions.

Raul
"PA Bear" wrote in message
...
Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/Darnit.htm
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm


Raul Freitas wrote:
This morning, after NO changes(no new hardware or software installed) to
my
system yesterday, my Windows 98 machine (with all latest updates) comes
up
with the error message above (as a DOS message) which halts the machine
and
requires a reboot. It can then boot up properly in Safe Mode, but then
on
normal restart comes up with the same error.

I then started from my Windows 98 start disk, then ran scanreg /fix --
received the following message: "Windows found an error in your system
files and was unable to fix the problem. Try deleting some files to
free
up
disk space on your Windows drive. If that doesn't work then you will
need
to install windows to a new directory." (There are 4-5 GB of free disk
space.)

Running scanreg /restore to a previously good boot date results with the
same initial boot error after scanreg saying it successfully restored an
error-free registry.

Any ideas (remember I CAN get into safe mode)?

Thanks in advance,

Raul Freitas

Hello Robear,

Spybot came up with only 4 problems, fixed them, rebooted, same error
message. Ad-aware SE found many critical problems, I quarantined then
removed them, rebooted, same error message.

Will try CWShredder v2.13 & HijackThis -- where is an an appropriate forum
to post my Hijack this log? There are only 3 postings in the
microsoft.public.win98.scanreg newsgroup -- no one seems to be using that
newsgroup, which was the first place I looked for help.

I've never seen Spyware cause a problem like this (I'm a computer
consultant.) Am curious why you suspect spyware or hijacking.

Thanks again,

Raul Freitas
"PA Bear" wrote in message
...
And Ad-aware SE? CWShredder v2.13?

Have you posted your HijackThis logs to an appropriate forum?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (Shell, IE/OE) & Security

Raul Freitas wrote:
Thanks, but I update and run Spybot Search & Destroy regularly, have
immunized my systems, have up-to-date Norton Antivirus definintion
files,
all MS security patches. This doesn't feel like spyware to me.

That said, I'll run Spybot in Safe Mode & see if it finds anything.
Thank
you for your suggestions.

Raul
"PA Bear" wrote in message
...
Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/Darnit.htm
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm


Raul Freitas wrote:
This morning, after NO changes(no new hardware or software installed)
to
my
system yesterday, my Windows 98 machine (with all latest updates)
comes
up
with the error message above (as a DOS message) which halts the
machine
and
requires a reboot. It can then boot up properly in Safe Mode, but
then
on
normal restart comes up with the same error.

I then started from my Windows 98 start disk, then ran scanreg /fix --
received the following message: "Windows found an error in your
system
files and was unable to fix the problem. Try deleting some files to
free
up
disk space on your Windows drive. If that doesn't work then you will
need
to install windows to a new directory." (There are 4-5 GB of free
disk
space.)

Running scanreg /restore to a previously good boot date results with
the
same initial boot error after scanreg saying it successfully restored
an
error-free registry.

Any ideas (remember I CAN get into safe mode)?

Thanks in advance,

Raul Freitas

Oops, forgot to add that in Safe Mode, Scanregw.exe finds no problems with
the registry. (Continued)

Spybot came up with only 4 problems, fixed them, rebooted, same error
message. Ad-aware SE found many critical problems, I quarantined then
removed them, rebooted, same error message.

Will try CWShredder v2.13 & HijackThis -- where is an an appropriate forum
to post my Hijack this log? There are only 3 postings in the
microsoft.public.win98.scanreg newsgroup -- no one seems to be using that
newsgroup, which was the first place I looked for help.

I've never seen Spyware cause a problem like this (I'm a computer
consultant.) Am curious why you suspect spyware or hijacking.

Thanks again,

Raul Freitas
"PA Bear" wrote in message
...
And Ad-aware SE? CWShredder v2.13?

Have you posted your HijackThis logs to an appropriate forum?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (Shell, IE/OE) & Security

Raul Freitas wrote:
Thanks, but I update and run Spybot Search & Destroy regularly, have
immunized my systems, have up-to-date Norton Antivirus definintion
files,
all MS security patches. This doesn't feel like spyware to me.

That said, I'll run Spybot in Safe Mode & see if it finds anything.
Thank
you for your suggestions.

Raul
"PA Bear" wrote in message
...
Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/Darnit.htm
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm


Raul Freitas wrote:
This morning, after NO changes(no new hardware or software installed)
to
my
system yesterday, my Windows 98 machine (with all latest updates)
comes
up
with the error message above (as a DOS message) which halts the
machine
and
requires a reboot. It can then boot up properly in Safe Mode, but
then
on
normal restart comes up with the same error.

I then started from my Windows 98 start disk, then ran scanreg /fix --
received the following message: "Windows found an error in your
system
files and was unable to fix the problem. Try deleting some files to
free
up
disk space on your Windows drive. If that doesn't work then you will
need
to install windows to a new directory." (There are 4-5 GB of free
disk
space.)

Running scanreg /restore to a previously good boot date results with
the
same initial boot error after scanreg saying it successfully restored
an
error-free registry.

Any ideas (remember I CAN get into safe mode)?

Thanks in advance,

Raul Freitas

"PA Bear" wrote in message
...
And Ad-aware SE? CWShredder v2.13?

Have you posted your HijackThis logs to an appropriate forum?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (Shell, IE/OE) & Security

Raul Freitas wrote:
Thanks, but I update and run Spybot Search & Destroy regularly, have
immunized my systems, have up-to-date Norton Antivirus definintion
files,
all MS security patches. This doesn't feel like spyware to me.

That said, I'll run Spybot in Safe Mode & see if it finds anything.
Thank
you for your suggestions.

Raul
"PA Bear" wrote in message
...
Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/Darnit.htm
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm


Raul Freitas wrote:
This morning, after NO changes(no new hardware or software installed)
to
my
system yesterday, my Windows 98 machine (with all latest updates)
comes
up
with the error message above (as a DOS message) which halts the
machine
and
requires a reboot. It can then boot up properly in Safe Mode, but
then
on
normal restart comes up with the same error.

I then started from my Windows 98 start disk, then ran scanreg /fix --
received the following message: "Windows found an error in your
system
files and was unable to fix the problem. Try deleting some files to
free
up
disk space on your Windows drive. If that doesn't work then you will
need
to install windows to a new directory." (There are 4-5 GB of free
disk
space.)

Running scanreg /restore to a previously good boot date results with
the
same initial boot error after scanreg saying it successfully restored
an
error-free registry.

Any ideas (remember I CAN get into safe mode)?

Thanks in advance,

Raul Freitas

You may post your HT logs to http://forums.spywareinfo.com/,
http://castlecops.com/forum67.html or
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30 for expert analysis, not here, please.

Am curious why you suspect spyware or hijacking.

I don't necessarily suspect it (though it is the cause of most "all of a
sudden" problems) but I should think you would want to rule /out/ hijackware
before taking more drastic measures.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (Shell, IE/OE) & Security

Raul Freitas wrote:
Oops, forgot to add that in Safe Mode, Scanregw.exe finds no problems with
the registry. (Continued)

Spybot came up with only 4 problems, fixed them, rebooted, same error
message. Ad-aware SE found many critical problems, I quarantined then
removed them, rebooted, same error message.

Will try CWShredder v2.13 & HijackThis -- where is an an appropriate forum
to post my Hijack this log? There are only 3 postings in the
microsoft.public.win98.scanreg newsgroup -- no one seems to be using that
newsgroup, which was the first place I looked for help.

I've never seen Spyware cause a problem like this (I'm a computer
consultant.) Am curious why you suspect spyware or hijacking.

And Ad-aware SE? CWShredder v2.13?

Have you posted your HijackThis logs to an appropriate forum?
--
Raul Freitas wrote:
Thanks, but I update and run Spybot Search & Destroy regularly, have
immunized my systems, have up-to-date Norton Antivirus definintion
files,
all MS security patches. This doesn't feel like spyware to me.

That said, I'll run Spybot in Safe Mode & see if it finds anything.
Thank
you for your suggestions.

Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/Darnit.htm
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm

Raul Freitas wrote:
This morning, after NO changes(no new hardware or software installed) to my
system yesterday, my Windows 98 machine (with all latest updates) comes up
with the error message above (as a DOS message) which halts the machine and
requires a reboot. It can then boot up properly in Safe Mode, but then on
normal restart comes up with the same error.

I then started from my Windows 98 start disk, then ran scanreg /fix --
received the following message: "Windows found an error in your system
files and was unable to fix the problem. Try deleting some files to free up
disk space on your Windows drive. If that doesn't work then you will need
to install windows to a new directory." (There are 4-5 GB of free disk
space.)

Running scanreg /restore to a previously good boot date results with the
same initial boot error after scanreg saying it successfully restored an
error-free registry.

Any ideas (remember I CAN get into safe mode)?

[This post was cleaned by emailStripper, available for free from
http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm]

I'll try that. Thank you.

Raul Freitas
"PA Bear" wrote in message
...
You may post your HT logs to http://forums.spywareinfo.com/,
http://castlecops.com/forum67.html or
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30 for expert analysis, not here, please.

Am curious why you suspect spyware or hijacking.

I don't necessarily suspect it (though it is the cause of most "all of a
sudden" problems) but I should think you would want to rule /out/
hijackware
before taking more drastic measures.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (Shell, IE/OE) & Security

Raul Freitas wrote:
Oops, forgot to add that in Safe Mode, Scanregw.exe finds no problems
with
the registry. (Continued)

Spybot came up with only 4 problems, fixed them, rebooted, same error
message. Ad-aware SE found many critical problems, I quarantined then
removed them, rebooted, same error message.

Will try CWShredder v2.13 & HijackThis -- where is an an appropriate
forum
to post my Hijack this log? There are only 3 postings in the
microsoft.public.win98.scanreg newsgroup -- no one seems to be using
that
newsgroup, which was the first place I looked for help.

I've never seen Spyware cause a problem like this (I'm a computer
consultant.) Am curious why you suspect spyware or hijacking.

And Ad-aware SE? CWShredder v2.13?

Have you posted your HijackThis logs to an appropriate forum?
--
Raul Freitas wrote:
Thanks, but I update and run Spybot Search & Destroy regularly, have
immunized my systems, have up-to-date Norton Antivirus definintion
files,
all MS security patches. This doesn't feel like spyware to me.

That said, I'll run Spybot in Safe Mode & see if it finds anything.
Thank
you for your suggestions.

Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/Darnit.htm
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm

Raul Freitas wrote:
This morning, after NO changes(no new hardware or software installed) to
my
system yesterday, my Windows 98 machine (with all latest updates) comes up
with the error message above (as a DOS message) which halts the machine
and
requires a reboot. It can then boot up properly in Safe Mode, but then on
normal restart comes up with the same error.

I then started from my Windows 98 start disk, then ran scanreg /fix --
received the following message: "Windows found an error in your system
files and was unable to fix the problem. Try deleting some files to free
up
disk space on your Windows drive. If that doesn't work then you will need
to install windows to a new directory." (There are 4-5 GB of free disk
space.)

Running scanreg /restore to a previously good boot date results with the
same initial boot error after scanreg saying it successfully restored an
error-free registry.

Any ideas (remember I CAN get into safe mode)?

[This post was cleaned by emailStripper, available for free from
http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm]

Thank you both for this informative thread.

I have been having the same problem for quite some time now (I don't
remember how it started, either). It seems to occur while I leave my PC on
and unattended for a while, e.g. I leave it on when I go to sleep, and by the
time I come home from work the next day, it is off/shut-down, and rebooting
displays the same message Raul is getting "Windows Protection Error".

I can usually temporarily remedy the problem by restoring an old registry
backup, however, my problem with this is that (A) I seem to be unable to run
scanreg from within W98 (I click it from within MSINFO32 and nothing happens)
and (B) My routine, invisible registry backups handled by Windows always seem
to disappear; I always have to restore the backup from 9/2004 (!) which can
be rather annoying.

Raul, if you determine the cause of your problem, please contact me, as I'd
like to compare notes/solutions.

Thanks much,
dfg