Installing IE 6.0 in Windows 98

[marshaJA]

IE required upgrade as many websites unavailable. I upgraded to 6.0 on a 7 year old computer with Windows 98 OS. Now am unable to surf the net but can send and receive email . This is my elderly aunt's computer and she is having a fit, unable to understand any of this. I am desperate to get it fixed
judi

[ktkendall]

What is your internet connection type?? Check under internet options>connections tab, but till I know what internet connection you are using I would not know what your settings should be there. I do remember that there were some issues with win98 and IE6 but I do not remember specifics. I used IE6 and win98 though and had no problems, so hopefully it is just a setting we need to set there on the connections tab for U.

[glc]

Go to add/remove programs, choose IE6, hit add/remove and you get a menu - choose "repair".

What's the specs on the computer? If she is into this computer for the long haul it may be best to upgrade it to 2000 or XP.

[marshaJA]

I will have to contact her to find out those specs. She is 84 and does not want to spend any money. She is now asking me to uninstall IE 6.0 and reinstall what she had (and I do not know what version that was) which was not effective but she was able to do more than she can do now. She lives 120 miles away and is afraid to "touch" anything on the computer that she is not familiar with........I am sure you understand.........I will contact her and get the specs.
thanks

[marshaJA]

AOL, dial up

[marshaJA]

I cannot find the "repair" menu......I am following your instructions in order to better tell her how to do it

[ktkendall]

If your not also on a win98 PC that has IE6 upgrade then you will not see IE6 in the ad remove programs list. I thought AOL has it's own browser..

[marshaJA]

someone just asked me if she has Win95 instead of 98......now I wonder. Will keep you posted. thanks

[glc]

You can't install IE6 on Win95 - it won't let you.

Go into add/remove programs on HER computer and look for IE6 - if you click on add/remove another menu option other than "repair" is "uninstall" - this will uninstall IE6 and revert it back to IE5 for you.

AOL dialup? The best thing to do may be to reinstall AOL after you revert IE. Don't monkey with IE if you are using AOL - let IT take care of its own browser.

[marshaJA]

Microsoft Windows 98
Second Edition
4.10.222A
Registered to xxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Manufactured and Supported by Compaq Computer Corporation
Authentic AMD
AMD-K6(tm)3D processor
56.0MB Ram

[glc]

Personal info and license key edited.

No way for an OS upgrade on that old thing. Run it the way it is. I don't even know if it will run a newer version of AOL. Find a tactful way of telling her she needs a new computer.

[marshaJA]

Should I tell her to do that NOW or should I wait until she gets whatever update disk from Compuserve?

[marshaJA]

Why did she keep getting messages to update IE? And, she couldn't view most web sites

[glc]

Windows 98 and what it supports is no longer able to do everything. IE6 never did run 100% on 98, and there are more and more sites out there that need it or the latest version of alternative browsers to use. The viable life span of a computer is 5 years, and that one is pushing close to 10.

She's driving a 1975 Chevy that can no longer pass an emissions test. Time to retire it. Not worth the money to overhaul it.

[marshaJA]

Did you get my last message about emptying her recycle bin? It includes Windows explorer

[marshaJA]

i installed spybot after I installed IE6. Obviously I had to go to the internet to get the program. I scanned and quarantined over 900 items. I must've quarantined something I shouldn't have. Can I un-quarantine? Is it an option on the program?

[ktkendall]

Originally Posted by marshaJA Why did she keep getting messages to update IE? And, she couldn't view most web sites

Because she has automatic updates active.

[glc]

If it was that torn up with spyware, you may want to consider backing up her data and getting a fresh start - reformat, reinstall everything. I haven't seen Spybot hit 900 items in a long time.

[marshaJA]

My error: it was spywarebot.
I asked her to restore everything and she didn't. She just deleted it. I fear that she may have had registry things deleted.
She is freaking out and I am 100 miles away and can only email her. She is finding more and more probs which seem "display" oriented.....never mind........don't even want to tell you what her complaints are. This is such a nightmare. Help! She is starting to blame me for everything

[ktkendall]

UGGGG, I feel for ya. We all know what is is like to try to be helpful with PC related things for family and friends and sometimes we sure wish we could back out don't we.

[marshaJA]

uh-huh! thanks for all your help! i may just go to NJ, leave my laptop and bring her desktop up here to be fixed.........even if it isn't worth it to us, it is to her!