Problems with win98/IE

[bosco]

Problem with my dads computer.

When running or minimizing programs or anything, they correctly show up on the task bar.(word,control panel,solitare...anything)
Except when/until IE is opened.Then nothing shows up on the task bar. You can minimize it/anything and it just disappears. It's still running because I can see it when I hit control alt del.
You can't get it back unless you open another instance of the document/program. They have stacked up documents and games like this until they ran out of memory.
Once minimized, you can't close it unless you close it through control alt del.
This only happens after IE is opened. The only way to correct it is to reboot. Then it's fine. Until IE is opened again.
Things I've done:
Ran IE repair tool
Tried all tool bar options/settings
reinstalled 98 over itself.

Has anyone ever seen this before
I hope I explained it clearly.....
If not, I'll try again.

Specs:

CPU: AMD Athlon XP 1600+ (266fsb) Socket A
*XP1600+ CPU Speed = 1400Mhz*
CPU FAN: Thermaltake, Socket A, Volcano 5, 4500rpm
MOTHERBOARD: Gigabyte GA-7VTXE
RAM: 256MB DDR PC-2100 (266Mhz)
VIDEO: GeForce2 MX 200 32MB
HARD DRIVE: Western Digital 20GB - 7200rpm
CD: 56x
Floppy: 1.44MB
MODEM: INTEL 56k V.90 PCI
2 Case Fans
OS: Win98se
IE6
Built: Nov, 2001

[bosco]

One thing I didn't do was reinstall IE6. I'll give that a try.

[bosco]

Got it.
It was some kind of trojan. W32.Friendgreet.trojan

Found it here. Symantec Security Response
Just had to uninstall WinSrv Reg and it was fixed.

[Kubie]

bosco,
Thanks for the information on that bad boy. I'll remember that one.
Carl