My Computer Problem

[GLSmyth]

In addition to the installation problem I am having, I am having another problem with another computer. Something apparently happened somewhere along the line, and now when I try to access My Computer in any fashion, my computer hangs. Accessing this program can be in the form of using Explorer (right-click My Computer) or using the file navigation in any program (for instance, Word, selecting File->Open then changing the directory - I can get at files within the default directory, but changing the folder hangs the computer).

This same problem occurs in Safe Mode, with the singular exception that, for some strange reason, when I open the Control Panel (which runs in Explorer - the My Computer type), I can access files in any directory.

I have done a thorough check of the hard drive, and after at least a dozen restarts, it showed itself as clean (it now can go all the way through without restarting).

It looks to me like the problem might be solved by reinstalling Windows 98, but my trepidation here is that (as can be seen by my other message) the installation might hang, as it did with my other computer. Then I would be completely dead in the water.

Any ideas as to what to try? I can somewhat use my computer at this point, and would certainly feel much more comfortable if I could get my other computer running, incase this one goes completely down.

Any and all comments would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks -

george