Should I run ScanDisc and defragmenter

hmmmm thats more than enough space for all processes.

try sfc

click on start>>click on run>> type in "sfc" without the quotes and press enter.

this will try to repair all your damaged files.

start the scan and if it finds a faulty file, it will ask for the original one.

insert your windows 98 cd and or direct it to your win98 folder. and finish the scan.

restart and see if this problem happens again.

k im going for dinner, i'll be back later.

I did this and no damaged files were reported, I restarted and had to wait again for 20 minutes for this Microsoft Registry Checker to run. When it is "Rebuilding System Registry" it gets to 75% like before and gives me that same error message. HOW do I stop the Microsoft Registry Checker from running ???? Nothing was wrong before except the comp was running a bit slow now I have to wait 20 minutes just to get online.

Now ScanDisc won't run either , it starts but stops after about 5 minutes like it is stuck. This registryScan completely screwed me here !!

epackage, how long has it been since you installed your operating system, i.e. windows 98.

why dont you try re-installing your operating system, you should have installed it after 4 or 5 months of installation.

oh and you say that your machine is very old, so maybe the hard disk has bad sectors and maybe thats why it is not running scan disk and giving all these problems.

to check for bad sectors, restart your system , while it is starting up, keep pressing the F8 key, this will bring up a menu instead of the windows 98 splash screen, from the menu select command promp.
you will get a promp like c:\>

here enter scandisk and press enter

when it asks you if you want to do a thorough scan press yes, this might take a while but its best if you do it.

also i recommend that you re install after this scan