Windows 98SE crash

[SuRichardson]

Helpless middleaged female here. Last Saturday I set up my home pc for Wanadoo Broadband, successfully I may add.  However my joy was shortlived.  On Sunday - system crash.  I can only start Windows in safe mode - so my cd-rom drivers and disabled, and when I boot with the start up floppy disk I can't go any further than the A:> prompt.  I don't want to have to go pc in hand to my local store where I will be sniggered at by a group of young lads who could probably restore it with a flick of the wrist.  Can anyone please offer me a solution.  I intend to restore the system with Windows XP - but am not in any situation to start yet.  Thanks in anticipation

[Chillum]

Your broadband installation and the sudden crash may not be coincidental. I installed Bt broadband a couple of weeks ago and my machine became very unstable. Installation of virus/spyware checker showed that I was under constant attack, and had indeed been infected. If you don't have any already, you should definitley use  protection. Not sure about AntiVirus (which is the first hing you'll have to check) as I use my works, but this site will give you a free Firewall (it also has spychecker, pop up blocker etc. these are limited period but the firewall is free). http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/catalog/products/s ku_list_za.jsp
You should also get Adaware http://www.noadware.net/?hop=wintech for when your trial period of Zonelabs runs out runs out, and a spychecker, either Microsofts own one http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/softwar e or Spybot  http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

[SuRichardson]

Thanks - I know it's on a par with shutting the stable door etc.  I have the virus software lined up - it's getting the computer into a suitable working state to install it that is my immediate problem

[PunkDaddy]

It's very hard to say. The best option is getting someone you know who knows about computers to look at it. Alternatively take it to a shop. I know you say you don't want to do that because a group of young lads may snigger at you, but being sniggered at isn't the end of the world and also you don't know that would happen. If you don't know what you are doing you may do more harm than good. Not everyone can know about computers or young lads in shops would be out of work.