Pc runs very slowly. Rundll error.

W98.2
old PC -533 mg chip
upgraded cache - to 256
Has been running fine and quick enough with DSLsince the cache was upgraded.

Last week I picked up some Bargain Buddy. Zipped files of BB show in a search.
AVG, Spybot, Adware and Spysweeper show clean. Bargain Buddy (adware Generic is in quarantine in AVG).

Advise please.
Although old this pc is fine for me if it runs the way it's supposed to.
Last time it showed limited resources I fixd it by running Webroot spyware and then, when it was clean, I added cache to run to the 256 max for this old number.
Had a virus last week: Adware Generic (Bargain buddy). Quarantined it but couldnt disinfect with AVG. The zipped bargain buddy junk is undeletable. Also the a-drive has not been working for weeks. I plan to add an external A-drive if I get it up and running again. Couldn't take out the old A-drive to replace it. 2 Frozen screws.
If this is fixable will I be able to upgrade the windows98.2 to Winodws 2000? The 98.2 is no longer supported. The Av and the firewall are longer updatable because of the windows is too old. I should get a new pc but don't want to spend the money or the time to reinstall all the programs and settings etc.
I was offered a repaired and warrantied pc with 1.5g P4 chip, W 2000, DVD R and W, etc for 220$ from my local store. NO floppy drive . Would have to buy an external A drive, I think, if it is capable of reading W98 files on floppies.

Is there any hope? Windows 2000 is about $199. The cool guy at the pc shop said it would take about 2 weeks of work to reinstall all my old stuff if i buy a new PC.

A lot of questions to answer...let's deal with all this one a time.

1. Bargain Buddy Removal

2. Using a removal floppy disk drive should work fine, but I question why you would want to do that. Why not use a USB flash drive instead? If you have information on floppies that you want to save/transfer why not borrow a PC with a functioning floppy drive and copy the information over to the flash drive? I think you would find this a much better method of transferring/saving data. PNY brand flash drives
These drives install without an installation disk on WinME/Win2000 or WinXP. For your Win98 2nd Edition system, you would download the driver from a page like this. I linked you to the USB 2.0 1 Gb attaché flash drive driver because it is the one I use. However if you get a different model you will need to look up the correct driver. See the System Requirements on the product page to determine that the drive works in Win98 2nd Edition.
Note: If your Win98 2nd Edition machine has only two USB ports in the rear of the CPU, I suggest you also get a USB hub. Plug that into one of the ports, then place the hub in a convenient spot and plug in your flash drive, camera, etc. I would suggest getting a USB hub that requires it's own electrical connection rather that deriving it's electrical power from the computer. "Enhanced" hubs are generally more useful.

3. Upgrading to Win 2000. I assume from the 2-week estimate that you have a great deal of software that would require reinstalling. Putting back data that was backed up doesn't take very long to do. Is there some kind specialty software installed? I'm thinking here of Real Estate Agent software or special bird watching software (logbook)?

You can usually upgrade a system without removing any of the data files. Usually only devices that require a driver update need to be reinstalled, when the OS has been upgraded. I'm thinking here about printers or scanners, that type of hardware The new drivers can most often be downloaded from the device manufacturer's site. What I would recommend is locating and downloading the new drivers before the upgrade. Then when installing the device, put in the disk (or attaching the USB flashdrive, with the driver program on it) in when prompted.

4. If I were you, I would not upgrade the system to Window ME. This OS is just not very good. If your system can handle Windows 2000, that may be an option, but be sure that your system exceeds the minimum specification by at least 50% and I would get as much RAM as your mother board can handle. One Gb (1024Mb) if that is possible. If the system works well for you now, and with your described needs I would guess that you would be quite happy to just use the current Windows 98 2nd Edition for the time being. A bit more RAM memory would be a nice but not required "upgrade".

5. Finally, a good way to avoid browser hijacks in the future. Download and install the "hosts" file found on this site:
Hosts

Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File: The Hosts file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. This file is loaded into memory (cache) at startup, then Windows checks the Hosts file before it queries any DNS servers, which enables it to override addresses in the DNS. This prevents access to the listed sites by redirecting any connection attempts back to the local machine. Another feature of the HOSTS file is its ability to block other applications from connecting to the Internet, providing the entry exists.

Unzip the host file and then copy paste the file named hosts to the C:\WINDOWS folder for systems running Win 98/ME.

Note, for other systems copy the hosts file to:
Windows XP = C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC
Windows 2K = C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC

This is an extremely good solution to avoiding spyware, keyboard loggers and parasites like browser hijackers. Once installed into the Windows folder, it will just prevent the problem pages from opening, and thereby preventing problems.

Also, I highly recommend the spyware prevention tool called "SpywareBlaster". This tool prevents known problem files from getting onto your system. I like to use all of these tools because together they provide "layers" of protection that no single tool can duplicate. The irony of this is that all of these tools that I'm recommending are available free of charge. Even though they are free, they are better that the majority of software available to purchase (IMHO). You can download SpywareBlaster by right-clicking here and choose "Save Target As". Once the download completes, open it and follow the on-screen instructions. Be sure to update it and enable protection when the update completes. As I write this, the SpywareBlaster program is protecting against 7092 known problem files.



6. The Av and the firewall are longer updatable because of the windows is too old.
This is partially incorrect. You can safely use the older version of ZoneAlarm and just not update it. If you like, you can do away with a software firewall all-together by installing a router between your DSL and your computer's ethernet port. You can also download and install a different free software firewall. If you would prefer to continue using Zonealarm, but have already un-installed your functioning version, you can download the "vintage" application By clicking here. You will need to download the version 6.1744.001 or earlier. This version is what I'm running in my Windows 98 machine.

And finally, AVG is still available free to home users (version 7.5) and it can be downloaded from my site at: AVG-version 7.5 This is capable with Windows 98 and Win98 2nd Edition.

I hope all of this helps!

Dwight

First a big thank you to Dwight for the generous and clear advice, as always! Hope you are healthy.

Since you advised me I lost the ability to go on the net with my DSL connection.

I was advised to load Windows NT home upgrade to upgrade my old Win 98.2 se. In order to run NT I will need to upgrde the Java and download drivers for the printer, according to the NT printout.

Windat is also imconpatible with NP.

I don't know where or how to upgrade the Java or what to upgrade to. The technicians from SBS DSL worked on my problem for hours. Ist level and level two techies. They ended up telling me to format the hard drive, indicating that it semed to be a winodw problem. Somehow I was able to load the missing driver VIP863, iirc, from the restore CD. Now I'm cooking, back on line after two dark days.

I would still like to upgrade to NP so Microsoft will support me when I need help. Support for W98 is over.

Never know there was such a thing as "flashdrive". It doesn't look like it will play the floppies that i have backed up many files on. That's why i thought of the exteranl floppy drive - to read my floppy data.

If you can be of any help with these new issues to install the Win NP I would be a very happy camper. If Ican install NP I won't have to uy an unwanted new pc.
Except for slow startup this pc is fine for me. I have already upgraded it to 256 max memory. The chip is 533id mgh, the latest speed in 1999.

Thank you many times. Bargain buddy is history thanks to you and BOT. None of my other AV or antibot programs were any help with it.

Running Java 1.5

First, do you mean Windows NT (New Technology)? Or Windows 2000? Have you purchased a disk already? If so, what does it say? If you've already installed the OS, right click on
"My Computer" and choose Properties. See what Operating System is showing.

See this page to see the list of Operating Systems that MS has produced. It is necessary that we know for sure what system that you're planning to use (or already using). Windows Versions

See this picture

This picture shows what the Systems Property Window will look like. Look under the word "System" for the installed Operating System (OS).

Have you already installed the Windows NT (or NP or whatever it is) system?

About the flash drive. Do you have access to another computer with a floppy disk drive that you can use to copy the floppy disk data over to the flash drive?

We will need to know the make/model of your printer or any device that needs a driver update.

What do you mean by JAVA? Are you referring to Sun Microsystems JAVA? Windows JAVA?

JAVA

This link

If you're not sure what you're looking for here, have you seen any error messages (I'm assuming that you've formatted the drive and installed the new Operating System). If you haven't done that yet, please let me know.

Dwight

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dwight,

whoops, my stupidty is showing. I bought XP, not NT.
Windows Java I guess. Also what is WINDAT? It is not compatible with the Win XP home ed. either upgrade.Sun Java plugin JRE 1.5.0 version Java Hotspot(TM)Client VM. Listed under tools as Sun java console. No idea.
Have not formatted the drive. Only ran preparation of the XP. Quit before installing due to these issues. TIA again..

Please provide the information in the System Properties window as shown above. (The two links under the paragraph that reads: "See this page to see the list of Operating Systems...")

I need the amount of RAM, the Processor make/model and the processor's speed.

Also, right-click on the my computer icon and choose "Explore".

Then right-click on the C:\ drive \ Properties and give the amount of space available and the total size of the drive.

Also, verify for me that you have purchased the WinXP CD, and that you have it now (not that it is being shipped, etc.). If you have not purchased it, please don't do that just yet.

Dwight

quote:

Originally posted by stanbee:
whoops, my stupidty is showing. I bought XP, not NT.
Windows Java I guess. Also what is WINDAT? It is not compatible with the Win XP home ed. either upgrade.Sun Java plugin JRE 1.5.0 version Java Hotspot(TM)Client VM. Listed under tools as Sun java console. No idea.
Have not formatted the drive. Only ran preparation of the XP. Quit before installing due to these issues. TIA again..

WinDAT is an old audio recording program. (Used to use it in the Win 3.x days!) You can safely remove it. Windows XP's "Sound Recorder" utility replaces its functionality.

You can also safely uninstall Java through Add/Remove Programs. Once XP is installed, you can [ install the latest version (JRE5.0).

You might consider doing a "clean install" of Windows XP, rather than an "upgrade install". (You'll have this choice in the installer) You'll lose your old Win98 settings (BE SURE TO BACKUP YOUR DOCUMENTS TO DISKS!), but at least you won't bring the problems of Win98 with you.

Hope this was helpful.

quote:

Originally posted by Dwight:
Please provide the information in the System Properties window as shown above. (The two links under the paragraph that reads: "See this page to see the list of Operating Systems...")

I need the amount of RAM, the Processor make/model and the processor's speed.

Also, right-click on the my computer icon and choose "Explore".

Then right-click on the C:\ drive \ Properties and give the amount of space available and the total size of the drive.

Also, verify for me that you have purchased the WinXP CD, and that you have it now (not that it is being shipped, etc.). If you have not purchased it, please don't do that just yet.

Dwight

Dead pc since 1/11. Reading the advice too late.
I felt lonely and naked for tthe few days with no pc. Back in the saddle again.

I tried to instal XPupgrade over Win 98spec. Nuh uh.
I formatted the harddrive. Reinstalled Win 98s Then reinstalled Windows xp upgrade. Everything is working except I lost the addresses on OE^. Thought I backed it up, but I didn't do it right.
Thanks to Dwight and JWooden for the generous help.
I had a probelm installing XP Upgrade on Win 98. something about the page volume. Microsoft couldn't fix it. So I formqttted the disc and began from zero. Only took 3 days. I should have bought a new system but this old Emachine Celeron 533mgh, max 256k, 30gig is quick enough for what I do -with DSL.

Thanks again.

quote:

Everything is working except I lost the addresses on OE.

You mentioned that you thought you had backed up the addresses. If you made a ".csv" file when backing up, that file can be imported into the Windows Address Book. (.csv is spoken as "Comma Separated Values").

This page shows how to import the .csv file: Backups in OE

If you saved the address book as a .wab file (Windows Address Book), you can run that file by double clicking it. Since it won't have your identity number I think you would want to open the .wab file, then do an export and create a .csv file. Then import that .csv into the new Address book that opens within your new Outlook Express program.

I would suggest you add to the 256k (RAM) memory if you can. You can run the Memory Advisory Tool at http://crucial.com and see if the motherboard can use more. WinXP uses a lot of RAM just to run.

Dwight

I tried to save the addresses from OE6 to a floppy. Thought I saved them but there are onLy 2 emaill addresses on that floppy. ?

The technician that installed the upgraded memory card said the 256 was max fo my machine. I'll take it back to him and ask him again to make sure.

It is all too confusing aand complicated for a chef. Thanks again.

installed
The new XP has been running for two days.
Except the Cannon BJC s600 printer shows installed in the control panel but the safely remove hardware manger on XP says the hardware is not properly installed,every day.

Also the print is almost to small to read, even if I adjust the print size in "View". Maybe I should uninstall and reinstall the printer. ?

Instead of taking the machine to a shop, why not just go to the crucial.com site. In three steps you will see what your maximum RAM capacity is.

And if you will download/install the PC Wizard utility, it will tell you how many memory slots you have and what (if anything) is in them.

PC Wizard (This is a free utility).

Dwight

PC Wizard Picture


If the image linked above is too small to read, try using the IE 7.0 zoom tool. If your using IE 6.0, move your cursor to the bottom right corner of the picture and click the Image Resize Tool when it appears.



Dwight