Being a person so frugal that Scotsmen regularly blanch at my frugality, I still have a number of Windows98se boxes scattered around the house which I have forced to continue working online by using KernelEx and other carefully selected software. Yes, yes, a glutton for punishment. Why does man climb the mountain ... I digress. (again.)
So ... here are some very basic suggestions for working with your problem on Windows 98 ...
First, use System File Checker to take a look some of your system files. System File Checker is a native program that should be on your computer from when the Operating System was loaded. This is a program that looks at about 1000 or so system files and checks them to see if any appear corrupt.
While you will need the system disks to fix any problem found, System File Checker still allows you to see which files may be corrupt. While it is best run from the command prompt (if you know how to do that), you can also run it while windows is running.
When you run SFC, each time it finds a file that is corrupt, just write down the name of the corrupt file, and on the resulting screen check “ignore” and it will go on with it’s examination.
The easiest way to find System File Checker on your computer is to either to ...
Goto the Start (button) > Programs > Accessories > System Tools ... hopefully you will see it there ... or if not, search your system by opening Windows Explorer and under the “Tools” drop-down menu use the “Find” feature to search your computer for Sfc.exe .
Once you find it, click to run it and see what it finds.
Another simple step you can try is to run ScanDisk ... it also is at ...
Start (button) > Programs > Accessories > System Tools
In Scandisk, make sure to check the setting that tells scandisk to automatically repair any problems it finds ... and check the setting that performs the "thorough" form of the scandisk scan.
As an aside ... btw: do NOT run the defrag program (“disk defragmenter”
while your system is ill.
As far as kaspersky ... Does anything Kaspersky work with windows 98? ... the OP is running 98.
I don’t think Kaspersky or hardly anyone else offers anything for Windows 98 anymore ... with the exception of ClamWin Antivirus.
ClamWin is good for scanning though does not provide on-access protection.
Google ClamWin and download and run it ... see if it finds anything.
Finally, you can try going to MSconfig and look, at least, at the startup tab there for anything that looks odd. Of course you have to understand what files should be checked there and which ones are extraneous. There is at least a pretty decent chance that you might actually see what is loading itself (or trying to load itself) there, and be able to uncheck it so that it does not load that white screen thats been plaguing you.
While using MSconfig is beyond the scope of my post here, you can find lots of info online by googling “msconfig” plus “windows 98” for more information on how it might help.
One moderate description can be found at ...
http://www.alexnolan.net/articles/service.htm
In any regard, use System File Checker ... run ScanDisk ... and download and Run ClamWin and see where that gets you.
Good luck.
