Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion (
More info?)
Thanks for the infomation Bill,
I'm going over on Thursday so I'll try this approach
"Bill Starbuck" wrote:
> The obvious question is does the machine lock up if you start Windows
> in Safe Mode?
>
> Troubleshooting should follow this logic:
>
> 1. Start Win95/98 in Safe Mode.
> If the trouble does not appear in Safe Mode, then the trouble is
> caused by software conflicts or defects. Investigate each of the
> functions that Safe Mode turns off.
>
> 2. If the trouble also occurs in Safe Mode, rename the current Windows
> folder and reinstall Win95/98 into an empty folder.
> If the trouble does not appear with a fresh installation, the trouble
> is caused by something you have added to Win95/98 (but something that
> is not turned off by Safe Mode).
>
> 3. If the trouble occurs even with a fresh install of Windows, the
> trouble is arising in hardware.
>
> Safe Mode does the following:
> (a) bypasses config.sys and autoexec.bat
> (b) prevents programs from starting automatically (from win.ini
> or the startup folder)
> (c) uses standard VGA video
> (d) prevents a network from being started
> (e) disables protected mode device drivers (those listed in
> Device Manager)
> (f) bypasses the [boot] and [386Enh] sections of system.ini
> For more details, see document 122051 in the Microsoft KnowledgeBase.
>
> If Safe Mode makes the problem go away, you can try tests from the
> list below to pin down the cause of the problem. For more elaborate
> instructions, see document 156126 in the KnowledgeBase, which explains
> how to do troubleshooting in Safe Mode.
>
> With Windows 98, you can use MSConfig to help you run the tests below.
> With Windows 95, you can use Startup Control Panel. Startup Control
> Panel is similar to the Msconfig utility that ships in Windows 98. It
> can make troubleshooting easier by removing and restoring items from
> the Windows startup. You can get Startup Control Panel as freeware
> from:
>
> http://home.ptd.net/~don5408/toolbox/startupcpl/
>
> Startup Cop can also disable items loading at Windows startup and it
> is freeware. You can download Startup Cop from:
>
>
http://www.zdnet.com/downloads/stories/info/0,,77594,.html
>
> Yet another option is msconfig.exe as adapted to Win95:
>
>
http://www2.whidbey.net/djdenham/Msconfig.htm
>
> 1. Change the video driver to Microsoft's Standard Display Adapter
> (VGA). Restart Windows and test.
>
> 2. Rename the Config.sys and Autoexec.bat to Config.sss and
> Autoexec.bbb, or edit them so that the only things loading are
> absolutely necessary for the computer to run. The latter items might
> be a SCSI driver for the harddrive, or disk management software for an
> EIDE drive. Deactivate EVERYTHING else by putting REM in front of
> that line. Reboot the computer and test.
>
> 3. Remove EVERYTHING from the Start Menu/Startup folder by dragging
> their icons onto the desktop. Also disable or uninstall all utilities
> that are running TSR (such as Norton Navigator, SoftRam or Macafee
> AV). Restart Windows and test.
>
> 4. Rename the Win.ini and System.ini to Win.iii and System.iii. Then
> make a copy of System.cb and name it System.ini. Do not rename
> System.cb itself. Edit the new System.ini as follows: Add
> device=*vmd
> to the [386Enh] section, and add
> drivers=mmsystem.dll
> mouse.drv=mouse.drv
> to the [boot] section. Restart Windows. You probably will have no
> mouse so you'll have to use keystrokes to do the following. Go into
> Device Manager and select the mouse (which will have a yellow
> exclamation point). Click "Remove." Again, restart Windows. Windows
> should find the mouse and install software for it. Test.
>
> 5. With Windows 98, run the System File Checker. Go to Start/Run and
> enter "sfc".
>
> 6. Rename the current Windows folder (directory). Then install
> Win95/98 to a new, empty folder. Test. If problem does not occur, it
> was caused by something in the old installation. I recommend that you
> keep this new installation and reinstall your Windows applications.
>
> When you reinstall applications, install Windows applications that
> were written for Win95/98 or WinNT but do not install older
> applications that were written for Windows 3.x. Install only one
> application at a time and test the system thoroughly before installing
> another application. Before you install and application, make a system
> snapshot with a program such as ConfigSafe; this will allow you to
> revert to the previous situation if (when) you install an application
> that causes trouble. With Win98, it is also possible to run "ScanReg
> /Backup" before you install an application, which allows you to
> restore the Registry if (when) you install an application that causes
> trouble. However, it is safer to make a complete system backup and
> recovery with ConfigSafe or a similar product.
>
> The following articles explain how to install into a new folder:
>
> How to Reinstall Windows 95 to a New Folder [142096]
>
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/142/0/96.asp
>
> How to Install Windows 98 to a New Folder [193902]
>
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/193/9/02.asp
>
> Information about reinstalling is also on www.windowsreinstall.com.
>
>
> Bill Starbuck (MVP)
>
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