Windows doesn't boot after critical update: "unknown error (code 5)"

I've had a Gateway PC since 2000 - Windows 98 SE. Only problem has been that it sometimes gets errors on reboot which seem to be realted to McAfee VirusScan - but when I continue, reboot completes OK.

Today I tried to add some critical updates from the Micorsoft update page - seemed to go OK until I got to rebooting the PC. Boot seems to go Ok - gets to the "Windows 98" banner screen, but then just stays there - I've tried leaving the PC for several hours but no further progress, it just stays on that screen. The only thing that has any effect is to press ESC - then the Windows banner disappears, and the DOS boot appears - with the message:

128 ... unknown error (code 5)

After this the only possible thing to do is Cntrl-Alt-Del, or to power off - both of which just start again. Any ideas how to solve this? I can't remember how to get into Windows safe mode - and not sure what I would do if I could.

Background: Win 98 SE which is reasonably up-to-date with fixes etc from Microsoft - about 4 critical updates loaded today, these were the only ones due. McAfee VirusScan v4.1.60. Netgear wireless card, has worked fine in the past.

Thanks for any help
Jonathan

 

Thanks for information - I had searched but hadn;t found it. Seems to be a problem with McAfee v4.1.60 - pity McAfee don't warn about this...