Somewhat Random Freeze-Up

[catacon]

I have a really annoying 98 SE problem. When ever I try to access My Computer or Windows Explorer or some files, my computer freezes up. I the blue screen o' death appears and if you 'press any key' another error comes, and another, then it just sits there with a black screen. I think it started after I was trying to download linux (never worked) and downloaded a program to asist with that, but it seemed that it started before I installed the program. This computer has been messed up for a while with different things, but this is the worst and most annoying. Any suggestions?

Specs are below

6 year old Gateway
12 GB HD
Pentium 3 450Mhz
dont' know much else after that

[GaryRouth]

You may have been compromised by malware.

See if you can start your computer in Safe Mode (tap the F8 key as the computer powers up), and run full-system antivirus and antispyware checks - put the settings for as thorough as it allows, and especially to "scan within compressed files" (if your tools allow that). If you don't currently have any antispyware tools, you can download & install AdAware ( http://www.lavasoft.de ) and SpyBot ( http://www.safer-networking.de ) to get started. If you experience trouble removing the pests, you can try a more advanced tool like HiJack This (see our Security forum for links).

If the system scans clean -
- did you allow any of your Linux tools to change your disk partitioning at all?
- what program did you try to help with the Linux download?
- did you get as far as beginning a Linux install, and then had to abort?
- do you have either a Recovery Disk set or a Windows Installation CD?
- do you have current backups of data you wish to keep?

- for a quick-fix try = you can run the System File Checker if you have a Windows Installation CD or the .cabs on your hard drive (either from the "Tools" menu in System Information - Start/Programs/Accessories/SystemTools/System Information --- or from the Start/Run box, type in "sfc" without the quotes).

- if clean & the system file checker doesn't help - you can also try an over-the-top reinstall, though it might be a bit overkill for this error http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=70846

Best of luck
. . . Gary

[catacon]

I will try what you said, I have AdAware and will get SpyBot.

1) No
2) jigdo (for Debian), i had to get something else for the ISO, but I don't remember what it was.
3) No, I never finished the download
4) Yes
5) Not yet, but can get those*

I didn't explain before, I can get into My Documents (?) and sometimes (if lucky) can access all files, but most of the time it won't let you.

[Cricket]

Next time you get a BSOD, write down the entire error message with the code string...it'll help direct you to what's causing the problems.

Cricket

[catacon]

YES! Fixed, I think. I ran Ad-Aware and Spybot (they found 95 and 193 things, respectively!). I could not run Spybot in Safe-Mode because it opened up off screen and I couldn't get to it (stupid, I know). So I ran it in regular mode and everything seems to be fine. I can access My Computer and FileZilla and fine. Thanks for the helps, guys!

PS

Cricket, I ment to, but I forgot and I didn't want to have to restart again.