Win 98 start up problem

[kristisayles]

I was checking my email when my computer froze up completely. I had to restart. When I did, the only thing I saw was a blinking cursor! I've restarted several times and I keep seeing the same thing.
I can start in safe mode, but with only minimal drivers, so I can't even access the internet.
We've checked the sound card and network cards and they seem fine. Does this sound like a video card problem or what?
Thanks so much for your help
Kristi

 

[mudskipper]

I don't think that it is video, but it is possible.

If you think that it is video, then boot to safe mode. Go into your display properties. Click the settings tab. Notice that it is set to 640X480 and 16 colors? When your video is set to this, you are using the default windows driver for video. Click apply and restart the machine. If you still can't get into normal mode, then the problem doesn't seem to be video. Fair warning--once you DO get back into normal mode, you will have to set your settings back. If, by chance, doing this does allow you to get into normal mode, then congrats on getting it right!

If that doesn't work, the go to safe mode. Click start, run, and type msconfig and click OK. This will bring up your options for starting up. You will want to use this to disable everything during startup. If you can boot into normal mode, then re-enable something, restart. Keep going until you find out what is causing your headache.

Please post back with updates, questions, etc!! Good luck! Merry Christmas
Mudskipper
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Groucho said it best- "A four year-old child could understand this! Quick! Run out and find me a four year-old child: I can't make heads nor tails out of this!"

 

[roamer1]

Hi Kristisayles.

A bit to add to mudskipper's advice:

Because opening email seems to have caused the problem:
first check for virus- were your defs up to date?
Also, run SCANDISK from a DOS prompt, floppy, or safemode.

 

[mudskipper]

Ah--good point! Thanks, roamer1! I was gonna mention that too, but it obviously got lost along the way! Merry Christmas
Mudskipper
___________________________________________________________________________________

Groucho said it best- "A four year-old child could understand this! Quick! Run out and find me a four year-old child: I can't make heads nor tails out of this!"

 

[kristisayles]

OK, friends,
I've tried all of the following:
1.taken out the network card - did not help, so we put it back.
2. Taken out the sound card - did not help, so we put it back. It hasn't sounded healthy for a couple of weeks, so I thought it might be the problem)
3.I ran scandisk AND my Mcafee Virus (which was updated just yesterday before this happened)Nothing found.
4. I tried the removing system files under msconfig with NO better results.
5. My husband put HIS good video card from his computer in mine - It did not work any better - We put mine back in. We both use Nvidia-good quality cards.
6. I tried to reinstall Win. 98, got down to the place where it said, "RUNNING WIN. 98 for the first time."
Then it went to the screen, told to restart and when I did, I got as far as the Win 98 flag and no farther. It does that every time now unless I choose to go safe mode again.
Note: My machine is a Compaq Built for You model 5900Z about 3 years old. I have 40 gig hard drive and a 256 mb
of memory. This is nowhere near full.
Do you guys think that formatting would help? I will do that as a last resort if you believe that it will.
I don't want to if I don't have to.
Thanks a million!
Kristi

 

[mudskipper]

Ah. You updated McAfee right before it happened?!
Go into safe mode. This time, look in autoexec.bat. In front of any lines that look like McAfee, disable it. If you are using sysedit to view the file, put REM in front of that line.

I have seen MANY times when McAfee updates will cause the problem that you are desribing on Win98 machines.

Just a hunch, but it could be the culprit!

And, yeah, a format should take care of it. If not, then (obviously) there is a hardware problem..... (more on that later?) Merry Christmas
Mudskipper
___________________________________________________________________________________

Groucho said it best- "A four year-old child could understand this! Quick! Run out and find me a four year-old child: I can't make heads nor tails out of this!"

 

[kristisayles]

I formatted. It worked.
Thanks guys,
Kristi