System Restoration CD

I have inherited my daughter's old computer which we purchased in 1999 from CompUSA. It runs Windows 98 SE.

Simply speaking, the computer is clogged with a lot of junk left over from old programs and files, etc. and overall it slows the computer's operation down. When we purchased the PC, it came with a "System Restoration CD" which a friend told me was pretty easy to use. He said it would restore the original program that came when the machine was new. He said I should go this route since I'd never run the system restore program. I know afterwards I'll need to update windows and install all the protective software on it (like firewall, anti-virus, Ad-aware, SpywareGuard, etc.), but that seems like a good plan of attack. First, I would ask you guys if YOU think that's a good route to go. I've already copied all my important files to CD. If it's not the best route, what would you suggest? I've come to you guys for help before, and you've always steered me right.

Second, if you were to agree it's a good way to go, I seem to have a problem in running the Restoration CD. I'm able to start the program at startup in the CD drive, and it goes through all the first phases. It asks me if I'm sure I want to erase all the files on my hard drive, and then makes me agree to all the terms by pressing any key. Then the software's front page comes up. (I don't know the real term for this, but it's the color nicely designed page that you normally see when software starts up.) Again, it asks if I want to continue. I click yes. The screen turns green and I get the hour glass. Here's where the problem arises. First, I get an error box that says: Error File # 1810 -- Image File Could Not Be Opened. I click OK, and then the screen goes black and I get the following: Remove This CD and Reset Power. Below that wording appears the following ---- A:\>

I guess the bottom line is I don't know what the error message is telling me and what I should do about it other than continue my effort to restore the system. Finally, I'm clueless about what the phrase about resetting the power means and what is supposed to be entered at what I guess is a prompt.

Not being able to proceed, I'm able to do the Control ALT Delete thing and restart the computer normally. Everything works fine...well, like it did before, so I must not have gotten to the "erasing" part.

Does anybody have any insights into all this? I'd welcome your thoughts on running the "system restoration cd" as opposed to other ways to accomplish the goal of getting rid of the 'JUNK," along with advice and guidance on the other if I should proceed with system restoration.

Thanks in advance for any assistance. Oh, and a warning upfront, my knowledge of computers is not too extensive at all, so I may need to come back and ask for clarification on some advice you give. Please be patient, okay?

BeenBit

 

Hiya BeenBit,

If I were you I would be inclined to keep things simple to start with. You don't say whether you have Internet access, if you have, D/L some Security to start with i.e....AVG...Agnitum Outpost Firewall...Spybot S&D...Adaware..ALL Free....Open them, Update and Run them. Then I would D/L 'Regseeker' and let it 'Clean the Registry' and Delete everything it finds (theres a built-in Backup just in case) but I don't think it will find anything worth Keeping..Then go to Programmes and get rid of anything of no consequence to you with ADD/Remove in Control Panel......and see if your 98se runs any better. These are just some little things you can try before you start getting drastic.... . I personally don't think that Re-installing....Re-Formatting or Re-anything is always the answer.....If it ain't totally kn******d.....'Tinker'..

I Hope I haven't stated the obvious here...

Cochise,

 

Hi BeenBit!

I agree with Cochise, try all that he told you first, those three 'R's' that a lot of people do as easy as turning on their computer - most of them already know alot about computers or have the time to mess with them!

Take the simple way first, I have an old computer with 98 on it- running the security progs, defragging and just generally cleaning it out usually gets it back up to speed.

Also, I have never heard of System Restore on my 98? Is your friend certain about that? Mine wasn't new, it was kind of cobbled together, so that could be why I don't have the CD or the program.

Good Luck!!
Marja

 

Thanks Cochise and Marja!

I'll take your advice and try the things you've suggested. I do have internet access, although for broadband it's pretty slow.** Just to let you know, however, ever since I became hooked on Wilders Forum about 18 months ago, I've run Ad-aware, SpyBot, AVG anti-virus, ZoneAlarm, SpywareGuard, and another program on the machine (I think BrowserHijackBlaster, but I'm at work so I'm not 100% sure of the name). Wilders made me a believer back then. . . so much so that it may be all the programs that's slowing down the PC! (I'm joking...at least I think anyway. . .) That's not to say there's not a chance something eluded me and crept into the machine.

**I've tried my daughter's new notebook connected to that same modem, and it flies through the internet so I don't think the problem is with the internet service. Just FYI.

Also, a few times I've had different forum folks look at HijackThis logs, and they've recommended fixes in the registry for me. Each time that has either fixed a specific problem or improved the overall operation of my daughter's PC. So I feel like I've been pretty good in that respect. Of course, I always welcome suggestions for additional protective stuff, so if you guys have any recommendations let me know.

When I get home tonight, let me run RegSeeker and see if that helps. I'll also go back into the "Add/Remove Programs" and see if I can do something to help there. I will say in the past I've removed programs via that route and I think it has deleted important files or something. (I think I once deleted a program that seemed pretty innocuous, but it also removed my Winsock file.) Also, in some cases I click on programs, like "The Game of Life" for example, and I get a message like "Cannot find that program" or "That program has already been removed." I know most of this probably isn't making sense, but I guess I've always thought of those unremovable programs kinda like "busted programs" that no longer work but there's still all kinda carcasses from them laying around in there taking up space.

Anyway, thanks a lot guys! I appreciate your help more than you know.

BeenBit



Oh, by the way Marja, I definitely have a system restore disk for the Windows 98. It's labeled "System Restoration Disk" and was packed with the PC when we bought it. If you want more information (like what else is printed on the disk, etc.), let me know and I'll be happy to pass it along.

 

We obviously got mixed up with the word 'RESTORE'....You have a 'Restoration Disc' but in Win ME and Win XP there is a programme called 'RESTORE' whereby you are able to go back to a specific 'Time' when your OS was in better condition so to speak.....98se didn't have that luxury...
I only mentioned Security just in case you ventured onto the Net without any.
If your going to delete stuff out of your programmes Menu, open them first just to make sure you know what your about to snuff out.....and again just to be clear, I'm talking about Start/Programmes.....not 'My Computer' 'C' Drive/Programmes......I can't actually think of anything in Start/Programmes that would lose you important System Files....?
If you wish to remove programmes that are 'Not Found'.. let Regseeker do that for you as well, just type the proggy into 'Find in Registry' and it will hunt it down like a Rabid Bloodhound.....Have fun and whatever you do 'Keep Smiling'....



Regards, Cochise,

 

Thanks BeenBit, I use the 98 as a kind of back-up, I don't use it much right now. Hopefully it will not need restoration anytime soon!

After you clean it all up, you will probably see a big difference!! As an aside, depending on the version of ZoneLabs you are using, that slowed my system down alot, but, your machine sounds 'newer' than mine, so it might not be anything.

Let us know how it goes, OK? Happy Hunting with your 'Rabid Bloodhound'.

Marja

 

Will do. . .keep smiling.

Thanks Guys! I'll let you know what happens after running that Rabid Dawg!

Been Bit

 

Hello BeenBit,

You can run your startups thru this site:
http://www2.whidbey.com/djdenham/index.htm Startups

Specifically for 9X OSes.

Regards - Charles

 

Thanks for the additional information, Charles. As you've already seen, I need all the help I can get. . .

Cochise and Marja, I ran RegSeeker last night after giving the machine a good healthy Ad-aware scan. RegSeeker found 2000+ 'somethings' and fixed them. Then I ran Diskeeper De-fragmenter. I noticed a significant improvement in the PC performance after that, although I'm still not there yet. The machine's speed is still far less than I think it should be, especially online with broadband internet service. But before removing some of the unnecessary programs, do you think I might better deal with the next problem first?

Now, the other problem (yes, there are more than a few with this PC). When I start up the machine, there seems to be a whole lot of programs starting. I have gone into Startup via Start/Run/Msconfig and unchecked those I think are unnecessary. Then I shut down and restart, and every single program is started again. When I go back into Msconfig, every (and I mean every) program has been rechecked. Must be something nasty in my registry??

Could I post a HijackThis log here and get you guys to take a look at it? I know Wilders has a policy against that kind of posting, and if it's a problem I'll certainly understand and use another forum for that. Of course, I'd much rather use you guys who I like and trust. . . Seriously, just let me know.

Finally (at least for now), I think the next problem may be related somehow to the above. On startup, I get the following alerts:

RUNDLL
Error Loading C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~2\TOOLBAR\CNBabe.dll
The system cannot find the path specified.

The second says:

RUNDLL
Error loading C:\WINDOWS\NEWDOT~2.DLL
The system cannot find the path specified.

I can click out of both with no visible problem with the PC. While I think the 'CNBabe" sounds kinda exciting, nevertheless it might be something I should take care of. Do you agree?

Hey Cochise, what does the phrase "type the proggy into 'Find in Registry'" mean? I saw 'Find the Registry' in RegSeeker last night, but I'm not sure I know how to type in the proggy (or even if I'd know a proggy if I saw one. . .) Actually, while I feel stupid asking, I am being serious.

Thanks again Everybody!

BeenBit

 

Hi again,

Sorry...My apologies... I was just acting clever....proggy is 'Programme'.... You said you had certain programmes that 'Wouldn't die' or 'could not be found', what I meant was if you type each of those programmes into 'Find in Registry' one at a time, it will hunt them down and then you can kill them (Delete)....

As for the next bit of your problems, I think you should definitely do a Hijack This Log and Post it at ASAP....Wilders don't do Logs anymore...sorry, but which ever Forum you take it to, you will be well looked after I assure you, fear not....Once you get that bit sorted out I think you'll find things starting to look a bit better.....


Cheers, Cochise,

 

Hi BeenBit,

It looks like you still have remanents of NewdotNet left behind, and since incorrect removal of NewdotNet can break your internet connection, I would strongly advise not deleting anything further on your own.

Cochise has given the best advice in suggesting you now go to a site that offers HijackThis log analysis and have a spyware removal expert help you with further system cleaning.

Make sure you have the latest version of HijackThis. You can find a download link here: HijackThis version 1.99.1

Then take the Hijackthis scan log to one of the sites listed here that handle log review and have a Hijackthis Expert analyse the log. They will advise you on what needs to be fixed and walk you through the required steps until your system is clean.

Two of the larger forums for HijackThis log processing, (meaning they process more log threads each day than many others) are: SpywareInfo.com and CastleCops.com.

Please be sure and read the site's FAQ's and log posting requirements before you post your hijackthis log as many have specific instructions that must be followed before a log will be reviewed.

Let us know how it works out.

Regards,

snap

 

With the A: showing after the aborted restore with the disc you need to go into the bios and make sure the system is set to boot from cd and not the A: drive.

bigc

 

Thanks! I have a HijackThis log posted at SpyWareBeware and am waiting for someone to take a look at it.

I appreciate the help of all of you here at Wilders!

BeenBit