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oregontrail

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Win98SE Start up problem

Using a Dell Dimension XPS T500 (p3)

I called Dell support, but I shouldn't have to tell you that the techs I get on the line know even less than I do.

When turning the system on Windows 98SE tries to load, the splash screen appears, goes black and a blinking cursor appears in upper left top window before system shuts down cold.

Using MSCONFIG, I was able to do a selective startup with everything checked except AUTOEXEC and CONFIG.SYS. Also, in the startup group I have only the absolute items needed to get the system running and my Internet and (1)networked computer connected.

Incidental: when looking at these files in MSCONFIG some lines do not have check boxes next to them. Corruption?

During the selective process, the system will shut down and reboot without problem. I have performed a system check and there are no conflicts, no warning flags.

While this is all good I am fearful of turning the system off because it is my lifeline and without it I might die. (grin)

I've searched everywhere it seems for a case history with regard to what one does in this case to no avail.

It would seem to me that the registry is/was being corrupted when the system shuts down and I'm looking (praying) to find an answer here in the event it happens when I have the courage to turn the system off which doesn't involve reinstalling win98.

In that event, I would ammend my question to include: will a reinstall create a new registry, autoexec, config, etc?

Thanks in advance.
Avatar of sh0e
sh0e

im kind of confused
how did u get into msconfig if u cant get it to boot up?

and um.. unchecking everything in selective startup is not a good idea.. especially system.ini and win.ini..

on the systems ive checked they have some options greyed out so this seems normal
"in MSCONFIG some lines do not have check boxes next to them"
If you are talking about "Startup" tab, it's totally normal. Some user(you?), unchecked some boxes, to keep unnecessary programs from starting along with Windows.
"During the selective process, the system will shut down and reboot without problem"
So under what circumstances your system hangs up, and what do you HAVE starting with, what you call, selective startup?
maybe u try a "scanreg /fix" in msdos-mode.. to try to repair registry.
try a "scandisc" in msdos-mode.

reinstallling means new windows-systemfolders.
u can reinstall windows on the same partition, but u'll have every systemfolder twice..(windows and windows001...)
your windows will work correctly but maybe u have manually clean up your hdd from the old win98-files (only to get free diskspace again..)..

BUT: have u ever tried to startup your win98 in safemode??
maybe you only have a driverproblem??
after powering your pc on try "f8" for startop-options..

and, if it's your lifeline try backing up data ;)

bio
Avatar of oregontrail

ASKER

In the original question I didn't mention - because I thought it would be obvious - that I was able to get into SAFEMODE and went thru a selective start up process until the system would do a warm shutdown and restart without problem.

The itmes checked in MSCONFIG.SYS are:

LoadPowerProfile
Scan Registry
SystemTray
Pointer
and other items needed to connect to the Internet and home network.
You have actually performed the right way of starting to troubleshoot your problem.  

Like broni123 said, the startup tab normally has items unchecked to keep programs from loading during a windows bootup.

If you have a limited number of items checked in msconfig and can boot normally to the desktop, go back and recheck one or two items and then reboot.  If you can boot normally here, recheck a few more items and reboot.  Continue this process until you finally reboot and get the error to occur again.  The last item you checked off before the reboot will be your error cause.
Adding to "stretchsp" suggestion...add only ONE item at a time, which will serve as simple elimination process
Try also some more things:
-update video drive
-turn Power Management OFF,and uncheck LoadPowerProfile in "msconfig"
-make sure your screen resolution is set to 800x600, refresh rate at 60MHz
-make sure, that keyboard, and mouse are plugged into correct jacks (not swapped)
UPDATE:

I think I've boiled this problem down to a case where BOTH the autoexec.bat and config.sys files are corrupt.

I unchecked these using MSCONG utility and in each case if either one of the two files is checked the system starts up and promptly shuts down.

Can I rename the .bak files and replace what appear to be the corrupt files?
ADDENDUM:

The MSCONFIG utility reports that my autoexec.bat and config.sys files have been renamed:

autoexec.TSH and config.TSH and that the .bat files are placeholders.

Here are the contents of autoexec. My notes are between ( ) Note too that the CD is on drive E and a factory installed ZIPDRIVE is drive D

@C:\PROGRA~1\GRISOFT\AVG6\bootup.exe  (virus checker)
SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 T4
LH C:\WINDOWS\AU30DOS.COM
@ECHO OFF
REM [Header]

REM [CD-ROM Drive]
REM C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\MSCDEX /D:MSCD001

REM [Miscellaneous]

REM [Display]

SET PATH=C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND;C:\PRESTO~1\PAGEMGR\;%PATH%;C:\WINDOWS\TWAIN_32\SCANPORT;C:\WINDOWS\TWAIN\SCANPORT

(Presto, pagemgr and scanport refer to a scanner no longer connected to this machine)

@SET CLASSPATH=C:\PROGRA~1\PHOTOD~1.0\ADOBEC~1  (Adobe Photo Deluxe program for manipulating photos/graphics)

@SET CLASSPATH=C:\PROGRA~1\PHOTOD~1.0\ADOBEC~1

This is the content of the config file contents:

REM [Header]
                               
                               

REM [CD-ROM Drive]
REM DEVICE=C:\CDROM\SSCDROM.SYS /D:MSCD001 /PIO

REM [Miscellaneous]

REM [Display]

DEVICE=c:\windows\setver.exe
[COMMON]
DEVICE=C:\DELL\RTC.CLK +R
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Avatar of sh0e
sh0e

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