Should I Be Worried?

[pepper]

I keep getting random & seemingly unconected errors, infact they're so random its hard to list them, but here goes:-
Firstly there's the Start button - I click it or hit the Windows key & it depresses but nothing else happens. There's also problems with selecting items - if I click on 1 item in windows explorer or on the desktop, it'll highlight 3 or 4. Sometimes the keyboard just stops working. Musicmatch keeps skipping or speeding up - its like playing a scratched record!
There are all sorts of odd things happening with differant programs - not the same problems with the same programs, it just seems random.
Rebooting always fixes the problem - until next time! :rolleyes:
Whats worried me is that I've heard a few odd clicking noises coming from the tower unit. Could my hard drive be packing up?

I'm running Win98se on PIII 700 with 512Mb. The system's about 2 maybe 3 years old. I always have Zonealarm & Nortons AntiVirus running. The only new software I've installed recently is Norton's Antivirus. I've tried removing this & reinstalling AVG. I've also tried usng no AntiVirus & no Zonealarm :eek: but it didn't solve anything.

Yes I know, random problems are a pain & this explanation is totally unhelpful but I need to vent my frustration or I'll end up throwing the thing out the window ;)

Thanks for any help & or sympathy :-@

[Raistlin333]

Have you tried reloading windows? and do you have norton utilities? I have NU2002 and I used to have random problems similar to what you explained. I bought NU2002 ran the Norton system check and came up with 162 medium and high severity problems with the registry just after I re-installed win98se. I also just recently downloaded Spybot-S&D and found 619 spyware programs running in my HD and I deleted them all and now it runs faster than I have seen before. these were just some thoughts, maybe re-loading might make less problems for you??

[shark_megabyte]

With the possible exception of the Start menu not coming up, all the problems/errors you describe sound like they could be related to some kind of keyboard problem. Try borrowing a keyboard that you know should work ok. Use it for a day and see if any of the weird errors happen.

As for the start menu, this usually happens when you've been using software that won't let go of the memory it's been using (restarting regularly is the solution).

[leprechaun_40]

Look for virus',, and check the hardware.

But really, look for virus', spyware, adware and malicious codes.:D

I would try a keyboard just to be sure too:r

Another thought,, mouse drivers? Try a reload of them.:eek:

[paramufay]

Whats worried me is that I've heard a few odd clicking noises coming from the tower unit. Could my hard drive be packing up?


hd may be going bad. is it a western digital? You may be hearing the " click of death" syndrome.

when was the last defrag?

[pepper]

Thanks for the replies :)
The hard drives a Samsung.
I formatted & reinstalled Windows a couple of days ago & that fixed problems I was having with IE (should have known better than install IE6!) but nothing else - but I was rushing so I could be finished in time to start work (which I need my computer for) and I suppose really I should have reinstalled the apps more slowly and checked how it ran in between each install :rolleyes:
I've just run NU System Check, Ad-Aware & Spybot so I'll see how it goes now. NAV says no virus, NU Disk Doctor says all fine & I've done a defrag. :(

On a happier note the Start button's fine now since I took off Hook99 :D I've also solved the MusicMatch problem - I found the best wasy to stop the tracks stuttering and jumping was to uninstall MusicMatch & install Winamp instead, which plays perfectly! :r