Start up error...

Well, we have windows 98 and I was trying to make the computer start up a bit quicker by taking some programs off of the msconfig list. I got rid of some useless logitech program and yahoo messenger ect. But now, when I restart the computer, the little screen comes up asking me to log in and when I press ok, I get a message "Explorer has encountered a problem and must shut down." So I press okay and nothing happens. I can move around the mouse and such but explorer has not started up.

I'm pretty sure that I didn't check off any usefull startup programs in msconfig, but I may have made a mistake. I tried starting the computer with a boot disk, safe more, step by step mode. All of them gives me the same problem.

Does anyone have any solutions? Thanks in advance.

 

1. It sounds like you unchecked something you should not have. Try booting to safe mode by tapping F8 once a second on startup after the initial beep untill you get a start options menu and choose 3 safe mode.
Return the checks in msconfig.

2. If that does not work, choose 5 command prompt only and at the C:_> prompt type
Scanreg /restore
it will list previous registries which booted, Choose the most recent other than the one you messed up.

3. I really do not suggest using msconfig to control startup programs. Your problem is one of the reasons why , but there are others.
I suggest that first you check in the programs own options or preferences for a start with windows or load at startup option and disable them this way. This is the way the software author intended them to be disabled and it corrects all the entries in the program and windows, not just the one entry in the registry which msconfig changes. The MSCONFIG startup manager is more designed for troubleshooting than for program managment.
If you run into programs which do not include any such option I prefer using a proper startup manager with process viewer which is capable of finding related dependencies.
Codestuf starter startup manager and process viewer

Is my choice, it is free and lets you know more about a startup entry or running process by just double clicking it.



The worst case scenario is you have to reinstall windows on top of itself (dirty install without formating)
Then you will have to reinstall all your programs since they will not work until you do.

 

I love you man. I fixed the problem with your second guess. You also taught me a valuable lesson. Thanks a million.