We got a used computer for kids for games and internet. It is only a 120mhz and 1gb. It had Win95 and not knowing enough we installed Win98 without keeping Win95 at all, then we converted to FAT32-which with reading seems to be a big problem. The computer will only get to desk top in safe mode, says to restart several times, says Windows has protection error and have to restart.... We just cant get it to go. Could it be settings? We have reinstalled Win98 several times... just cant get it to go, so in safe mode kids cant play game or do anything else. Any ideas?

Troubleshooting Windows Protection Errors (http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q149/9/62.asp) might help with that.

How much RAM does the machine have? With win98 you should have at least 32MB, or you might have problems. You may also have one of those older boards that was built before win98 was released, and simply doesn't like the OS. My father has one, it runs win95 great, but 98 has always been flaky, whether with 32MB or 64MB RAM.

The 120MHz CPU is a bit slow for win98 as well, but it should work, with enough memory to back it up. It will be slow though...

The best way to use FAT32 is to set it up with fdisk, although the win98 FAT converter does work. This also depends on whether you have DOS installed as well, DOS 6.x will not work with a FAT32 system, since it's a 16 bit OS.

Give us some more details to go on, all the system info you can dig up. CPU brand, memory, BIOS, motherboard if you can find out.

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Has 72MB of RAM, CPU Brand is Compaq Presario 4112. I dont know where to find BIOS or motherboard. If this is an old system-which I think it is, before Win98 was released and doesnt like OS, what do we do to get it going?
Troubleshooting Windows Protection Errors (http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q149/9/62.asp) might help with that.

How much RAM does the machine have? With win98 you should have at least 32MB, or you might have problems. You may also have one of those older boards that was built before win98 was released, and simply doesn't like the OS. My father has one, it runs win95 great, but 98 has always been flaky, whether with 32MB or 64MB RAM.

The 120MHz CPU is a bit slow for win98 as well, but it should work, with enough memory to back it up. It will be slow though...

The best way to use FAT32 is to set it up with fdisk, although the win98 FAT converter does work. This also depends on whether you have DOS installed as well, DOS 6.x will not work with a FAT32 system, since it's a 16 bit OS.

Give us some more details to go on, all the system info you can dig up. CPU brand, memory, BIOS, motherboard if you can find out.

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OK, please use the Post Reply button at the bottom of the page instead of the Reply with Quote link at the top of an individual post, unless you have a specific reason to use a quote, it makes things easier to decipher.

The BIOS ID string should be posted on the first boot screen, either the top left or bottom left corner. The [Pause] key will hold that screen long enough to write it down, any other key will resume booting. Wim's BIOS (http://www.ping.be/bios/) has a very good page with a link for identifying the motherboard using the BIOS ID String.

With the Compaq you'll need the original restore disk to replace the OS, it can be obtained by calling Compaq, they should have a phone number listed on their website.

------------------
If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)