Safe Mode doesn't work, Normal mode does

"A" <> wrote in message news:<ccegdj$gqe$>...
> Hi Bob, Don't worry about SFC coming up with SETUPX.DLL, it always does in
> my experience so just ignore it as a false message. I've seen lots of people
> on bulletin boards looking for setupx.dll !!!
>
> As regards explorer.exe, I don't think it matters how it gets loaded as long
> as it's not corrupted. Just copy it off your Installation CD. Anyway, if you
> have now re-installed then your all done. Cheers - Alan. (PS. passed A+
> Core, taking OS exam on Friday)
>
> "bobG" <> wrote in message
> news: om...
> > "A" <> wrote in message
> news:<ccbh44$ht8$>...
> > > Hi again: I have given this some more thought. It can't be a hardware
> > > problem if normal mode runs ok. I next would suggest running System
> File
> > > Checker in System Tools. Have your Windows 98 CDROM ready. Any
> > > missing/problem system files should get replaced. Also, it's interesting
> > > that Task Manager is empty in Safe Mode: the only running task in Safe
> Mode
> > > is Windows Explorer (C:\Windows\explorer.exe), perhaps explorer doesn't
> get
> > > loaded properly for some reason in Safe Mode which would probably
> account
> > > for the empty desktop. Let us know if that helps! Alan.
> > > "bobG" <> wrote in message
> > > news: om...
> > > > I'm trying to clean up the Win98SE system my Mom inherited from my Dad
> > > > when he passed away. While trying to run Scandisk, I got the not
> > > > unusual 10 tries and stop; from my experience with ME, knew to run it
> > > > in Safe Mode. Surprise! No Safe Mode. I get a screen with the words
> > > > Safe Mode in the 4 corners, but no icons, no Start Menu. BTW, I was
> > > > able to run Scandisk and then defrag in normal mode by unchecking a
> > > > slew of items from the startup tab in msconfig.
> > > >
> > > > When I try to bring up a Start Menu using Ctrl + Esc, I get nothing.
> > > > If I try to bring up Start Menu using Winkey, I get a Kernel32 Dialog
> > > > box with the following error message:
> > > >
> > > > This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down.
> > > > If the problem persists, contact the vendor.
> > > >
> > > > In this box are an OK button, and a Details button. If I click on
> > > > either, it's as if the system freezes; the only way out is to use the
> > > > reset button. If I Ctrl>Alt>Del, the Close Program dialog box is
> > > > empty. I can Ctrl>Alt>Del again and restart from there.
> > > >
> > > > Again, Normal run runs fine.
> > > >
> > > > I've tried a re-install in place. No joy. I've tried reinstalling
> > > > video drivers. Same result, i.e. no change. I've tried booting to MS
> > > > DOS mode and getting to Safe mode that way; same results. I've tried
> > > > booting from a startup disk and running Safe mode that way, same
> > > > results.
> > > >
> > > > Anything ideas short of a reformat out there?
> > > >
> > > > TIA,
> > > > Bob
> >
> > Alan-
> >
> > I agree it's not hardware.
> >
> > Thanks for the idea. Interestingly, I had run SFC as part of the
> > trouleshooting I did before the dirty reinstall. It found one changed
> > .dll, and I replaced it, though that didn't make a difference in Safe
> > Mode. OK, here's the interesting part. I just reinstalled, so
> > everything should be peachy, right? Well, SFC found that it needed to
> > replace setupx.dll, so I did, from the CD ROM. That didn't affect the
> > safemode issue, however.
> >
> > You are right about explorer not being loaded as the root issue. How
> > to check that for Safe Mode? Where does it get loaded? And how? Is
> > this a config.sys issue? MSDOS.SYS?
> >
> > PQwan-
> >
> > vga.drv is present in the Windows\System folder. I previously tried
> > to change the display adapter to a generic VGA and then run Safe Mode,
> > no change.
> >
> > BTW, I have eliminated virus, and malware as a cause. Ran the whole
> > gamut of AV and adaware, spybot s&d, CWShredder, Hijackthis. Nada.
> >
> >
> > Thanks to all for your input. All other ideas welcome!!
> >
> > Bob

Good luck on your exam. Are you saying I should copy explorer.exe
again from the CD ROM? Didn't it get copied when I did the reinstall?
I still have no Safe Mode after the reinstall. If it was corrupted,
wouldn't I be experiencing problems in normal mode?

Thanks for responding.

Still plugging,

Bob

bobG