My Windows98 is acting odd! VIRUS? Something else? Please help.?

Question

The display unexpectantly becomes duller, & the font becomes larger (making parts of the desktop run off the screen). This has happened while starting up, or a short while after Windows has finished loading.

I've hit ctrl+alt+del when Windows is starting up to see running applications, and this is an incomplete list of what I get:

Rtvscn95
Scanregw
Taskmon
Loadqm
Vptray
Qttask
Rundll32
Update manager

Not all of the above list show up at the same time. And most don't show up after Windows finishes starting up (the creaking sound the computer makes to say its busy).

I've got Norton (with the latest updates), but running a virus-scan didn't get rid of the problem.

What do you think the underlying problem is? Is it a virus? And how can I fix it (hopefully without loosing my files)?

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(To "it doesn't matter" (if you're reading this):
I did read your question, but I don't have a good answer to it. Sorry.)

I don't think Windows98 has a "restore" function. And I'm afraid to turn it on before I know what's wrong.

Answer 1

i think you are right i myself never had windows 98 i got into the computer kick after that but the first new link is windows 98 help and support at microsoft if you click on the still useing windows 98 you may be able to find a cure there but when your read the second links info it does not seem like there is to much nope and the 3rd link is for update in patches which you may already have but if you don't that could be it to search these sites if you have not already my advice is if you are able to get into c drive and all of its files to back them up on an external source like an EHDD or you may just find yourself out of luck you could repost this ? under computers general because you ? is pretty far back by now no one new will see it otherwise

Thats ok you got a thumbs up for trying i know this is long but read it the reason is at the bottom before anything elses just try system restore on windows pick a time you know it was working if it does not work it is reversable and you can find it in start all programs accessories system tools very easy to use however you have not told me what anti spyware and malware programs you are running. You mentioned you ran norton antivirus but that is all together different. Anti virus program don't stop spyware and other types of malware ever. Do yourself a big favor and get some type of antispyware and malware protection. Also might i suggest an upgrade from windows 98 to something newer. Soon enough your Windows 98 won't be able to run most programs
as they get more advanced .If you don't want to have you been doing upgades online for your Windows 98 this could fix your problem especially if you have not been upgradeing it give it a try just go to windows upgrade in all programs in the start menu it may need one. I don't recommend norton to anyone for to many reasons to explain. I do think you should go to the prevex site and run thier free scanner and i recomend running there free trial version it picks many things other anti virus programs do not trust me It will take care of any problems as far as virus and spyware and malware. It also runs nicely with your current programs such as norton also if you have an extreally low memory level it could be that to. Clean it by getting rid of some stuff you don't need last but not least go to your local store like walmart and invest in an external harddrive they cost like 1 dollar a gig and the bigger ones sometimes come cheaper and you can get huge ones depending on where you shop like 500 gigs it plugs in to you computer and you can save all of your files there and have them no matter what happens to you computer. Plus you can get files from your friends computer and you can even get antivirus protection to scan it when it is plugged in prevex will do it avast and nortorn and many others even though often enough if you load a virus to your external harddrive from your computer it won't have the means to do any damage to it because it has no program to run off of unless of course it was created especially for that you can get bigger external harddrives than what memory you can put into any computer. Get one big enough to hold as many gigs as your computer will hold or twice that if you don't want to spend that much money then your files are not that important and Christmas is comming up to. You should also go to preformance and maintaince in control panel and do disk cleanup and defragment start all programs accessories system tools to make things run faster and get rid of useless files windows created it for this reason but if you do not have more than like 15 gigs of memory it won't work as well there is more but if none of this helps you can do remote assistance with someone you trust and see if they can fix the problem KEEP ME POSTED the reason i wote this was for you to do and learn about
preformance and maintaince
system restore
maby buying an external harddrive and an windows up grade like Pro or something
for you to update your current windows 98 online
expand into more complete and better protection for your computer
simply check you c drive or memory or which ever one you are useing

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

well u need to provide some more details.. i would suggest formatting cozz if its mysterious it can be trojan
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