Explorer wont initiate on windows 98

[greenblur2002]

I came home for winter break and decided to do windows update for my parents compaq computer running on windows 98. I updated internet explorer and when i went to restart the computer it locked up. I powered it down and let scandisk run. Then it said it was updating its configuration. Finnally when windows started I put in the username/password and it instantly said explore has performed an illegal opperation and all i have my background on the screen. Any recommentdations on where to start getting this going again?

[wolfie27]

I would restore the registry

[GaryRouth]

Usually the error messages have a few more details in them. See if you can copy the error message down exactly, especially if there is a Details option, copy that information down also, and post it here.
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The Registry restore that wolfie mentions might do the trick: if they have a bootable floppy or CD, boot from that, and choose "start computer with CD support", then from the prompt, type

scanreg /restore

and choose a date from before the lockups/IE updates happened.

[If you don't have any bootable floppy or cd, you can download a bootable floppy for Win98 from http://www.bootdisk.com --make sure to match the version of Win98]
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Several viruses can parade as if they are explorer, run a virus check as soon as possible. . . Some will run from DOS (like F-Prot, which you can find at many download sites free for personal use - I believe downloads.com has it) If your parents have Norton, the system can be booted with the Norton CD straight into the Emergency Scan.

That should get you started. Best of luck. Post with more info if the restore doesn't help or you run into problems.
. . . Gary

[p.s. ...noticed that this is your first post here. Welcome to the PC Mechanic forums!]