Windows 98 SE "Over the Top Reinstall"

[inept]

Help & thank you.
My system AMD Athlon 850, 512mb RAM, 60GB WD & 80GB WD drives.

System has run great (4 yrs) until about the time I upgraded Norton AntiVirus from 2003 to 2004 (Friday the 13th).

I AM NOT SUPERSTITIOUS !!

Since about two days after this upgrade I have had the following:
1 Changing IE options/advance, clicked "Apply" & got:
fatal exception 0E @ 018F:BFF87EDE. Ctrl-Alt-Del twice to get system to reboot.

2 Uninstalled & reinstalled Norton AV. Okay
Tried Start/Settings/Taskbar/Start Menu Programs/Document Menu/Clear & got:
fatal exception 0E @ 018F:BFF87EDE.
Ctrl-Alt-Del & got:
fatal exception @ 00288:BFF8815A. Ctrl-Alt-Del reboots system.

3 Installed DriverGuide Software. After installation got:
fatal exception @ 0028:C010A953 in VXD PAGEFILE(01) +00000023. Ctrl-Alt-Del (twice) to reboot.

4 Installed PcDoctorOnCall & got:
fatal exception @ 0028:C0dAfA2C in VXD VWIN32(05)
+00003554. Ctrl-Alt-Del reboots system.

5 Tried to launch DriverGuide software from Norton Navigator & got:
fatal exception 0D @ 0028:C010A953 VXD PAGEFILE(01) +00000023. Ctrl-Alt-Del (twice) to reboot. Tried to launch same software from "Run Command" with the same results.

6 Repaired IE6 SP1 and Internet Tools.

7 Downloaded & installed "My Drivers" Clicked "Finish" box & got:
fatal exception 0E @ 018F:BFF87EDE. Ctrl-Alt-Del & got:
fatal exception 0E @ 0028:C00317FD in VXD VWIN32(01) +00001161. Ctrl-Alt-Del reboots system.

8 Downloaded and installed AIDA32 without any problems.

I think I need to do something to stabilize my system. I have read some things about "over installing" windows 98SE. I want to be sure what I am getting into here.

Will I loose any of my applications and have to reinstall them?

My understanding of the "over install" procedure is: 1) rename win.com to win.bak or win.xxx. 2) Follow directions, but change the c:\windows.000 dir to c:\windows.

If I will have to reinstall my applications, I might just as well go from scratch and move my OS to the 80GB drive as a new install. Don't want to but can do.

Thank you.
ps, here is my latest HijackThis log, if it is of any use to you.

Logfile of HijackThis v1.97.7
Scan saved at 8:42:05 PM, on 2/24/04
Platform: Windows 98 SE (Win9x 4.10.2222A)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\KERNEL32.DLL
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSGSRV32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MPREXE.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\ZONELABS\VSMON.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSTASK.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\COMMON FILES\SYMANTEC SHARED\CCEVTMGR.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\mmtask.tsk
C:\PROGRAM FILES\COMMON FILES\SYMANTEC SHARED\CCSETMGR.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\TASKMON.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SYSTRAY.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\ksmoused.exe
C:\PROGRAM FILES\COMMON FILES\SYMANTEC SHARED\CCPD-LC\SYMLCSVC.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\COMMON FILES\SYMANTEC SHARED\CCAPP.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\MSN MESSENGER\MSNMSGR.EXE
E:\PROGRAM FILES\ZONE LABS\ZONEALARM\ZONEALARM.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\WMIEXE.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SPOOL32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\INTERNAT.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\DDHELP.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\DESKTOP\HIJACKTHIS.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\NOTEPAD.EXE

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&ar=iesearch
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.msn.com/
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://www.msn.com/
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = http://ie.search.msn.com/{SUB_RFC1766}/srchasst/srchasst.htm
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd={SUB_PRD}&clcid={SUB_CLSID}&pver={SUB_PVER}&ar=home
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&ar=iesearch
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&pver=6&ar=msnhome
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&ar=iesearch
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchURL,(Default) = http://home.microsoft.com/access/autosearch.asp?p=%s
O1 - Hosts: 212.58.224.114 www.bbc.co.uk
O2 - BHO: NAV Helper - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSDXM.OCX
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ScanRegistry] C:\WINDOWS\scanregw.exe /autorun
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TaskMonitor] C:\WINDOWS\taskmon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SystemTray] SysTray.Exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Kensington Scroll Mouse] ksmoused.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Tweak UI] RUNDLL32.EXE TWEAKUI.CPL,TweakMeUp
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LoadPowerProfile] Rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,LoadCurrentPwrScheme
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Symantec Core LC] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe start
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [TrueVector] C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\ZONELABS\VSMON.EXE -service
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [LoadPowerProfile] Rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,LoadCurrentPwrScheme
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [SchedulingAgent] mstask.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [ScriptBlocking] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\Script Blocking\SBServ.exe" -reg
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [ccEvtMgr] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [ccSetMgr] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [msnmsgr] "C:\PROGRAM FILES\MSN MESSENGER\MSNMSGR.EXE" /background
O4 - Startup: 123w.lnk = E:\lotus\123\123w.exe
O4 - Startup: EReg.lnk = C:\WINDOWS\Ereg206\Reg32.exe
O4 - Global Startup: ZoneAlarm.lnk = E:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zonealarm.exe
O9 - Extra button: ATI TV (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: Control Pad (HKLM)
O12 - Plugin for .bcf: C:\PROGRA~1\INTERN~1\Plugins\NPBelv32.dll
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab
O16 - DPF: {166B1BCA-3F9C-11CF-8075-444553540000} (Shockwave ActiveX Control) - http://active.macromedia.com/director/cabs/sw.cab
O16 - DPF: {C606BA60-AB76-48B6-96A7-2C4D5C386F70} (PreQualifier Class) - file://K:\Bin\html\files\MotivePreQual.cab
O16 - DPF: {EE2589EB-7FC8-44DB-A892-573F2C4B41E0} - http://pdf.forbes.com/forbesnews/triggernews/ForbesDownloaderSigned.cab
O16 - DPF: {BB47CA33-8B4D-11D0-9511-00C04FD9152D} (ExteriorSurround Object) - http://autos.msn.com/components/ocx/exterior/Outside.cab
O16 - DPF: {9F1C11AA-197B-4942-BA54-47A8489BB47F} (Update Class) - http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/CAB/x86/ansi/iuctl.CAB?37900.2989699074
O16 - DPF: {544EB377-350A-4295-9BEB-EAB8392E09C6} (MSN Money Charting) - http://fdl.msn.com/public/investor/v13/invinstl.exe
O16 - DPF: {02BF25D5-8C17-4B23-BC80-D3488ABDDC6B} (QuickTime Object) - http://www.apple.com/qtactivex/qtplugin.cab
O16 - DPF: {33564D57-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71} - http://download.microsoft.com/download/F/6/E/F6E491A6-77E1-4E20-9F5F-94901338C922/wmv9VCM.CAB
O16 - DPF: {E77C0D62-882A-456F-AD8F-7C6C9569B8C7} (ActiveDataObj Class) - https://www-secure.symantec.com/techsupp/activedata/ActiveData.cab
O16 - DPF: {CE28D5D2-60CF-4C7D-9FE8-0F47A3308078} (ActiveDataInfo Class) - https://www-secure.symantec.com/techsupp/activedata/SymAData.dll
O16 - DPF: {0000000A-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71} - http://download.microsoft.com/download/d/4/4/d446e8a9-3a86-4b59-bb19-f5bd11b40367/wmavax.CAB

[GaryRouth]

Sometimes if the older Norton isn't completely gone, things like this can get tangled up pretty good. If you decide on an over-the-top, here's a guide a typed up a while back: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=70846

In this case, I'd make sure to uninstall Norton as completely as possible, then try a last-minute check at http://housecall.trendmicro.com to make sure no viruses are currently causing trouble. If this all goes well, and you have a clean system, try downloading and running RegClean 4.1 (this version was updated to run well with Win98) http://download.com.com/3000-2094-881470.html?tag=list [instructions on how to use it are in the ReadMe file]. RegClean has an UnDo function, and is generally effective.

If all goes well up to this point, try some functions that before were leading to the errors -- and if error-free with some fairly extensive testing, you might not have to reinstall after all.

If the errors continue, you can try the over-the-top.

Once the errors are long gone, you can try reinstalling your 2004 Norton, but as soon as it's in, go straight to their website and download the latest updates = this includes basically newer versions of the main background processes (esp. SymEvent) that were having some troubles in their first versions. And, of course, if errors immediately re-appear after re-installing Norton again, visit their website for more patches or updates. . . and if the incompatibilities can't be resolved, you may need to get your money back and try a different antivirus program.

Best of luck
. . . Gary

[I'm not much experienced in reading the HiJack This logs, but the folks over at the HiJack This forums are. Most of your log looks OK to me, though a few items I'm not familiar with. HouseCall will double-check the virus side, you could also double-check the spyware angle with either AdAware (http://www.lavasoft.de) or SpyBot (http://spybot.safer-networking.de)]

[inept]

Thank you Mr. Routh for all your information and time. I see your responses on this forum often. It is appreciated that you provide many of us with concise and accurate information.

The "over-the-top reinstall" did not correct my problem.

***********************************************
If I am to do a full reinstall, will the data in other partitions of my primary drive be affected by the full install?
***********************************************
Another question that I will post in another thread, if I upgrade XP Home or XP Pro?

Thanks again for your help.

[glc]

I'd revert IE back to 5.x and get rid of Norton 2004. I'm a big Norton antivirus fan, but 2004 is a lot of headaches. IE6 can be headaches on Win98 also. I don't see anything suspicious in your log.

Your machine has plenty of horsepower to run 2K or XP, might not be a bad idea, NT based operating systems are worlds better for stability than 9x based.

[GaryRouth]

Your data on the non-system partitions should be OK, whether you decide to try to either fix/clean-install Wn98, or upgrade to an XP version. If you decide on XP, though, might as well stick with FAT32, since I imagine that's what the non-system partitions are running [you could reformat your current system partition at NTFS and leave the non-system partitions FAT32] - I haven't done any XP upgrades myself (only fresh installs), so I'm not familiar with any possible file-system converters. Generally in the past, some data can be lost while converting from one file system to another - but this may have changed. I'll bet glc knows.

To go back to the 5.5 with your current Win98, you might need a tool like IEradicator - I don't have a link handy, but if I find one later, I'll add it as an edit. A few forum members have used it to uninstall their current IE, then they've downloaded the version they wish to go back to.

To completely get rid of Norton, I believe there is a special removal tool available as a download on their support site.

Not sure why, but Norton does seem to run better on the newer platforms - but it's true that even for the NT-kernel Windows series Norton's had to issue a number of updates and patches to the engine [it was causing a somewhat notorious lag in web-page display - one of it's more painful glitches]

Not the best Friday the 13th! . . . If the patient recovers soon, let us know which treatment worked (yes, I work in a medical lab)
. . . Gary

[glc]

Converting FAT32 to NTFS is a snap with 2K and XP, you do it at the command prompt and you won't lose anything.

Reverting IE is easy too - add/remove programs, MSIE 6, add/remove, restore previous version.

[GaryRouth]

Thank you glc, for the 2k/Xp NTFS and IE restore info. Can you believe it: I've been working on computers since 1980 (though not PCs back then), and never had the occasion to go back to an older version IE. [. . . might be the lucky shamrock in my CD case . . . ]
. . . Gary

[inept]

My apologies for this late posting.

I want to thank everyone for their comments and info. I pryed open the coin purse and bought Windows XP. Now I am finding out what other software(s) I need to replace to run on XP. My Lotus 123-97 and Norton Navigator are not completely compatible.

Maybe I should have just reformated and reinstalled 98SE. It was pretty stable until it decided to act up.

Where can I get a good lesson on using Windows Explore (the file manager)?

[GaryRouth]

Hi again

Actually, there is a pretty good guide right there in front of you: the built-in Help Files in Windows XP. They even look a bit better and navigate a lot nicer now that most of them have been moved to an Internet-like "compiled html" format [these help files have the .chm file extension]. Just look in on "Help and Support" - or go to the Help Index & type in Windows Explorer = you'll see lots of information there.

If any other techs know of another good guide, jump right in & point the way. . .
. . . Gary

[. . . and, as far as Lotus: you might check on their website to see if 123 might be OK with XP if it's reinstalled in "Compatibility Mode". Norton 2004 should be XP-compatible - just apply the latest patches a soon as you can, since the original version of Norton 2004 gave some PCs a slowdown or two]