reinstalling Windows error

I just booted up my computer about a couple of minutes ago it says that I need to reinstall windows then a screen flashed a few times saying some file was missing. Then the blue screen saying theres been an error and I must restart my computer by pushing any button so I restarted the computer by turning the power off then on. Does anyone know what this means? I have Windows 98 SE by the way and the file if I remember correctly was a KNRL32 or something with a K and the number 32

 

Missing Kernel32.Dll? If it suddenly happened, I would say a virus has delivered it's payload and started deleting system files.
You can restore that file, need to boot with a startup floppy choosing with CD rom support. Write protect the disk first, you should see through both holes, if not slide the tab. Watch for a message telling you the drive letter for the CD, it will not be the normal letter, usually E if you have only the C: drive. Insert the windows CD, type in these commands at the prompt, pressing enter at the end of each line;

c:
cd\windows
extract /y X:\win98\win98_31.cab kernel32.dll [X being CD drive letter]


AVG AV for free
F-Prot AV scan for dos
Housecall, online AV scan
Bootdisk's

It would be better to get the system running and virus free first, rather just installing windows. Or format the hard drive and start out clean, but I really don't think you are ready for that. Unless you happen to have all your hardware drivers stored somewhere.

 

You might try running scandisk from the 98 boot disk. Use the switches. At the A: prompt, if C: is your hard drive:
scandisk C: /autofix /surface

If your hd is failing, you can get peculiar and unrepeatable errors.

 

Well I just got another problem developed when I booted up a program called Locumserv was causing a problem and sent me to the blue screen and said that specific program was to busy and that I needed to restart my computer.

 

I would go into Safe Mode, then Start\Run, type in Msconfig then press enter. When it opens, click on the Startup tab and uncheck everything but both powerprof entries, systray, and scanregw. It seems something nasty has installed itself and is starting up when windows does. I have no doubt that it had a faulty setup program that may have installed it's own version of system files and did it badly. Remember the missing kernel32.dll? Incorrect versions will cause BSOD's [blue screen of death]. I am not sure why something would want to update kernel32.dll, as mine is still the original version of 98SE, and am running IE 6 SP1.
Running System File Checker will be a good idea. Start\Run, type Sfc, then hit enter. Before replacing system files, post here which ones, for some of 98's system files have been updated by updating Internet Explorer to 5.5 SP2 or 6 SP1, and the 98 CD would have the incorrect version.
I would get the program at the link below and see what it finds.
SpyBot Search & Destroy
BTW, searching on Google.Com had no hits on what Locumserv is.
If you can get online, the Housecall link in my previous post may not be a bad idea.