My machine won't even let me install windows 98. If/when I finally do get one the system crashes or just reboots almost every minute literally. I have tried a new video card and removing all but the necessary peripherals but nothing helps. The specs are: AMD 900, 256 RAM M/B unknown. I have also tried to install win2k on another drive but that just hangs and does nothing when it tries start the graphical part of the install. I have also tried installing from different CD drives but the result is the same. Any help would be appreciated.

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We're sorry but due to budget cuts the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off.

Have you tried to Format the drive?, if there is any conflicts or corruptions, this will erase everything, so you have a almost blank disk to start with!

Sudden reboots, and hangs and craches are sometimes mistaken for software problems but usually lead to a Bad/poor Powersupply.. Get it tested or try another one!

If this doesn't help, post back and we can all go from there!

You will need to post a whole lot more information than you already have.
What are you attempting to do?
Did you build this yourself?
Is this a new hard drive?
a. Replacing an old failed drive?
b. upgrading to a newer gigger drive?
c. what is the make & model?

Are there any POST errors or beep codes???
Please post full system specs along with what lead you to install Win98.

I have formatted the drive numerous times with the same results. I have 3 different hard drives with the same results.

a. Replaced HD 3 different times.
b. Yes they were different sizes.
c. There is no make and model on the computer. I bought the parts and put it together myself.

The current HD is a Western Digital 30 gig. It is just a few months old. Wanting to use my computer without it rebooting or locking every minute or 2 is what lead me to install 98 http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

Video card is a Voodoo 5 5500 I have replaced that with an AT Rage Pro with no luck. I am currently in the process of getting a new power supply to try that. Thanks for the help

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We're sorry but due to budget cuts the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off.

You aren't by any chance overclocking?

If so return the CPU to the stock speed before trying to install.

Also check the CAS settings in BIOS, tyr CL3. Make sure the meory you are running is rated to handle at least the bus speed you are running at...ie. if running on a 133MHz bus make sure you have at least PC133, If using DDR RAM make sure it is the speed your board calls for. I doubt that this is an HD problem......

What chipset is your motherboard?

If it is a VIA chipset then you would probably need the VIA 4 in 1 driver package for it (at least for Win9x)

You need to find out what motherboard you have, it may not fully support the CPU you are running, in which case a BIOS update would be needed.

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

Unfortunately I'm not overclocking. This system has run like clockwork for about 6 months without a hitch then it just started this problem about a week ago. I was hoping a quick reinstall of the oS would solve it but no such luck. I finally got 98 to install but it is very unstable. I did write down the error codes this time http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

An Exception 0E has occurred at 0028:00000017 in VXD ---. This was called from 0028:C0003A7F in VXD ---. It may be possible to continue normally.

I press a key and get this:

An exception 0E has occurred at 0028:00000017 in VXD ---. This was called from 0028:C004AA6A in VXD VFAT(01) + 00009CB6. It may possible to continue normally.

At this point the system is completely unusable and needs to be power off reset. I will get the MB model and chipset and post them. Thanks everyone for your help

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We're sorry but due to budget cuts the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off.

Ok, awaiting the MB model....but I think it may be RAM.

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

Looks like I have a generic MB or something, can't find a model number or anything. Going to try Belarc Advisor if the system will stay up that long. Trying RAM now...didn't even think of that

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We're sorry but due to budget cuts the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off.

Belarc didn't do any good either. Didn't think it would but I thought I would try. Guess I'll have to pull the board to find out. Lost all the docs to it. That's that you get when you move I guess :/

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We're sorry but due to budget cuts the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off.

I vote for RAM too...

Some troubleshooting links for the kind of error message posted above:

Exception Errors in win98 (http://www.techadvice.com/w98/E/Exception_errors.htm)

Troubleshooting Common Error Messages (http://home.talkcity.com/TechnologyWay/angry/errors.htm)

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If your nose runs and your feet smell...
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Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.dreamwater.com/paleopete/computer.htm) has been moved, please update your bookmarks.

I pulled one RAM stick and it works better. Pulling the other made no difference whatsoever It still crashes quite a bit and if I try to go online it will crash it some way or another within 5 minutes. It either just locks or gives me random colors on the screen. It does this no matter what video card I put in it. But at least now I have been able to use it somewhat. It's not perfect but it's getting there. I was also thinking maybe power supply and soliciting opinions about that http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif Good thing I have the trusty laptop.

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We're sorry but due to budget cuts the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off.

Doesn't look like it's RAM. Not much difference really. Random reboots to windows protection errors and lock ups. But the colors are pretty http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif

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We're sorry but due to budget cuts the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off.

Well, if a new PSU doesn't fix it, then it might be a heat issue. Are you sure your CPU fan is running optimally? Is the heatsink warm? Have you jostled the computer about or anything? Check the HSF to make sure it's on the processor correctly.

If everything looks OK with heat related ideas, then I would try another processor, if possible.

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-------- Tommy Smothers

Things look ok as far as heat is concerned. I moved recently so the machine got jostled a bit there but this behavior started before that. If PSU doesn't do it, looks like I'll be getting a new machine because I have replaced literally every other part but processor and MB

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We're sorry but due to budget cuts the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off.

Guess I'll just try the power supply and go from there. Thanks for trying everyone.

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We're sorry but due to budget cuts the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off.