Resolved My friend Gets 401 Error Message

My friend is running win 98. He told me for the last couple of days he can't access the internet. He uses a dial-up connection with MSN account. He clicks on IE and gets an Error 401 message but he could not remember what the message said. Then he told me his desktop changes. Could he have been hijacked? If so will system restore(if win 98 has it) fix it? Where can i find a tool to fix the hijacking? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

There is no system restore in 98. But he could try booting to command prompt and typing scanreg /restore, then restart. Try repairing IE. Start>Programs>Accessories>System Tools>System Information then click Tools>Internet Explorer Repair Tool. May need the 98 CD. Or, if Internet Explorer is in the add/remove programs list, select it and click remove. Should have option to repair. If neither of those work, type this into the run dialog box and hit enter- rundll32 setupwbv.dll,IE6Maintenance "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Setup\SETUP.EXE" /g "C:\WINDOWS\IE Uninstall Log.Txt "
Failing those, you might want to put HijackThis on a floppy, move it to a permanent folder on his PC and run it. Save the log and post it here. You can get HJT here.

 

lj50--Error 401 is usually associated with trying to access a restricted website without the appropriate password, authorization, etc.
But you say this happens when he just opens Internet Explorer? Sounds like his Home Page has been hijacked to a site requiring such authorization. If that is the case then a scan with HiJackThis is a good idea as suggested by noahdfear.
Can he determine what the setting for his homepage is? IE Tools|Internet Options|General tab|Home Page section. Is that what he expects it to be?
Your friend should try to record (and tell us) what the actual error message is.

 

I'll probably go to the machine with problem and see for myself. I thought he was hijacked especially when he told me his desktop changes. I downloaded HiJackThis and put it to floppy. Thanks for all your help. If there are any other suggestions feel free to post them. If and when he calls I'll take a look at it and post back with the results.

 

Might want to look up Markp62 and d/l a copy of FProt for DOS. Link in his signature. It's a virus scanner. I think it might fit on a floppy, but not sure.

 

It will take about 3 floppies to transfer the unzipped download for F-Prot. But you need to update it with additional downloads, a simple copying of newer files over older ones.