Boot process hangs 1

[Gswiss]

I've been using this Windows 98Se for years. Now, I hang just before the Windows UserId and password display request.

I can go into safe mode. I ran antivirus, spybot and ad-aware. I ran the registry checker from the Accessories Directory. I ran the Scandisk. I even unchecked all the startup programs under msconfig. I imported a previously saved registry file.

I always hang on a reboot after a successful safe mode.

The only modification of the system I did on the last successful normal session was the installation of the latest InCD version from Nero 6. The first thing I did in Safe mode was to uninstall it.

Nothing is wrong with the PC as I have a multiboot and Windows 2000 and XP work fine.

 

[ski]

If the problem started within the last 5 days, then restart the computer, press and hold the Ctrl key, select 'Command Prompt Only' and press Enter, at the C:\> prompt type scanreg /restore and press Enter, use the arrow keys to select a Registry that predates the problem, and press Enter.

If the system still does not start normally, then do a clean boot to check for a software or driver conflict, or a bad driver:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q192926

 

[1101001100110101]

also you may want to hold f8 and choose step by step startup to see were it is hanging.

 

[torturedmind]

you could also check the file bootlog.txt which is a hidden file residing in the root drive c:\ and is containing your most recent boot processes.

hope this helps. peace!

kilroy
philippines

"Illegitimis non carborundum!"

 

[Gswiss]

In the bootlog, I spotted the following items :LoadFailed = ndis2sup.vxd and INITCOMPLETEFAILED = SDVXD, but apparently this is not necessarily erroneous.

I tried scanreg /restore, I installed a previous registry to no avail.

I uninstalled InCD and Nero.

I also ran dumpASPI followed by instASPI. After a reboot, aspichk gave me the following log :LOG0143: *****************************************************************LOG0144: Starting ASPICHK2 installer on Tue Oct 12 13:08:24 2004
ASPICHK0438: OS = Windows 95 (4.10.2222)
UPGRADE1004: c:\windows\system\wnaspi32.dll dated 09/10/1999 10:06:00, 45056 bytes.
UPGRADE1062: c:\windows\system\wnaspi32.dll version 4.6.0.1021
UPGRADE1004: c:\windows\system\winaspi.dll dated 09/10/1999 10:06:00, 5600 bytes.
UPGRADE1062: c:\windows\system\winaspi.dll version 4.6.0.1021
UPGRADE1004: c:\windows\system\iosubsys\apix.vxd dated 09/10/1999 10:06:00, 22603 bytes.
UPGRADE1062: c:\windows\system\iosubsys\apix.vxd version 4.6.0.1021
UPGRADE1004: c:\windows\system\aspienum.vxd dated 09/10/1999 10:06:00, 7743 bytes.
UPGRADE1062: c:\windows\system\aspienum.vxd version 4.6.0.1021
ASPICHK0582: ASPI is properly installed and is fully operational. However, no host adapters have been detected (0xE8).
ASPICHK0592: ASPI installation has problemsLOG0218: Closing installer log on Tue Oct 12 13:08:25 2004

I tried again by including a killASPI between dump and instASPI. Same results.

I am convinced InCD is the culprit and that it destroyed something.

How do I get Host adapters to become active?

 

[ski]

Did you try a clean boot as suggested in my previous post?

Also, run System File Checker to see if any files were corrupted or deleted.

 

[ski]

Also, did you install the earliest dated Registry?

 

[Gswiss]

I carried out a Clean Boot but I ended up with the same black screen.

I replaced the current registry version with the previous one. No improvement.

Two System Files were pinpointed as defective by the Checker : Lmouse16.dll and MediaPlayerV2.dll.

ASPIcheck gave the following results :

ASPI.vxd 4.71.2 23115 bytes
WNASPI32.dll 4.71.2 45056

"ASPI is properly intalled and fully operational" is grayed out.

 

[ski]

Lmouse16.dll is a 16-bit Logitech mouse driver, which is used with 16-bit O/S's, like Windows 3.x.
It's not required for Windows 98SE, which is a 32-bit O/S.

MediaPlayerV2.dll is an Adaptec file, but it should not prevent Windows from starting normally if it's corrupted.

See if reinstalling Windows over itself helps.
However, you will have to do this in DOS mode, since you cannot use a CD-ROM player in Safe mode:
-Make sure the floppy drive is configured ahead of the HD as a boot device in BIOS.
-Insert a Windows boot floppy(If you do not have a boot floppy, you can either make one on another Win 98 system, or at

http://www.bootdisk.com).

-Restart the computer.
-Select 'Start Windows with CD-ROM support' from the menu.
-Press Enter.
-Note the letter that's assigned to your CD-ROM drive(D,E, etc.).
-Insert a Windows installation CD.
-At the A:\> prompt type the CD-ROM drive's letter followed by a colon, i.e., D:
-Press Enter.
-At the D:\> prompt type setup
-Press Enter.
-Follow the instructions.

If that does not work, then you may have to reformat the partition with Win 98SE on it, and do a clean Windows reinstall.

 

[Gswiss]

I really can't see how InCD could have done that much damage to the system.

Rather than reinstalling, I can use a recent copy of my Windows 98SE which is stored on another physical disk on the system. I can restore it through a PartitionMagic copy.

W98SE, W2k and XP are installed in separate partitions in that order at the beginning of my first physical disk. They are currently accessible through a triple boot scheme.

The W98SE restore will most certainly clobber the MBR. The BOOT.INI will probably be okay. How can I re-establish the triple boot environment once the restore is completed? When I boot, I will be in DOS mode.

 

[ski]

You may be able to backup and restore the MBR with software, similar to the following:

http://www.partition-recovery.com/

 

[Gswiss]

I used Partition Recovery to back up the MBR.

Then, I copied a recent backup version of Windows 98 over the defective version with PartitionMagic. At boot, I could choose Windows 98 or Windows 2000 without a hitch. XP was no longer a choice. I then restored the Boot.ini file referring to the three systems. Whenever I tried to load XP, the system hung.

Next, I tried to restore the MBR through the Partition Recovery Process. I got the message "Error reading MBR backup or MBR backup file format is not correct".

 

[TekTippy4U]

Boot to XP from the CDROM and choose Repair

TT4U

Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs

 

[TekTippy4U]

If you get to Recovery Console only, type FIXBOOT and if necessary FIXMBR

TT4U

Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs

 

[TekTippy4U]

Hi Ski;
you said -- "since you cannot use a CD-ROM player in Safe mode"

this is incorrect (yet very understandable as the Setup creates the "REM By Win98 Setup" line in most instances) and you may not have "full" cdrom functionality(for backing up Data and Burning to CD-R), but as long as Config.sys contains the CDROM driver
(ex; Device=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\IBMIDECD.SYS /d:mscd001)
and loads at startup, you can either Boot to a Command Prompt (which loads Config and Auto)

and then you run;
LH MSCDEX.EXE /d:mscd001 /L <drive letter>
(ex; LH C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\Mscdex.exe /d:mscd001 /L D:\)
....or just run a pre-Saved Dosstart.bat file which will load the Mouse, Sound, and MSCD extensions -- you will definitely have CDROM access and more.
...yes you'll need to use WIN /d:m from Command prompt once everything's loaded to get to SafeMode - but it works


TT4U

Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs

 

[ski]

Thanks for the tip, TekTippy, but I'm aware of that method for getting a CD-ROM drive to work in Safe mode.
I just did not want to get into all of that unless it was absolutely necessary. Guess I'm getting lazy.

 

[TekTippy4U]

hi ski;
I hear that....
especially concerning IE issues.....yuk!
not lazy - just smarter - more discerning about the software we choose to "allow" to run


TT4U

Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs

 

[Gswiss]

I am late in briefing you because of other separate problems with W2k and DVD burner. This is not the place, but don't buy a Lite-On 1633. It's junk. Go for a NEC 3500.

I was unable to repair the W98 problem thoroughly without going through a re-install. The Fixboot was unsuccessful. I would still hang on XP. I was reluctant to use FixMBr because I feared my whole MBR would be destroyed.

What I did was carry out an Update in place of XP using the XP installation cd. Of course I had to upgrade XP but at least I did not have to reinstall my programs which are in a separate partition.

Thank you for your suggestions.

 

[Gswiss]

Please correct "to repair the W98 problem..." to "to repair the XP problem..." in my previous message