Shutdown Problem

xyz

July 13, 2002 4:02:27 AM

Is there a solution to the windows 98 shutdown problem when It hangs at "Please Wait ....." screen when you shut it down from Start menu.
I was facing the same problem since a long time but could not find any solution for it.
Most people say that it is due to some bad driver that is not being properly unloaded during shutdown process. Microsoft suggests different solutions including (& stressing upon) the 'BIOS ISSUE'. Microsoft says it is due to the BIOS which is not properly interacting between the hardware and the Operating system.

To test it, I renamed the 'BIOS.VXD' file from C:\Windows\Sysem and restarted the
system and again shutdown This time it didn't hang at the "Please wait..." screen" and the culprit was found.
Now there were two possible fixes of this problem
1. Change the BIOS configuration if it works.
2. Update the BIOS.

I restored the "BIOS.VXD", went into BIOS Setup and I made one change in its setting i.e.
Assign IRQ to VGA: NO
I changed NO to YES.

Restarted the system, againg shut it down and this time to my happiness, it didn't hang at "Please Wait..." screen, rather it showed the "It is now safe..." screen.
 I thought that the problem was fixed but--- there are some questions for you;

1. Whether the change I made to (AMI)BIOS Setup, i.e. Assign IRQ VGA: YES, is right???

2. Now computer doesn't hang at "Please wait..." screen but Hard Drive LED still remains 'on' even when the "It is now safe to.." message has appeared.
Is there still any problem are it is normal???

3. Can you restart you computer from the Key board using ALT+CTRL+DEL when "It is now safe to..." screen has appeared? I can do that. Is it normal???

"All delays are dangerous in war."

More about : shutdown problem

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btvillarin

July 15, 2002 9:15:34 AM

Was this what you were looking through?
<A HREF="http://www.microsoft.com/windows98/downloads/contents/W..." target="_new">Windows 98 SE Shutdown Supplement</A>

Bryan
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<A HREF="http://www.btvillarin.com" target="_new">btvillarin.com</A> isn't going to go down. I will stay alive. :smile: To keep updated about the future move my host will undertake, keep your eye on my <A HREF="http://btvillarin.fateback.com" target="_new">official btvillarin.com status site</A> and sign up for my mailing list.

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xyz

July 16, 2002 2:26:15 AM

I have tried the "Shutdown Supplement" before but it's of no avail.
I have discovered that the change I made in BIOS Setup was right, because if no IRQ is assigned to your VGA then it can cause different problems including shutdown.

Now the question is should the HDD LED go off when "It is now safe...." message has appeared. The case is not autoshut so I have to manually Power off the computer. Though the HDD LED remains on but it seems no activity in the Hard drive (as there is no sound). There is no improper shutdown message at the reboot, so it seems as if Win98 shutdown properly.
What do you say???

"All delays are dangerous in war."

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btvillarin

July 16, 2002 3:32:58 AM

Dang, I'll be amazed if this is it. I found it after a minute of searching. :cool:

<A HREF="http://support.microsoft.com/search/preview.aspx?scid=k...;en-us;Q189576" target="_new">Hard Disk is Active After Windows 98 Shutdown (Q189576)</A>

Please reply with good news... :lol:

Bryan
_________________________________________________
<A HREF="http://www.btvillarin.com" target="_new">btvillarin.com</A> isn't going to go down. I will stay alive. :smile: To keep updated about the future move my host will undertake, keep your eye on my <A HREF="http://btvillarin.fateback.com" target="_new">official btvillarin.com status site</A> and sign up for my mailing list.

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xyz

July 16, 2002 5:56:37 AM

Bryan! That was a great discovery. :smile:
It means that there is no more problem with my computer as
Microsoft says "This behavior can be caused by the Advanced Power Management (APM) features in Windows 98 and does not cause any problem or loss of functionality.

So thank you very much!

Final question is, "can this behaviour be changed by making any changes in APM features of Windows 98?"

"All delays are dangerous in war."

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btvillarin

July 16, 2002 7:31:15 AM

Well, I'm not sure what to do about that. I'm not in Windows 98, and I'm not sure what else to look for. Perhaps there's something in the BIOS enable, so that your motherboard can utilize ACPI, instead of the older APM.

But, can't you get Win2K or XP? :lol:

(J/K)

Good luck on your quest!
Bryan
_________________________________________________
<A HREF="http://www.btvillarin.com" target="_new">btvillarin.com</A> isn't going to go down. I will stay alive. :smile: To keep updated about the future move my host will undertake, keep your eye on my <A HREF="http://btvillarin.fateback.com" target="_new">official btvillarin.com status site</A> and sign up for my mailing list.

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Toejam31

July 16, 2002 2:50:01 PM

You could try <A HREF="http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000338.htm" target="_new">disabling</A> Advanced Power Management. It's not always necessary for it to be active with older desktop systems and Win9x. You'll lose the Standby option when shutting down, but that's generally too buggy to use on a regular basis, anyway.

Toey

First Rig: <A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?rigid=17935" target="_new">Toejam31's Devastating Dalek Destroyer</A>
Second Rig: <A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?rigid=15942" target="_new">Toey's Dynamite DDR Duron</A>
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"Some push the envelope. Some just lick it. And some can't find the flap."

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xyz

July 17, 2002 2:25:48 AM

Thanks guys for your valuable suggestions!

Quote:

But, can't you get Win2K or XP?

Bryan! I am dual booting Win98 with Win2K on this computer. I know Win98 is more prone to crash as compared to NT based systems, but still I like it so cann't throw it out. :smile:

Quote:

You could try disabling Advanced Power Management.

I have tried this trick before but it doesn't work.
First of all, I disabled the Power Management features from the BIOS. Then did exactly what you suggested in order to turn off the APM features in Windows 98. Finally, I disabled the APM from the Device Manager, but of no avail.
I am no more worried about this problem as this is actually not a problem.
Window shutdown normally, it's only the HDD LED which which remains on, there is no HDD activity though. Perhalps this could also be fixed by flashing the BIOS or even updating it. But I don't think it is necessary. Win2000 on the same
computer shutdown normally along with HDD LED.

Can you provide some link which contains detailed information about configuring AMI BIOS? I have searched for it but could not find some with detailed information about all the options.

"All delays are dangerous in war."

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Toejam31

July 17, 2002 4:04:50 AM

The best place to search for information about your particular BIOS is the manual that came with your mainboard. But, to go along with that:

<A HREF="http://www.pcguide.com/ref/mbsys/bios/set/index.htm" target="_new">BIOS Settings</A>

<A HREF="http://www.wimsbios.com/" target="_new">Wim's BIOS</A>

<A HREF="http://www.sonal.co.uk/y2k10120.htm" target="_new">BIOS Information Guide</A>

<A HREF="http://www.motherboards.org/articlesd/tech-planations/3..." target="_new">BIOS Basics</A>

<A HREF="http://hardware.webcab.co.uk/bios/intro.shtml" target="_new">General BIOS Information</A>

<A HREF="http://stason.org/TULARC/pc/bios.html" target="_new">BIOS Info Center</A>

<A HREF="http://www.abios.com/problem.html" target="_new">All BIOS World</A>

<A HREF="http://www.dewassoc.com/support/bios/bioshelp.htm" target="_new">MOTHERBOARD & BIOS HELP</A>

<A HREF="http://www.computerhope.com/help/ami.htm" target="_new">AMI BIOS Simulation and Help</A>

And last, but not least:

<A HREF="http://www.ami.com/support/" target="_new">American Megatrends - Technical Support</A>

There ... that should keep you busy for a while! :smile:

Toey

First Rig: <A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?rigid=17935" target="_new">Toejam31's Devastating Dalek Destroyer</A>
Second Rig: <A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?rigid=15942" target="_new">Toey's Dynamite DDR Duron</A>
__________________________________________________________

"Some push the envelope. Some just lick it. And some can't find the flap."

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xyz

July 18, 2002 3:57:39 AM

So Toey once again maintains the quality + quantity in his links.

Thanks Toey! All the links were very much useful and informative and offcourse they kept me busy for more than a while. :smile:
Thanks again!

"All delays are dangerous in war."

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