# PC Problem
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-problem/112814
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [June 7, 2002, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-problem/112814 "2002-06-07T10:59:15Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@ICP9991](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ICP9991)
#### Post date: [June 7, 2002, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-problem/112814/1 "2002-06-07T10:59:15Z")
Now, i have no idea how i did this, or how to fix it, but i cannot open the internet options (in the control panel), when i double click the icon a box appears for a split second then disappears (i have no time to see it). at first it reported a missing \*.dll, but i extracted that from the win98 disc.
Also Outlook doesnt work anymore, saying it is installed improperly, and has a bad \*.dll
does anyone know how to fix this?
(things i have tried:
re installing the required \*.dll’s
Running a system file check
restarting my machine
running Norton disc/win doctors)
Could it be a virus? how can i stop it??
any help is appreciated
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### Author:  [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)
#### Post date: [June 7, 2002, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-problem/112814/2 "2002-06-07T14:01:44Z")
The first thing I would try is repairing Internet Explorer.
Go to **Start|Settings|Control Panel|Add/Remove Programs** , select **Microsoft Internet Explorer** , and hit **Add/Remove**. A window should come up with three choices. Select **Repair Internet Explorer**.
This will require a reboot.
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### Author:  [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)
#### Post date: [June 7, 2002, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-problem/112814/3 "2002-06-07T14:11:25Z")
W98 has a cool function, system file checker, just run it from the run box,
e.g. RUN: SFC
be sure to have your w98 disk ready.
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### Author:  [@ICP9991](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ICP9991)
#### Post date: [June 7, 2002, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-problem/112814/4 "2002-06-07T14:13:55Z")
thanks alot for your help, In the end it turned out to be a virus which was systematically deleting my \*.DLL files (preventing my from getting into the control panel, running an SFC and all other useful things:mad: )
Does anyone know anywhere i can get _free_ virus scanning software so this doesnt happen again?:rolleyes:
Cheers.
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### Author:  [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)
#### Post date: [June 7, 2002, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-problem/112814/5 "2002-06-07T18:10:21Z")
Link to AVG, an excellent free anti-virus program.
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### Author:  [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)
#### Post date: [June 7, 2002, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-problem/112814/6 "2002-06-07T18:16:45Z")
Link to AVG, an excellent free anti-virus program.
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### Author:  [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)
#### Post date: [June 7, 2002, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-problem/112814/7 "2002-06-07T22:57:46Z")
[http://housecall.antivirus.com/housecall/start\_pcc.asp](http://housecall.antivirus.com/housecall/start_pcc.asp)
Trend Micro free online virus scanner. Up to date, kinda slow though.