Thanks, Tim. I printed out your instructions and followed them exactly. When I launched IE, and typed yahoo.com in the address bar, II got the same " Internet explorer has performed an illegal operation" message. Then, I got really worried that I might have queered Firefox! But it appears to be OK still.

At this point, I don't care if I see IE again. Firefox works better anyway. I have run adaware and spybot and find no spyware or adware problems. And my AVG antivirus comes up clean too, so I suppose it is just some glitch in the Win98-IE interface that is causing the problem. I have never been comfortable with the way MS products want to take over my computer when I run them - defaulting to take over functions that other products had done better. Viewing photos is a good example. IE took over this on its own and does a really lousy job, usually crashing after about 10 minutes of work with JPG files.

My plan now is to run what I have now til it crashes, then buy a new computer. All of my data is backed up. I hope it'* not for another 6 years!

works for me I use FF for everything except 1 bill website that doesn't work with FF and for the windows Update; which should be a seperate app imo.

If your not using w98 Second Edition, leet me know and I'll hunt up my SE update cd for ya. Hopefully I can still find it <KIDS!! GRRRR!!>

Tim, my OS is plain ol' Windows 98. It may be some Compaq variation of the original Win98. Some have told me that Compaq diddled with it to make the OS more stable. All I know is this computer came from Compaq with only a "restore disc" that won't do diddly when you attempt to use it. I do have the certificate of authenticity from Microsoft for the Windows OS, if that matters.

I can't imagine your wife wanting a new refrigerator simply because it won't keep ice cream hard enough, and it'* "old". I'm sure you're older than the fridge and she hasn't thrown you out. She can consider the ice cream soft-serve.

A friend had a Compaq that lasted forever...and if it wasn't for being too slow for some of the current apps, it would still be running. My current laptop is a Compaq. I know old Michigan Bell, then Ameritech, then SBC and now AT&T used Compaqs for a lot of there computers, too. I also know that some people hate them

Yeah, I mean, both of us could stand to lose a few pounds, so ice cream shouldn't be a part of our diet, anyway. And how many people can boast a truly retro coppertone appliance in the midst of an otherwise all-white kitchen? Truth is the door seal on that old thing is so bad now that a new fridge would probably pay for itself in 5 years of reduced electric bills.

That is my plan....run it til it dies. I suspect that won't be all that long, however.