Odd Win 98 SE monkey business...

bugler · 02-08-2003 10:37PM #1

The other night I left a download manager on with the specification that it would power down the pc when the download finished. When I got up the next day the pc was in a state of paralysis. It looked like the OS was booting up (just before password entry) but was very much locked up. I rebooted, and got the message that a file that windows needs was missing/deleted. "nwlink.vxd" is the culprit. It suggests that I uninstall any related program fully to remedy this. Pressing any key gets me past this and windows loads up fairly regularly, so I didn't think much of it. However, it continues to do this, and I'm also experiencing a different problem...

The second problem is that when I install new programs, even though it says they are to be put into C:/Program Files/theprogramname they don't appear there. I then of course have to go looking for the individual .exe to run them which needless to say is annoying. I also got a couple of blue screens of death today, telling me explorer and mediaplayer caused a "general protection fault".

So, any ideas? What is this nwlink.vxd? Oh, bear in mind that is a fresh install of windows on a brand new hard drive :-/

Capt'n Midnight · 02-08-2003 11:13PM

It's part of the Novell network protocol - ie. you don't need it - happens in 95 / ors2 / 98 / se (probably happens in ME but I can't find a barge pole long enough)

Use Regedit to find it and remove it (usual warning about reg - all eggs in one basket)

Usually happens when some network settings have changed - the fact that it's been around since late 94 and wasn't fixed by 99 ....

Check your password settings - do all users share the same deaktop / start menu etc ??

or you could save the search for *.exe / age = one day on to the desktop for later use...

gpf's - ha (see also ure / BSOD etc..)

As far as I am concerned gpf's are caused by either hardware problems (1% and diags disk will confirm) or bad OS / program design / half-arsed testing - the Bumpf for 2K says it gpf's 40 times less often than 98

PS: a software timing bug that was known in 95 Beta causes 98 to crash after 49.7 days (there is now a patch) - point is few end users have ever seen a win9x pc on for 7 weeks

Stephen · 03-08-2003 01:23AM

Originally posted by Capt'n Midnight
the Bumpf for 2K says it gpf's 40 times less often than 98

I believe it too. Win98 is now over five years old, and smells quite strongly of urine in this day and age. Unless your PC is an antique I would recommend upgrading to Win2k/XP.

Cake Fiend · 03-08-2003 06:21PM

Might be worth running SFC for a laugh.

spongebob · 03-08-2003 08:37PM

a trojan attack perhaps ?

GRAHAM2002 · 06-08-2003 10:05AM

Sounds like u have a virus either take out your h/d and scan it in a friends machine scan your machine from boot with a/v or reload the o/s.

Stephen - just for the record 98se is still one of the most stable windows o/s ( if there is such a thing).

I run 2000 but xp is a croc as u would probably know given your scathing comment.

I have had more probs on 2000 than I ever had on 98.

Sorry just needed to put the record straight.

g

Odd Win 98 SE monkey business...

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