After years of almost flawless performance, my Windows 98 SE system has started to sometimes hang momentarily when I click the start button to begin the shutdown process (or, for that matter, any of the other options available when you click the start button). When the start button is clicked, the button depresses but the computer then freezes for a minute or so before the system comes back to life on its own and the start menu pops up. The problem doesn't occur all the time. Upgrading IE from 5.5 to 6.0 and Outlook Express from 5 to 6 seemed to solve the problem for a while, but the annoying freezes have now begun again. Any help would be appreciated.

As it was an IE issue before you could try running IE Repair. Otherwise try rebuilding your registry by shutting down and restarting in DOS. Type scanreg /fix Both above are harmless. Derek.W

Thanks for the help, Derek, but I'm afraid I don't know what IE Repair is or how to get it. Thanks in advance for your further assistance.

paperboy, I do believe, this is what Derek is talking about. Hope you don't mind Derek, just lending a hand ;-) MSKB 194177 Good luck S.T.A.R.

Yep, there are many ways to get to IE Repair. Possibly easiest is as given, Control Panel/Add-Remove Programs, then double click Microsoft IE & Tools entry. Hopefully this will give you the option. Derek.W

Thanks again for the help, everyone. One more question, though: Should I still run the repair tool for IE 5 even though I've upgraded to IE 6?

If you've upgraded to IE6 then IE5 is no longer present. The IE Repair tool works with whatever version of IE you are using. If you still have a problem then by all means try IE Repair as per my #4. Derek.W