BTW, I assume you are talking about Win XP or Win2000?

Hi Andrew! Thanks for the suggestions guys, I should have time tonight to mess with the mouse. I am unsure exactly what is supposedly running that I should try to do an "end task" to. Would that be the list I get when I press "cntrl/alt/delete" at the same time?
Andrew, it's this worthless Windows ME that everyone hates. It's the only PC I've owned, and as you know I'm not really "big" into PC's, but I enjoy using it. I am not really considering going to a different OS, because it would make more sense to "ride this out" for another year or so and simply replace it and get a better processor (this is Celeron).
Where can I find "regclean"?

Gilly

You cannot do a Crtl-Alt-Delete because I believe in Win98 it would reboot the system. We are thinking of Win2000 or WinXp.

I would think you could run Win2000 on a celeron and would not be a problem installing Win2K professional on your system. Of course, I am installing different OS now and then so it would not be much of an issue to me. Win2K looks like Win98 and is 10 times more stable. Win 98 SE is a tad better than Win95 which is junk. I used WinNT 4.0 instead of Win98 because I hated it so much. When Win2K came out, I jumped to it. I had all sorts of confusion because Win2K would do networking stuff naturally whereas my wife's Win98 system had to be told to do it. I finally switched her to Win2K.

You find regclean in your mailbox. I emailed it to you.

Andrew
Thanks for sending that, I'll watch for it, haven't seen it yet.
I am pretty sure you're maybe confused about my OS. Everyone, or most everyone, seems to hate it. It's Windows ME (Millenium Edition), pretty sure it's not the same as Windows 2000, at least that's what I've heard.
On my system, I can press cnt/alt/del and it will restart if I do it a second time, per the message I receive. The thing that has me confused, now that I look at it, is if I press ctr/alt/del, I get the "close program" window, and at this time, it only lists 4 things:
"Shop Forum-reply to topic, etc etc"
"Inbox-Outlook Express"
"Yahoo! Mail dangillitzer@yahoo.com, etc etc"
"Explorer"

The list used to be much larger than that.

Am also thinking I need to reload my OS. The last time I didn't back ANYTHING up and lived to tell the tale. Lost some emails and stuff, but in general I don't know if I'd do any backups this time either.

Gilly

I closed "Explorer" then tried shutting down and it did! Is this the same as Internet Explorer?

Gilly

I don't think so.

Windows has 2 programs known as explorer. One is internet explorer which runs under the name of iexplore and the other is Windows explorer which runs under the name of explorer. Believe it or not, explorer is not only the file browser that it’s commonly know as, but also the interface between the rest of the OS and the user. As a result, you always have at least one copy of explorer running. Except, that is, when you do an end task on it.

Doing an end task on explorer is somewhat akin to ripping out all the user controls on a car. Naturally it will shut down, unless I guess, it’s a diesel, but we all know that no computer runs like a diesel.

Okay so anyway, what I'm trying to say is that on your next pass through, leave explorer running and you’ll find the core of the problem. With ME there are 3 programs which must run, but I don’t remember what all three are off the top of my hed. I think explorer, taskman (the task bar) and ..... ugh, I don’t recall.

Lastly, in contrast to popular opinion, Windows ME is a very good platform. It was vastly improved compared to Windows 98 and supported many new hardware interfaces that were sometimes quirky under 98 and before. ME had no real shortcomings other than Microsoft killed off the non-NT product line after that. Still, I have networks using ME as workstations and even servers. All run for months at a time without problem.

Tracy
You have to remember I am pretty inept at this, but I appreciate your comments.
I don't really know what you mean by "my next pass through leave explorer running and I'll find the core of my problem". How do I find the problem? All I know is if I "end task" on explorer, the computer shuts off as it should. I also know there is less stuff on my task bar now, like down where the clock is (lower right corner) the only thing there now is the clock and the small 2 computer looking things (to show activity on the internet comm, I guess you'd say)
Just in the past day I find that the "easy access" buttons are now completely inop. I'm sure I can get them working again, but no idea why they up and quit. Maybe the result of trying to fix something.
Here's an idea though, short of "starting over" and reloading the OS:
I know in this computer somewhere, if I look for it, there is a program or function that will allow the computer to "go back" to a previous configuration, say a few weeks or few months ago, whatever you set it up to go back to. I wonder if that would work here?

Gilly

You sure about that? Where did you see that function? AFAIK, in Win NT, Win 2K and Win XP there is a "Boot from last known Good Configuration" option but I am not sure it is present in the Win 98 series. I think I could go into the registry and go to the last good configuration but I am not sure I like the idea of making registry hacks unless I have to.

Why don't you let me load Win2K in it for you? Maybe I should have had you install my camshaft in my Firebird while I load Win 2K in it for you. :p

I'll keep "hacking" on this for awhile, but if it's no big deal for you to try Windows 2000, that may be OK, only hesitation is that I'd like to have a back-up (recovery) disc if we were going to try that. I'd rather swap for C280 work though instead of the Bird.

I'll search a little and see if I can find that "back to the future" feature.

Gilly

Andrew
OK, actually I went and tried that "system restore". This is the path to it:
Start/programs/accessories/system tools/system restore.

I went back to April Fools Day, I think it was working OK then.
My easy access keys are now working again, but I may have altered something that the system restore won't change back. Also I noticed subtle things are unaltered, like for example I bought a digital camera last weekend, and the icon for that program (for the camera) is still there, which is good.
Also on the "close program" file (ctrl/alt delete) there is the ton of programs again. In addition to what I "know" is running (OE, IE etc) here is the list, let me know if it all should be there or not:
explorer
sccenter
bttnserv
avgcc32
qttask
cpqeadm
wkcalrem
hidserv
systray
avgserv9

(OK, less than a ton)

Maybe later someone can help with the easy access buttons. The big center one used to run my dialup (modem?) then go right into OE, now it just does the modem and I have to click on the OE icon to get my emails.

Gilly

Why do you need a revovery disk? If you don't like it, we can reinstall Win98 ME. I ASS U ME you have the Win98 ME disk? Then we would need to back up certain things and export others or whatever but that is not a biggie. About as difficult as getting you to do a transplant in my C280. Actually, I'd rather install Win2k than to change plugs in my C280. The Bird is being handled by another mechanic for a little cash on the side since we need a shop facilities to take it out and take our time claying the pistons to make sure the cam works, etc.

Hey, this thing might be fixticated anyways now, after that "restore". I even have the stupid easy-access button to do what I want. I haven't done a shut-down yet, I'm hopeful it'll work right, and if it does it looks like me and the WinME dodged another bullet (for now).
Yes I have a windows recovery disc Andrew. I still think this is a different system, and again I am not an expert, but I think ME is a different system than either Win98 or Win2000, it's WinME. But even with these problems I've been having, I can still "make" it work, it's not like it kept crashing or anything, so some stability to it......
I'm gonna have to take you computer shopping when it's time, maybe this fall, or on into next year. My peripherals SUCK bigtime!
Gilly

I personally have never placed much faith in restores. Usually some stupid issue comes up. This is why I have never taken a copy of my system and later restored it. I didn't know Win98 ME had that feature. Didn't think so but I hardly every work with Win 98.

Call me when you want to go shopping. You know where to find me.

windows Me is not a bad system imho, better than xp home,
not so good as xp professional. i have them all.
steps i might do:

1. run your virus scan again to find the virus you said you saw.
you might have to check several times as viruses try to hide
and virus checkers arent perfect. if you find it, write the address
down.
2. download whatever virus patches that ms has and install
them.
3. in internet explorer delete all cookies and history.

4. go through add/remove software in control panel and remove
programs you know you dont want, especially any downloaded
ones from just before your problems began. under 'properties'
you can find 'dates'

5. in 'system tools' is 'system restore' it will restore your registry
to an earlier date. it doesnt always work, but wont cause
damage and can be reversed.

if steps 2-5 dont work, unload Avg which i think might have
interaction problems with Me and xp home. load if you want a newer Avg version.
if it still isnt working right and you have found the file that the
virus (if you still have one) is sitting in, back up your important
files and delete this one file. chances are that deleting the infected file wont cause problems, but if it does you might have
to repair/reload the Os. almost always the new/repaired system
will keep your files and settings.

a year or so ago i had problems like you are having, except i dont
use hot keys. i and a friend think Avg was part of it but this computer also had a kid visiting porn sites and other suspect
places picking up all sorts of garbage.

don