Windows 98 Stops at Windows logo screen and won't load

[Jade012]

When I turn my computer on, it goes through the entire startup sequence, then freezes on the screen with the windows logo (right before it would usually go into the desktop)....<br><br>I had this problem when I first bought the computer, and I remember that it was corrected by going into windows in safe mode and changing something (I know that's not too helpful)...<br><br>It was fine for 9 months, then, I had to disconnect everything in order to bring it home from college, and it has begun freezing at the logo screen again.&nbsp;&nbsp;Any help would be greatly appreciated.<br><br>Jessica<br><br>P.S.&nbsp;&nbsp;It does not give me any error messages at all.&nbsp;&nbsp;It just stays on the logo screen for as long as I have the patience to let it.

 

[kf4smu]

Hmmm, had that problem with an old house I used to live in. Seems the windows had been painted shut...<br><br>Seriously, You may have driver problems. Try going in in safe mode, (hold down the ctrl button) and dump every driver that is not necessary, modem, printer, scanner, etc. restart and see what happens. Then load drivers again and see if you can figure out which one causes the problem. Go to the manufacturers web site and download a new driver. And it goes without saying that you should make sure that there is nothing running in the program manager but systray and explorer, right? CTRL+ALT+DELETE and shut down everything but sys and ex. Then install your driver. Also do this for any executable, if I am not mistaken. Anyone want to add to this?<br>Bill

 

[coxl6687]

I agree with everything that Bill suggested, but I would start by running msconfig and disabling the autoexec.bat, config.sys, and programs being loaded in Startup (such as the Virus Checker, Real Audio, etc. first. Since the computer was starting okay and nothing has been changed on the sytem,then it is most likely a file corruption.

 

[LadyH]

was it on a network at college?? i've experienced cases where a system won't boot all the way once it is disconnected from the network, a novell network in my case... <p> <br><a href=mailto: pcheather@home.net> pcheather@home.net</a><br><a href= > </a><br>

 

[ATCal]

Hit the F8 key when &quot;starting WIN98&quot; appears on the screen and choose the Step by Step option from the menu (don't currently have anything running 98 at the moment so don't know the number). Observe the drivers as they load. If you get past the config.sys and autoexec.bat, then use the safe mode advice. All the advice offered is correct, this may point out something simple.<br>Good luck.<br> <p>Al<br><a href=mailto: atc-computing@home.com> atc-computing@home.com</a><br><a href= > </a><br>

 

[Guest_imported]

I have the same problem, only it doesn't occur each time I boot.&nbsp;&nbsp;It happens maybe half the time.&nbsp;&nbsp;The system stalls on the Win 98 clouds screen, but it isn't locked up, because the little shades of blue at the bottom of the screen continue to move.&nbsp;&nbsp;I've tried skipping driver loads and ini files, but, since the problem doesn't happen every time, I'm never sure if it actually eliminated the problem so I can narrow my search.<br><br>I have tried choosing the &quot;Create boot log&quot; option, but when I do and the system stalls, after rebooting into DOS mode, I can't find the <FONT FACE=monospace>bootlog.txt</font> file.&nbsp;&nbsp;Screwy, huh?<br><br>Additionally, every so often I get the &quot;This program has performed an illegal operation and will be terminated&quot; error for <i>explorer</i>.&nbsp;&nbsp;I also get the occasional blue screen of death for various <FONT FACE=monospace>vxd</font> files.<br><br>I believe I have some kind of fundamental corruption or configuration issue here, but I cannot reliably duplicate the symptoms in order to effectively diagnose the problem.<br><br>My system is homemade, with a 450 MHz AMD K6-2, 128 MB of PC100 SDRAM,&nbsp;&nbsp;3dfx Voodoo3 3000 graphics accelerator, Tyan Trinity 100AT (S1590S) motherboard, pickles, onion on a sesame seed bun.<br><br>The BIOS is one generation behind the latest available, but, according to Tyan's web site, the last change was only to accommodate huge hard drives, which doesn't affect me.&nbsp;&nbsp;I also believe I have the CPU voltage set correctly.<br><br>Is there a utility that can exercise (or ex<i>or</i>cise, for that matter) my system to help me find the culprit(s)?

 

[GAWZ]

I SELL COMPUTERS AND I HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE. FOR ME IT WAS BAD MOTHER BOARDS. IT SEEMS THE MOTHER BOARD WAS OF THE EPOX BRAND VARIETY AND SOME OF THE SHIPMENTS WERE BAD. ONE AFTER THE OTER WOULD DO THIS AND THE DISTRIBUTER I GOT IT FROM SAID THE MOTHERBOARDS WERE BAD AND COULDNT HANDLE THE HARDWARE DRIVERS. CHANGING THE MB FIXED IT ALL. IT S A DRIVER PROBLEM YES BUT ITS MIGHT BE THE CASE OF A CHEAP MOTHERBOARD. [sig][/sig]

 

[Phang]

I recently experience a startup problem after my son attempted to download an upgrade to his newly bought Half-Life game.

The symptoms is different in that shortly after the logon screen appears, the PC reboots.

I could start Windows in Safe mode though, and am still trying to identify if it is a driver problem.

 

[Beanz]

If you are using PS2 sockets on the mother board you probably have the mouse and keyboard plugged in the wrong way round!

 

[spacekowboy]

mse and keybrd switched causes this? thats one idea ive never heard..in fact switching those two items often fixes a mse or keybrd problem

it sounds, im guessing tho, like a video card error, possibly only the drivers, is there any graphic intensive
games or pgrms you are running or that start automatically?

bill above is correct, but i think if u remove the driver for the video card it will boot fine. you may have to get
new drivers or a new card....

X-)

 

[Beanz]

Yes

In my experience getting the mouse and keyboard in the wrong sockets can cause this error - and in this case may be the problem as Jade012 mentioned that the machine was unplugged and relocated.

Just a thought!!

Danny

 

[gamblers]

Go into Safe Mode and check out all the drivers like Bill said, because that sounds like what your problem will be. It is probally seeing something that isn't really there or vice versa. But hopefully this helps. Good Luck!!