can not get computer to boot up in windows

I can not get my computer to boot up properly. I am running Windows 98 and before it loads all the way, a fatal error screen consistently appears and I can never get past it. If I boot the computer in safe mode, no desktop icons appear nor does the "start" button that is usually at the bottom left corner of the screed. Since I can not get into windows, I have not been able to download, install and run hijackthis. I guess I will need to boot the computer in dos mode, but do not know what to do from there. I know the cause is some sort of trojan or spyare, but it got to me too quickly before I could respond. Any help on what to do or where to begin would be greatly apreciated. Thanks, Jay

In my opinion, attempting to assist you in DOS would be hugely difficult through this medium of correspondence. (But that's probably just me, and my opinion.)

Here are a couple of other things you could try.

Option #1
If you have another computer that is running Window98 or higher AND IT IS FULLY UPDATED, AND HAS GOOD ANTIVIRUS AND ANTISPYWARE INSTALLED.

You could install the Hard Drive from this problem computer into the Secure and Known-Good computer as a "Slave" drive.

You could then run your Known-Good machine's AntiVirus and AntiSpyware utilities from their location from the Known-Good Hard Drive and "target" them to scan/remove/fix items on the "Slave" hard drive.

You might, in that procedure, be able to clean and restore the problem Hard Drive enought that you would again be at least able to boot it up and Run/Post a HJT for additional help

If you decide to do the above, let us know so various AntiMalware tools can be recommended to maximize your effort.

Option #2
Install the problem Hard Drive into a Known-good machine as "Slave", strictly for the purpose of Copy/Save any important Document and files that you may wish to preserve. (***Be absolutely certain that you scan each and every file you retrieve so you are not saving the offending infection.)

Once you have backed up any/all of the items you wish to preserve, you could then physically move the Hard Drive back into the problem machine and use a Win98 Boot Disk to reformat and prepare for a clean Installation of Windows98. (Downside of this plan is that you will have to find/acquire several necessary drivers, including the ChipSet Driver for that machine. (if it's a brand-name machine, you should be able to get most all the necessary Drivers from the manufacturer's site)

Unfortunately, I "would not" recommend that you try to preserve your history of emails, even though some/many may be very important to you. (I will look into how to scan .pst folder with anti-virus/ anti-trojan/anti-spyware…… I actually think it can be done easily, but I'd want confirmation first)
Please let us know if this is important to you.

Option #3

Much easier, but also much less likely to be successful……….
You could simply Run a Win98 complete installation right over the top of your current operating system. Doing so "might" allow you to boot up with a clean operating system, and have at least a brief period of time before the infectious elements find their way back into the operating system.

If you do get a clean boot from this Option #3, first thing you'd want to do is to DELETE all of your Temporaries.

Here's a comprehensive How-to for deleting temporaries:

To clean out all the temporary files and cookies on your system.
Go to
Start - Run - (type) "cleanmgr" without the quotes.
Let it scan your system for files to remove.
Check these three boxes and then press ok to remove:
Temporary Files,
Temporary Internet Files,
Recycle Bin.

Then GoTo:
Start - Find/search - Files or folders - in the named box, type: *.tmp
When the list is generated, choose
Edit - select all - File - delete.

Note: If you cannot delete them all at once because you have too many, then click and hold ctrl and highlight a batch of them at a time. Once highlighted, R-click over the highlight and select delete.

Then use
Start - Run - (type) "%temp%" (without the quotes).
Delete the entire contents of that "temp" folder
(use Edit - Select All - press "Delete", click "Yes").

Then,
Empty your Temporary Internet Cache completely.
Close all instances of Outlook and Internet Explorer,
then use "Control Panel - Internet Options - General tab and click the "Delete File" button.
When prompted place a check in: "Delete all offline content", then click OK.

Then, use Windows Explorer to clean out ALL the other temp folders on your system
(navigate to the folder, (as listed below)
use "Edit - Select All", press "Delete", click "Yes"

* C:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Temp\
* C:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\
* C:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Temp\

* C:\Windows\Prefetch\

* Empty your "Recycle Bin".

Then run your onboard antivirus/antispyware utilities, and probably post a HJT into the HJT forum for additional help.

Option #4
How familiar are you with operating in DOS command line entries?

Best Regards

Thank you for your options. I think I will try to reload the operating systerm over the top first because I really don't have the means to set up a hard drive as a slave at this time. If I insert the windows disk before attempted boot up, will it automatically recognize them and being the installation process? I know a little about dos and was wondering if that might help. And can make myself available to other mediums of communication if need be. I will try to rummage up a windows 98 disk and try to install that tonight and let you know how it goes. Please let me know if you have any DOS ideas. Thanks again for your time and your reply. Jay

Over the top re-installation, "generally" does not compromise saved data files, but with potential virus/trojan infection, there sure are no guarantees.

In your situation, (meaning not having access to another machine for # 1&2), I suppose I'd be tempted to use Option #3, too. But you do "run the risk" of further compromising any important saved data and files.

That's why I listed Options #1 and #2 first….. Much safer.

Please clarify something for us. Since you say you don't readily have the hardware for the first two options, I'm believing that the machine you are using to be online here, is either not at the same location as your crippled machine, or is a laptop which makes connecting Hard Drive IDE ribbons difficult. Am I understanding your situation correctly?
____________________________________________________________________________________

Since you're not able to boot normally, you'll need a Win98 boot disk.
Microsoft probably sent you one when you got the computer, or you can download one from http://www.bootdisk.com.

Select - Open with CD ROM support

Pop in your Win98 install CD

at the A:\ prompt type X:\ (where X is the designation for your CD ROM)
next type
X:\Win98 - Enter
then - setup.exe - Enter

Please remember that I recommended this only as third best, after safer methods, and with much less confidence that it would serve your purposes.

Best Regards

Somehow I was to get it to boot into safe mode and the icons and taskbar appeared. I ran spybot and adaware, but my definitions were pretty old and I was not able to connect to the internet as it looks like the trojan cut that off. Also, my cd rom drive isn't showing up. I tried to run a squared, but the "scan now" button is off the screen and I can't tab to it either. I was able to go to a buddy's and download hijack this and put it onto a floppy. I ran it and have the log, but will have to wait till I'm at work tomorrow morning to post the log from the floppy because my laptop doesn't have a floppy drive. I copied some important files onto other floppies just in case. I also made a windows 98 boot disk. I have left the computer on in case there is something else you want me to do after seeing the hijack this log. I'm afraid that if I turn it off, the icons won't show back up when I turn it on. One other thing I'm not sure about, when I went to copy some files, under my documents, I noticed a folder titled "CCUT" which didn't sound familiar to me. I looked in it and there was just one file, an executable "udlql.exe." I don't know if that was put there by the trojan or what it is. I googled it and found nothing. I orignally tried to boot from the symantec cd and then the window 98 cd, but I couldn't do it. I changed the bios settings to recognize the cd drive, but after talking with the guy who built my computer, he said that the cd rom drive might be too old of a model to boot from because it wouldn't recognize either cd as a bootable. I'm on a laptop. I think that's all I know now. I will post the hijack this log in the morning and wait for further instructions.

While there are malwares that destroy internet connectivity, most often the connection is only broken if an untrained person tries to "remove" the malware. I really don't think it is malware preventing the internet connection "at this time". Rather it is SAFE Mode itself. To the best of my knowledge, SAFE Mode does not have a configuration to access the internet in Win98. In Win XP there is SAFE Mode with Network Connection, but not in Win98. Win98 SAFE Mode does allow you to have access to CD ROM, so it is possible to use another machine to download various anti-malware tools and their updates, saving the result to a CD for you to Run on your crippled Laptop. ________________ But before we get into any of that,….. HJT may help you out tremendously. HJT might be directly useful in completing "some" fixes, and might help identify other tools that will help you. Maybe even enough to get a good boot into Normal Mode where HJT can "see" more of your machine. After you get some helpful analysis of the HJT, your advisor may be able to point you to specific tools to download to CD for running on the machine. Please note: I am not an authorized HJT advisor, so I will not be providing comment to you regarding HJT. I will, however, remain available in this "other computer problem" Forum for any additional assistance you may require after you've completed your HJT work. Please Post your HJT Log over in the HJT Forum as a New Topic, and briefly describe to them, the difficulty that you have been experiencing. Then, please be patient, as our HJT Advisors have a heavy load and they are all volunteering their time to assist out of their own schedule to benefit our Members. Best Regards _________

I just had another problem creep up on another computer I use frequently. I can no longer get my wireless USB mouse to work. Window no longer recognizes it. I went through the trouble shooter on windows and it said to uninstall the driver. I did that, but now when the driver reinstalls itself, it says that it had problems with the installation and might not function properly. When I try to get the mouse to work, it says "unknown device properties" and if I click on that, it now gives me the following:

Currently, this hardware device is not connected to the computer. (Code 45)

To fix this problem, reconnect this hardware device to the computer.

Click Troubleshoot to start the troubleshooter for this device.

But the device is connected to the computer and I've been through the troubleshooting, but to no avail. I searched on the internet and came up with this

http://searchwincomputing.techtarget.com/t…1059071,00.html

But when I use regedit and search under the usb devices, no of them have "unknown device."

Any ideas? I can't figure out anything else.

Thanks,
Jay