Please help - Windows 98 SE freeze!

"James" <flyerfanno1.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:23687248-6C73-43B4-A85A-F3E0624F6A6C@microsoft.com...

> I am trying to fix my dad's computer for him. He is running Windows 98 SE
> on an IDE WD 80 GB HD. The computer will freeze up on him at all different
> times. It can be on startup, after running for a short while or after a
long
> while, but does it everyday. Once it starts on that day it does it a lot.
>
> Here is what I did so far:
> Replaced hard drive- my dad's request.
> Replaced cable for hard drive
> Replaced cooling fan in power box, original fan made awful noise at
startup.
> Added extra cooling fan; mid tower.
>
> After replacing the hard drive I ran the Manufacture's diagnostics
software
> on the old drive, found no errors. I also did a scan disk and defrag with
no
> trouble. So I don't believe the hard drive was the problem. The computer
ran
> for me all night using the old drive with the case open and a fan blowing
on
> it near by. So it could have been a heat problem.

The post does not say when Win98SE was last reinstalled.
Experts usually recommend that this be done every year or
two. It takes less than an hour thus seems prerequisite before
assuming hardware causes the problem in this PC (presumably
5 to 10 years old.)

1. Reliable guidance for reinstallation of Windows is at
http://home.satx.rr.com/badour/html/w98_restore.html

2. Some manufacturers offer diagnostic downloads for
RAM, hard drives etc. But genuine computer repair shops
(if you can find one where you live) have test facilities of
higher quality and can test components like the motherboard.
(E.g. I needed to replace power supply modules 3 times and
a cooling fan once in 25 years of running PCs at home.)
Since peace of mind is important, you should consider this.
A genuine repair shop can advise about overheating problems
better than you or I could by guesswork. They will also remind
you of little things (e.g. whenever in doubt, and the CMOS
battery is two or more years old, replace it just in case, cost $2.)

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

Run the RAM test for a couple of days (yes, days), then post back here with
the results. After that, I think I'd run DXDiag, all tests, to exercise/test
the video card.

While you're at it, answer some questions: How does your Dad use the
computer? What does he do with it? Games? Internet? Email? What programs
does he use (exact names, please.) Look in Help>About for each one and tell
us what versions.

What antivirus does the machine use? What other protective apps (Spyware
scanners, etc.)?

Please run MSINFO32, expand the Software Environment, click on Startup
Programs, click in the right-hand pane, press Ctrl-A, then Ctrl-C. Then open
a new reply to this post (let's keep it separate from the rest, it's messy)
and use Ctrl-V to Paste in the data.

Lastly, stop the RAM test for a while and go to the following address and
follow ALL suggestions there. http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm

Hope you can find a good use for that old, good HD. Like as a backup drive.
Not good for serious critical data backup, but if there's nothing like that
involved, it could certainly help your Dad in the future. Once you've got
all this figured out, even if it takes a complete reinstall (possibly with
some different apps), if it starts acting up you can just restore a backup
if your Dad is too impatient for a true diagnosis. (Never mind, my mind's
wandering...)

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com


"James" <flyerfanno1 DeleteThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:23687248-6C73-43B4-A85A-F3E0624F6A6C@microsoft.com...
> Hello,
>
>
>
> I am trying to fix my dad's computer for him. He is running Windows 98 SE
> on an IDE WD 80 GB HD. The computer will freeze up on him at all different
> times. It can be on startup, after running for a short while or after a
> long while, but does it everyday. Once it starts on that day it does it a
> lot.
>
>
>
> Here is what I did so far:
>
>
>
> Replaced hard drive- my dad's request.
>
> Replaced cable for hard drive
>
> Replaced cooling fan in power box, original fan made awful noise at
> startup.
>
> Added extra cooling fan; mid tower.
>
>
>
> After replacing the hard drive I ran the Manufacture's diagnostics
> software on the old drive, found no errors. I also did a scan disk and
> defrag with no trouble. So I don't believe the hard drive was the problem.
> The computer ran for me all night using the old drive with the case open
> and a fan blowing on it near by. So it could have been a heat problem.
>
>
>
> I would like to test the following before giving the computer back:
>
>
>
> RAM
>
> All hardware
>
> Look for hardware and program conflicts.
>
>
>
> Can anyone please suggest the best software for doing the above? Any other
> suggestions would be very much welcomed too. I doubt what I did so far
> fixed the computer. I don't have a lot of time to spend watching the
> computer run. He has been dealing with this freezing problem for a long
> time and has gotten very aggravated over it. He is now dealing with having
> cancer and going for chemo treatments so I would like to give the computer
> back to him fixed.
>
>
>
> Thank you in advance for any and all help!
>
>
>
> James
>

"Don Phillipson" <e925 RemoveThis @SPAMBLOCK.ncf.ca> wrote in message
news:ebdoW22uIHA.3484@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> "James" <flyerfanno1 RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:23687248-6C73-43B4-A85A-F3E0624F6A6C@microsoft.com...
>
>> I am trying to fix my dad's computer for him. He is running Windows 98
>> SE
>> on an IDE WD 80 GB HD. The computer will freeze up on him at all
>> different
>> times. It can be on startup, after running for a short while or after a
> long
>> while, but does it everyday. Once it starts on that day it does it a lot.
>>
>> Here is what I did so far:
>> Replaced hard drive- my dad's request.
>> Replaced cable for hard drive
>> Replaced cooling fan in power box, original fan made awful noise at
> startup.
>> Added extra cooling fan; mid tower.
>>
>> After replacing the hard drive I ran the Manufacture's diagnostics
> software
>> on the old drive, found no errors. I also did a scan disk and defrag with
> no
>> trouble. So I don't believe the hard drive was the problem. The computer
> ran
>> for me all night using the old drive with the case open and a fan blowing
> on
>> it near by. So it could have been a heat problem.
>
> The post does not say when Win98SE was last reinstalled.
> Experts usually recommend that this be done every year or
> two. It takes less than an hour thus seems prerequisite before
> assuming hardware causes the problem in this PC (presumably
> 5 to 10 years old.)

Pray tell, what "experts" recommend this habitual reinstallation of Win98?
That's a load of pure B.S. And, yes, installing Windows takes ~ 1 hour. But
it can take days to finish the job properly. One very, very long day, at
best.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

Hello Don,

Thank you for your help and your suggestion to re-install Windows 98. I
will follow the link you gave me and give it a try. I do believe the install
has been just done in the past year, but it will not hurt to do it again.

Thanks again,
James


"Don Phillipson" <e925.DeleteThis@SPAMBLOCK.ncf.ca> wrote in message
news:ebdoW22uIHA.3484@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> "James" <flyerfanno1.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:23687248-6C73-43B4-A85A-F3E0624F6A6C@microsoft.com...
>
>> I am trying to fix my dad's computer for him. He is running Windows 98
>> SE
>> on an IDE WD 80 GB HD. The computer will freeze up on him at all
>> different
>> times. It can be on startup, after running for a short while or after a
> long
>> while, but does it everyday. Once it starts on that day it does it a lot.
>>
>> Here is what I did so far:
>> Replaced hard drive- my dad's request.
>> Replaced cable for hard drive
>> Replaced cooling fan in power box, original fan made awful noise at
> startup.
>> Added extra cooling fan; mid tower.
>>
>> After replacing the hard drive I ran the Manufacture's diagnostics
> software
>> on the old drive, found no errors. I also did a scan disk and defrag with
> no
>> trouble. So I don't believe the hard drive was the problem. The computer
> ran
>> for me all night using the old drive with the case open and a fan blowing
> on
>> it near by. So it could have been a heat problem.
>
> The post does not say when Win98SE was last reinstalled.
> Experts usually recommend that this be done every year or
> two. It takes less than an hour thus seems prerequisite before
> assuming hardware causes the problem in this PC (presumably
> 5 to 10 years old.)
>
> 1. Reliable guidance for reinstallation of Windows is at
> http://home.satx.rr.com/badour/html/w98_restore.html
>
> 2. Some manufacturers offer diagnostic downloads for
> RAM, hard drives etc. But genuine computer repair shops
> (if you can find one where you live) have test facilities of
> higher quality and can test components like the motherboard.
> (E.g. I needed to replace power supply modules 3 times and
> a cooling fan once in 25 years of running PCs at home.)
> Since peace of mind is important, you should consider this.
> A genuine repair shop can advise about overheating problems
> better than you or I could by guesswork. They will also remind
> you of little things (e.g. whenever in doubt, and the CMOS
> battery is two or more years old, replace it just in case, cost $2.)
>
> --
> Don Phillipson
> Carlsbad Springs
> (Ottawa, Canada)
>
>

Doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results? Why not go
through some diagnostics, first. RAM testing is definitely recommended, but
there's a lot more testing that can be done before you go to that extreme.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

"James" <flyerfanno1 DeleteThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:71C586CA-9E9F-465D-B4D8-CF3FA9081D52@microsoft.com...
> Hello Don,
>
> Thank you for your help and your suggestion to re-install Windows 98. I
> will follow the link you gave me and give it a try. I do believe the
> install has been just done in the past year, but it will not hurt to do it
> again.
>
> Thanks again,
> James
>
>
> "Don Phillipson" <e925 DeleteThis @SPAMBLOCK.ncf.ca> wrote in message
> news:ebdoW22uIHA.3484@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>> "James" <flyerfanno1 DeleteThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:23687248-6C73-43B4-A85A-F3E0624F6A6C@microsoft.com...
>>
>>> I am trying to fix my dad's computer for him. He is running Windows 98
>>> SE
>>> on an IDE WD 80 GB HD. The computer will freeze up on him at all
>>> different
>>> times. It can be on startup, after running for a short while or after a
>> long
>>> while, but does it everyday. Once it starts on that day it does it a
>>> lot.
>>>
>>> Here is what I did so far:
>>> Replaced hard drive- my dad's request.
>>> Replaced cable for hard drive
>>> Replaced cooling fan in power box, original fan made awful noise at
>> startup.
>>> Added extra cooling fan; mid tower.
>>>
>>> After replacing the hard drive I ran the Manufacture's diagnostics
>> software
>>> on the old drive, found no errors. I also did a scan disk and defrag
>>> with
>> no
>>> trouble. So I don't believe the hard drive was the problem. The computer
>> ran
>>> for me all night using the old drive with the case open and a fan
>>> blowing
>> on
>>> it near by. So it could have been a heat problem.
>>
>> The post does not say when Win98SE was last reinstalled.
>> Experts usually recommend that this be done every year or
>> two. It takes less than an hour thus seems prerequisite before
>> assuming hardware causes the problem in this PC (presumably
>> 5 to 10 years old.)
>>
>> 1. Reliable guidance for reinstallation of Windows is at
>> http://home.satx.rr.com/badour/html/w98_restore.html
>>
>> 2. Some manufacturers offer diagnostic downloads for
>> RAM, hard drives etc. But genuine computer repair shops
>> (if you can find one where you live) have test facilities of
>> higher quality and can test components like the motherboard.
>> (E.g. I needed to replace power supply modules 3 times and
>> a cooling fan once in 25 years of running PCs at home.)
>> Since peace of mind is important, you should consider this.
>> A genuine repair shop can advise about overheating problems
>> better than you or I could by guesswork. They will also remind
>> you of little things (e.g. whenever in doubt, and the CMOS
>> battery is two or more years old, replace it just in case, cost $2.)
>>
>> --
>> Don Phillipson
>> Carlsbad Springs
>> (Ottawa, Canada)
>>
>>
>

Hello Philo,

Thank you for the link for testing RAM. I really appreciate it.

CPU fan looks like it is running great. I did not go into the Bios yet to
check the temp, but will do that. I am sure it is running cool right now
because the side panel is off and I have a fan running in the room. When I
get done with the changes inside the computer I will run it for a day with
the panel on and keep an eye on the CPU temp.

Thanks again,
James



"philo" <philo RemoveThis @privacy.net> wrote in message
news:2qednVwAB9JF-6nVnZ2dnUVZ_q7inZ2d@ntd.net...
>
> "James" <flyerfanno1 RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:23687248-6C73-43B4-A85A-F3E0624F6A6C@microsoft.com...
>>
>> Hello,
>>
>>
>>
>> I am trying to fix my dad's computer for him. He is running Windows 98
>> SE
>> on an IDE WD 80 GB HD. The computer will freeze up on him at all
>> different
>> times. It can be on startup, after running for a short while or after a
> long
>> while, but does it everyday. Once it starts on that day it does it a lot.
>>
>>
>>
>> Here is what I did so far:
>>
>>
>>
>> Replaced hard drive- my dad's request.
>>
>> Replaced cable for hard drive
>>
>> Replaced cooling fan in power box, original fan made awful noise at
> startup.
>>
>> Added extra cooling fan; mid tower.
>>
>>
>>
>> After replacing the hard drive I ran the Manufacture's diagnostics
> software
>> on the old drive, found no errors. I also did a scan disk and defrag with
> no
>> trouble. So I don't believe the hard drive was the problem. The computer
> ran
>> for me all night using the old drive with the case open and a fan blowing
> on
>> it near by. So it could have been a heat problem.
>>
>>
>>
>> I would like to test the following before giving the computer back:
>>
>>
>>
>> RAM
>>
>> All hardware
>>
>> Look for hardware and program conflicts.
>>
>>
>>
>> Can anyone please suggest the best software for doing the above? Any
> other
>> suggestions would be very much welcomed too. I doubt what I did so far
> fixed
>> the computer. I don't have a lot of time to spend watching the computer
> run.
>> He has been dealing with this freezing problem for a long time and has
>> gotten very aggravated over it. He is now dealing with having cancer and
>> going for chemo treatments so I would like to give the computer back to
> him
>> fixed.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thank you in advance for any and all help!
>>
>>
>>
>> James
>>
>
>
> Ram test:
> http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp
>
>
> BTW: How is the CPU temp?
> is the heatsink and fan OK???
>
>