Windows 98/Intel Processor Serial Number Control Utility - won't work

[anniewr]

Self taught intermediate user here, no expert! Trying to clean up an old Windows 98, Compaq PC, Pentium III (to get rid of it), and it has worked great! I cleaned up everything I could think of, ran CCleaner, and then trying to get back on the 'net with Firefox or IE, could not connect. The machine tells me the Intel Processor Serial Number is disabled. I open the settings, click enable, restart, and it goes back to showing disabled. I'm going in circles over and over. (I don't know what happened while I was cleaning it up.) Any ideas pleeeeeez!

[Infinicore]

Maybe reset the BIOS/CMOS but for all the problems it might be a lost cause because CCleaner is not even supposed to run on Windows 98, there are no restore points to try and get back a working registry. The processor serial number enable/disable should be in the BIOS but that won't affect ability to get online or anything like that.

Since you are getting rid of it, it might be much simpler to DBan the drive now or install a lightweight LINUX distro if you don't have
Win98 installation media. I just don't know of any/many tools to help diagnose and fix Win 98...tons for XP but that doesn't help here.

[BATcher]

The Intel Processor Serial Number was a Bright Idea by which your particular PC could be identified/checked. I don't know whether it ever got used. Read all (some) about it here.

I would treat it with a complete ignoral!

[anniewr]

Thank you both. It doesn't sound like very good news, though. I don't know why we can't connect to the 'net now, after I fooled around with CCleaner. I saw that site last night, BATcher, when I was desperately seeking answers. No, I don't have the restore/install disc. Maybe we'll have to wipe the drive and start over, or use another drive.