[germo]

I often get my internet apps locking up on me. Happens while surfing, internet, timing variable. Couple times a day perhaps. Happens with IE or Firefox. Mouse and keyboard do not lockup. Cannot quit app. When lockup happens, *I try start menu restart; screen goes shaded, I get the 'cannot close application...' window, with choices 'wait' or 'end task'. If I choose 'wait', nothing happens for a long time; if I choose 'end task', dialog box closes, but nothing happens. Cycle can be repeated starting from *.

If I use ctl-alt-del, same thing, I get a choice of the things running and no matter which I choose, I get the dialog box 'cannot close application...' and thereafter same as above.

But occasionally I will get the blue screen at this point, which says press any key to continue or press ctl-alt-del again for restart. Neither works.

Sometimes when this happens if I move the mouse a lot, as I move it, the computer begins to make a series of clicking noises out the speakers. Rate varies as rate of moving mouse. 5-15Hz est.

The only way out of it is to do a power down and restart by holding the start button on the front of the computer down for 5-10 seconds. After restart scandisk runs, and computer comes up ok until the next time it happens. If there is a correlation to helper apps such as acrobat reader or others, I don't see it. Also see no correlation to which websites I have visited. Typically newspapers and blogs.

Have done all the steps rec in topic 2852, always comes up clean of viruses and other malware. W98SE/IE current. IBM Netvista 6018. BIOS current.

Any ideas out there?

Garry W.

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When in doubt run System File Checker. Go Start>Run, type in sfc, hit OK and follow the prompts on the GUI. It will ask you whether you want to replace a file. You may need your installation disk if you don't have the cabinet files in your computer.

[Tyger]

When in doubt run System File Checker. Go Start>Run, type in sfc, hit OK and follow the prompts on the GUI. It will ask you whether you want to replace a file. You may need your installation disk if you don't have the cabinet files in your computer.

[germo]

Update:
I ran sfc, it said that 'setupx.dll' was corrupted. I bought a used corporate computer with a w98 license, no disks, so I searched around and found another setupx.dll at dll-files.com. I substituted the new one manually and rebooted and have not had a lockup in a few days, so looking good.

SFC is a very useful function, I was not aware of its existence. Thanks for the help.

GW