missing desktop

I'm using Win98. I have an older pc that I use for playing older games. I turned it on with intention of updating my McAfee but got an error message. Spool32. This program has perforned an illegal operation and will be shut down. I do not have a printer hooked to the pc and haven't for a while. I have no icons, no start menu, only the wallpaper. Ctrl, alt, delete brings up the programs Mcvsescn, Osd , Msgsrv32 and Rpcss. I can't do anything with it since I don't have a start menu or any icons. Could someone help me out here. I'm old and slow but willing to follow directions. Thanks for any help you can give!

 

Hi and welcome to the BBS.

One thing you can try is run "scanreg /restore" from a DOS prompt. You will have to boot the computer to DOS by holding down the control key during the initial boot up. Be sure you hold the key down just as the computer starts to post the first BIOS screen and before Windows starts to load.

You should get a screen with about 4 or 5 choices, select "Command Prompt only" and hit enter. You should get the C:\> prompt. Type in "scanreg /restore" (note space between scanreg and /) without the quotes, hit enter. You will then get a screen with a list of approx. 5 files (example: rb000.cab, rb001.cab, etc).

Select one of the files dated before you lost the desktop, move the cursor to the "restore" button and hit enter. When the restore has completed, exit and reboot the computer. This will restore your registry to a date before you lost the desktop and "hopefully" restore the desktop.

Note: you will have to use the arrow keys on the keypad to move the cursor around as your mouse will not be loaded.

Post back and let us know how you make out.

 

Missing desktop/it's back!

Hello John B. Thank you so much for your help with my computer problem. Your directions were very good and easy for me to follow and I now have my desktop back! I am one "Happy Camper "! After doing the restore I decided to remove a lot of clutter and do a scan disk and defrag. Thank you and thanks for the welcome to BBS. I am so glad I stumbled in. You're a love.

Edith

 

Hi Edith, pleased to hear the scanreg /restore did the trick, and a cleanup and defrag can help as well. Win98 being what it is doesn't particularly like to run in a cluttered environment. I try to keep running background programs and services to a minimum.

I am sure if you stick around this BBS you will learn lots of goodies!!

 

programs running in back ground

John. Now you have peeked my curosity. Where might I learn about which programs can be shut down and actually which ones can be removed? It must be something simple or I will absolutely ruin the computer. Trust me on this one!

Edith

 

I can tell you one thing to get rid of, and that would be Universal Plug & Play. The item in bold above tells me it is there. To remove go to Control Panel \ Add/Remove Programs, click on Setup tab. It should be near the bottom of the list.
Please note that this does not have anything to do with Plug & Play for your hardware.

 

Hi Edith, here's a site that will give you some idea of what can or cannot be removed or shut down:

AnswersThatWork
Just go to the appropriate letter, and search for the process/exe, they will give good detailed info regarding it.

Also suggest you browse through the "Removing Spyware & Viruses" forum below and take a look at some of the work done by "TeMerc ". He is the resident expert on removing spyware etc. and often had good tips on what programs that are not necessary to run.

Personally I find it is always safest to remove an application from your computer using the Add/Remove in the control panel or from the uninstall shortcut on the Start/Programs/specific application list. Usually you can't get in too much trouble that way. Just make sure you have a good idea of what the application is/does that you are uninstalling. If you are not sure, leave it, if it is not actively running it normally only takes up space on the hardrive.

 

programs running in background

Hi Markp. Thanks for the information about Rpcss. I turned the computer on, did Ctrl, Alt, Delete and the program was no longer there. Is that the norm? I have 13 progarms running, 7 of which are McAfee. Do the same programs always run at startup?

Thanks bunches,
Edith

 

That could be the norm for it, I think you should read this link on it, and maybe run the program available on that page.
http://www.grc.com/unpnp/unpnp.htm

Your startups stay the same, until you or something else changes it.

 

Answers that work

JohnB. I thought I had already written back to thank you for the website. I have used that one before and had it in my favorites. I actually forgot that I had it.
Thanks!

Edith