Can somebody out there help me?

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

I'm having a problem with my computer and I don't know what I should do.

I can get connected to the Internet and then about 5 minutes after I'm on I get this message: msniasvc: this program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down.

I can stay on-line and read e-mail, DU, etc, but when I go to shut down Explorer will not close. I have to ctrl, alt, delete and close it from there.

Now I called MSN, I use them for my internet access and the tech there told me that IE has to be reinstalled that there is a problem with it.

I have an HP that is 4 years old with Windows 98SE and the MSN tech told me to call HP, that they can fix the problem.

My question is this: Is my computer dying or is there something I can do about this myself?

[welshTerrier2]

1. not sure but here are a few helpful websites

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/win98/t1106976039
http://www.auditmypc.com/process/msniasvc.asp
http://www.processlibrary.com/directory/files/MSNIASVC/

these sites seem to indicate the msniasvc program is not essential and can be terminated ...

i don't think your computer is dying ...

[reprobate]

2. IE is so full of bugs that many of us have dumped it.

I would recommend using Firefox by Mozilla. It's far more responsive and far less open to exploits like IE is. There are far too many issues with IE for my taste. It's two generations old.

Just install it and make it your default browser. You won't be sorry. I don't know is there are issues with using firefox with MSN, but would doubt it.

[McKenzie]

3. try booting into safe mode

and re-name the file,then re-boot. (It can't be disabled using msconfig as far as I know) The OS shouldn't be able to find the file at boot thereafter.

As for re-installing IE it can't be uninstalled (well, really tekkie geeks can do it) from W98 so how can it be reinstalled?

Let us know how you fare.

regards

[tkmorris]

4. msniasvc is not needed

msniasvc.exe is installed with MSN Messenger version 9, apparently in order to ensure proper internet settings are preserved when MSN is installed. It is not needed after that at all so if it keeps bugging out on you I'd try simply uninstalling MSN messenger and reinstalling it. If that doesn't work you may have to remove the file manually or uninstall Messenger altogether. Messenger notoriously does not like being uninstalled but different people get different results.

Good Luck!

[SlavesandBulldozers]

5. leave IE

get Mozilla. run massive spyware scans using microsoft anti-spyware and adaware. then use mozilla and never touch it again. if you have any other proprietary isp browsers pull those off the computer

[idiosyncratic]

6. I agree. Don't use IE . . . or MSN

There are much less expensive ISPs out there. Mine only costs $9.95 a month.

Also, I've been using the Opera browser for more than two years and my old Pentium III never has any problems.

I love being able to have upwards of 30 pages (tabs) open at a time when I'm doing research.