Win 98 SE, system black screen, long delay tol oad

[Compugeek500]

Operating System: Windows 98 (SE)
Processor: 200 MMX MHz Pentium
Memory: 64 MB
Screen Resolution: 800 by 600
Web Browser: IE6
Other Information
BoardIntelTC430HX,SCSI ,scvirgePCI(325)onboard soundYamahaOPL3, Symbios Logic 53C416 SCSI

Adapter (for HP ScanJets),network card10/100, NortonAV2002,


Removed from friends to add network card basic 10/100. Card added and drivers found from CD,

asked for Windows CD, took files asked me to restart - then freezes.
On reboot will not start - black screen, horizontal cursor flashing.
Reboot start in safe mode OK
Reboot start normally - fine until loading OS appears, then Windows screen, then back to

loading OS black screen, heavy disk noise then no disk noise for 1.5 minutes, then windows

desktop appears and it carries on booting, then OK.
Friend claims it did not do this before, I do not have scanner connected to SCSI card - is

it this?

I have tried diagnostic start up, each loads OK until msmouse.vxd, after choosing Yes and

Enter the cursor moves to next line and then heavy disk whirr, no activity for 1.5 mintues

and then Windows desktop appears
Could someone help please?

 

[jrbarnett]

Is the network card connected to a network?
It might be looking for a DHCP server and timing out if there is no connection. If it doesn't, try giving it a fixed IP in one of the private ranges as a temporary workaround. They are 10.x.x.x, 192.168.x.x or 172.16.x.x

John

 

[Compugeek500]

Thanks jrbarnett
I took it that you meant assign an IP address to the TCP/IP protocol, if you meant on the card itself I could not see where.
It did help speed it up but after the bios boot it now insists on offering the options of 1.Normal, 2.Bootlog.txt safe mode etc...
If you have enabled me to fix it - thanks very much but would you also know how I can stop the options appearing.
Regards
Phil

 

[Compugeek500]

Apologies - I still had diagnostic start up on. When normal chosen in msconfig, the system boots through.

Although the delay is still there it has been cut at the same point from 1.5 minutes to 30 seconds. It still seems strange that after the Windows 98 screen it reverts to a black 'loading OS screen for that 30 second period of inactivity.
Do you have any more thoughts on the problem please?

Thanks
Phil

 

[jrbarnett]

Phil

To assign a fixed IP to your network card, Go to control panel -> Network and find
TCP/IP -> Your network adapter
(eg TCP/IP -> 3Com Etherlink III )
or just TCP/IP if there is only one instance of it.
Click properties and you can enter the IP address on the first tab. Put a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 on as well.

John

 

[Compugeek500]

Thanks John

Yes thats where i inserted the IP address, i did not enter the subnet mask but when I checked now it is there automatically.

The delay is certainly less but not cured.

Thanks
Phil

 

[jrbarnett]

Phil
I presume you mean that the delay is now less than the 30 seconds when you switched off diagnostic mode.

If you press escape while the Windows 98 logo is showing (before the Windows desktop appears and after "Starting Windows 98...", do you see any messages from CONFIG.SYS or AUTOEXEC.BAT on screen?

John

 

[Compugeek500]

Thanks john

No the delay is still the same, about 30/35 seconds even though normal start up has been resumed. There are no config,sys or autoexec.bat messages when Escape is pressed. On the msconfig box there are no entries under either tab.

Regards
Phil

 

[jrbarnett]

To return to your earlier post: Have you tried plugging the scanner into it to see if the delay reduces? It would eliminate this possibility of the card looking for a device connected.

John

 

[Compugeek500]

Unfortunately I cannot do this as the owner has gone on a weeks holiday and I cannot get into his premises to try it

Thanks

Phil

 

[jrbarnett]

Phil
Do you have a scanner termination block that you could plug into the card temporarily?
It would have the same effect as plugging the scanner in.

John

 

[Compugeek500]

John

Many thanks for your continued help.
I do not have a scanner termination block but I could ask around the local hardware stores tomorrow to see if I can get one.
Are you reasonably sure this could be the culprit?

Regards
Phil