Why does windows hate me? (win98 problems)

[Mhtml]

This is getting really out of hand.

I have so many problems, I can't wait until my new computer is built and I get to stop using this prehistoric steam powered hunk of junk.

1. Windows freezes on startup 3 out of 4 times. It just hangs, it appears there is hard drive activity (ie light on) but I've left it for 8 hours once and nothing happened.

2. Internet Explorer will freeze, I can't ctrl+alt+del or aything but move the mouse. If I right click on the taskbar to bring up context menu it starts working but if I get rid of the context menu it freezes again.

3. PWS starts executing code wrong, this happends a lot with the ie freezes, code as simple as printing to the screen (ie: response.write("test") ) doesn't work.

4. Keyboard freezes, mouse works but I can't type anything. This generally only happends in one window.

5. Enter or Tab switches windows.

6. Some keys start acting as hotkeys without the need of the win key. (ie: win + e = explorer, win+f = find but just e or f will do it)

7. Windows shuts down by itself, there is no warning it just happends.

8. Computer freezes when I try using any program to burn a cd.

9. I can't install new software from cds without having to restart at least once because of windows freezing.

10. Computer lags for almost 2 minutes after selecting new sub menu from context menu in windows explorer or on the desktop.

11. BSOD for no reason at all, sometimes when I'm sitting on my bed reading or studying a bsod will appear when nothing was happening.

12. Moving and renaming files or folders causes freezing.

I run virus scans all the time, at least once a week. I have formatted when this started happening but most of the things keep happening, even more so than before I formated. At least I could burn backups before I formatted last.

HELP! :(

[scroots]

3) I have the same problem, and there are no updates/patches for PWS
5)I have the same problem again, press Alt + Tab and you tab key will go back to normal
6)Clean your keyboard, pop the keys of and take out the muck/
8)Had the same problem, upgraded software problem fixed (mine was with nero). Mine did it when it was searchnig for the drive etc. on startup of program

also check your IDE cables as they might be dodgy.

scroots

[ionsurge]

omg you do have problems, well that is Windows 98 for you.


Anyway, do you have all the updates from http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com - could help if you did...

[oracleguy]

For #1, Depending on where it is hanging exactly could mean different things. If it is when its loading the desktop and stuff, then try running msconfig and eliminating some of the programs that run at startup maybe there is one peticular program that is causing a problem.

Also, check to see how much available ram is left when number 10 occurs. Perhaps your system is just being overloaded.

Also, try doing this: reboot into safe mode. Then turn off your page file. Then run defrag a couple times or whatever so it is all 100% defragemented. Then turn your pagefile back on but set it to a fixed size. Set the min and max to the same size. This will prevent page file fragmentation which can slow the system down. And normally Windows can't defragment the page file so thats why you turn it off before you run defrag.

[Borgtex]

Originally posted by Mhtml
It just hangs, it appears there is hard drive activity (ie light on) but I've left it for 8 hours once and nothing happened.


LOL! 8 hours! what you where waiting for? a miracle, a divine intervention? :D :D

Have you tried to disable all the startup programs? you can do it with msconfig

[mouse]

Originally posted by Mhtml
1. Windows freezes on startup 3 out of 4 times. It just hangs, it appears there is hard drive activity (ie light on) but I've left it for 8 hours once and nothing happened.

Uninstall graphics drivers; if the card is nvidia download the latest dets, select the setup file, it should ask if you want to uninstall the current dets, select yes and proceed. Otherwise uninstall manuallly through device manager or add/remove proggies and then run the setup file.


2. Internet Explorer will freeze, I can't ctrl+alt+del or aything but move the mouse. If I right click on the taskbar to bring up context menu it starts working but if I get rid of the context menu it freezes again.

Update, if that fails select add/remove programs in control panel, select "repair". Hope.


3. PWS starts executing code wrong, this happends a lot with the ie freezes, code as simple as printing to the screen (ie: response.write("test") ) doesn't work.

Uninstall, reinstall, update.

I'll think about the others... you may find solving one fixes another, work one step at a time.

Deffo do a Windows update, might like to consider the joys of Wondows XP too ;)

[Mhtml]

Heh, I can't wait to use windows XP. Problem is my machine is a PII 200MMX 64MB Sdram and a 4Mb S3 Trident graphics card from the stone age. I've never used a computer by todays standards for more than 5 mins, I don't know what fast really is. ;)

For #1, Depending on where it is hanging exactly could mean different things.

It goes to the windows splash screen, then it dissapears and you see dos again.. It hangs right there, on the 4th time it won't hang there, it will boot almost instantly after going to the dos screen again.

)Had the same problem, upgraded software problem fixed (mine was with nero). Mine did it when it was searchnig for the drive etc. on startup of program

That's what happends, but not only with nero I have tried blind write clone cd and gear pro but it's the same with them all.

There is no much in the board, I cleaned it.

Thanks for the link Ionsurge, I'll do a big update now :)

Also Oracle, I'll try that before I get the updates.

Thanks so far peeps.

[Raistlin]

Originally posted by Mhtml
6. Some keys start acting as hotkeys without the need of the win key. (ie: win + e = explorer, win+f = find but just e or f will do it)
HELP! :( [/B]

This happened to me once, I got rid of it by pressing "ALT" a couple of times and then pressing the "WIN" key.

Dunno if this will help you or if you allready fixed this problem but... gotta stick my 2 cents in...:p

[Sparky]

Originally posted by Mhtml
Heh, I can't wait to use windows XP. Problem is my machine is a PII 200MMX 64MB Sdram and a 4Mb S3 Trident graphics card from the stone age. I've never used a computer by todays standards for more than 5 mins, I don't know what fast really is. ;)


Seriously - why you still using this?

[Mhtml]

lol, I have been waiting for the market to slow a little. I almost whent and got a 500mhz, but decided not to then 800 came out and then 1gb and then higher and higher. The 3.06Ghz is waaay out of my price range for a processor and there is a lot to choose from for the other components so I've waited right to this year to start building a new computer.

Should be built by may.

[Sparky]

You really need to get rid off that rig ASAP!!! You could spend very little money on a machine that, allthough may not be considered state-of-the-art, would be a HUGE upgrade on what you have now. Who really needs a 3gig plus HT cpu with a gig off duel channel DDR memory?

Also, being able to get something that would be fast enough too run a better OS (say windows XP) would be a big plus. After using XP for 6 months or so, you will find windows 98 machines just horrible too work with and sort out problems on.

The time and hassle you would save in getting something new would be HUGE, considering the kind of problems you are getting now, and the time/effort you must be spending on sorting them out.