I was receiving alot of software errors (Illegal Operation in Explorer every time you did ANYTHING), so I decided to reformat the machine. Everything went fine throught the format process, and I got Windows ME reloaded, no problems. Then I installed the drivers for the onboard LAN Card, rebooted, only it didn't reboot.

Now everytime I reboot the machine, it seems to go into a drive check loop. The BIOS never seems to load, no display, no beeps. The system just continuously attempts to access the floppy drive. Put in a boot disk, it does the same thing. No display, no bios.

I checked all connections. Removed and reinstalled processor & heatsink/fan, RAM, HDD, floppy, CD-drives, Video. Disabled on-board LAN, audio & modem. I even tried to boot the system bare. Removed everything except the floppy drive, still did it. remove only the floppy drive, it just hangs, same as it does with it. Even flashed the BIOS.

Motherboard and RAM chip are around 3 months old. All components were working fine until this sudden freeze. Any ideas?

System Specs:

M598LMR Socket 7 Motherboard (On-board LAN, Modem, Sound & Video)
128MB PC100 RAM
Voodoo3 2000 PCI (On-board AGP Disabled)
CD-Drive & HP CD-RW
2.1Gb HDD

Doesn't surprise me at all......Win Me has LOTS of problems, esp. with Amptron socket 7 mobo's. What cpu are you running.....please dont tell me it's a Cyrix http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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Will XP save Me ?

AMD-K62 500Mhz Processor. And I don't think it really has anything to do with Windows. Seeing that it's not even getting to loading the HDD, or even the BIOS. I tried to also put an older Pentium 166 in to test it, same thing.

You are right......I should have read more carefully. ....If you cant even get to bios screen, you might have bad memory or a failed motherboard.

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Will XP save Me ?

Originally posted by Randy_tx:
You are right......I should have read more carefully. ....If you cant even get to bios screen, you might have bad memory or a failed motherboard.


The only thing is that the Motherboard and the RAM are only only 2-3 months old. They have worked fine for 2 months. I would think they would either not work to start with, or work until either I do something to them, or some other problem down the road.

When did this happen? In the past 2 or 3 days, or about 3 weeks ago? I ask because the CIH virus actavated April 26, which was about 3 weeks ago. It can wipe out the hard drive and rewrite the BIOS so the machine can't boot. That might explain the Illegal Operation Errors too...

Otherwise, it could have taken a lightning hit or power surge. Modems plugged into phone lines can really ruin your day during a storm, even with the computer turned off. (Just ask me...modem, LPT1, answering machine, cordless phone all at one time. Computer shut down and unplugged except for phone line...)

My only other idea is bad motherboard. Try known good memory, if that doesn't do it, contact the vendor about a motherboard replacement, It's 3 months old, should still be under warranty.

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So many idiots, and only six bullets...
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

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

Dont be surprised to find out that 2-3 month old SDRAM & motherboards WILL die! I've had more RAM than mobo's do it; however, it certainly DOES happen http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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Will XP save Me ?

Originally posted by Paleo Pete:
When did this happen? In the past 2 or 3 days, or about 3 weeks ago? I ask because the CIH virus actavated April 26, which was about 3 weeks ago. It can wipe out the hard drive and rewrite the BIOS so the machine can't boot. That might explain the Illegal Operation Errors too...

Otherwise, it could have taken a lightning hit or power surge. Modems plugged into phone lines can really ruin your day during a storm, even with the computer turned off. (Just ask me...modem, LPT1, answering machine, cordless phone all at one time. Computer shut down and unplugged except for phone line...)


The illegal ops started the end of last week, and it failed to boot the first time earlier this week. No storms in a few weeks, no phone line connected (It's hooked to cable modem). Couldn't be CIH anyway.. It would have been wiped out when I formatted, and the boot problem didn't occur until AFTER I formatted. I guess I'll have to try and test the MB and RAM.