right, the other night i went on my computer as normal, my msn messenger started automatically. that was fine, i didn't speak to anyone it was just signed in. then my AVG box came up as usual saying it was updating. Then i clicked to go on the internet, a box came up saying something about internet explorer and a new download so I assumed it would be ok and clicked allow it. then my computer crashed. When I go into normal mode, everytime i try to go on the internet or open word or run scan disk that box comes up saying my computer has performed and illegal operation and will now close. it does this several time then will crash. When I go into safe mode it will let me run scan disk and spy ware blaster etc. I have run all of these but found no virus. on the one of that black screens at start up, this message would come up

from the sounds of it...you were updating your internet explorer but ur pc crashed 1/2 way through...meaning that the explorer you have now is corrupted........reinstall internet explorer and this should fix that

as for msn messenger starting up...this is normal but if you want it to stop use hijackthis

let me know how you go on

thanks i'll try that and let you know

If it's within five days of the problem showing up, you could try a registry roll back.

Boot the machine and at or just after the POST screen, start tapping the Ctrl or F8 key. This should initiate the MS Startup Menu. (You have to be quick.) Choose Command prompt only. At the C:\> prompt, type in

scanreg/restore

and hit Enter. You should be presented with up to five dates. Pick a date prior to the problem occurance. Your registry should be replaced with a working registry from that date, as long as no critical system files have been altered. Any software and some MS updates installed after this date will have to be reinstalled.

Re; MSN Messanger. You can stop this from loading on startup via MSConfig. Start, Run, type in msconfig. Click the Startup tab and remove the checkmark for that program. Reboot is required for the change to take effect.

As an aside, did your original posting get cut off, or did you just end it?

Hi ,
If you still have problems after following all of the advice in the previous posts above ( it's good advice) then..

critical system files have been altered

and you probably will have to re-install Windows 98SE.
Get backups first using "safe mode" .
Hope this helps,
RGPHNX
ps- Microsoft "updates" will sometimes cause this. Theyre' NOT supposed to but I've had the exact same thing happen multiple times with both Win 98 & Win ME when "updating" Internet Explorer.

Originally Posted by RGPHNX

...critical system files have been altered

May I ask where the above came from?

Hi Dan,
re: your question..

May I ask where the above came from?

thought it would be obvious that it came from your post which was just above mine. I just didn't reference you by name.

after following all of the advice in the previous posts above ( it's good advice) then..

RGPHNX

OK, sorry. Got my posts mixed up, I didn't go back through them far enough.