"System hardware abnormal" message on startup

[jules]

I had to wipe off the hard drive and reinstall Win 98. During this process I realized that the hard drive was Primary Master, and the cd drive was Secondary Master. I was having problems with the install, so during my endeavor, I switched the cd drive from Secondary Master to Primary Slave. This is the only hardware 'change' that was made. During the period of time when I was wiping off the hard drive, I used a monitor at home, then I brought the box into my office and used another monitor when I eventually was able to install Win 98. When I first started the pc at the office with the different monitor - I got the error "System hardware abnormal". I loaded Win 98, and installed the drivers for the monitor - but the error message still won't go away! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/mad.gif Help!! Anybody??

[iisbob]

Welcome to the forums, jules.

If i understand your post, you're saying that you began install of windows; then stopped-changed your peripherals then started over ( you did fdisk /mbr to clear the master boot record and then re-format didn't you?!). Now when you started the install at home the second time, why did you stop and take it to work?

If you began install at home on you monitor there, then windows has installed that as your display monitor, so when you took it too work and continued you installed another monitor-confusing windows. Boot into safe mode ( peck on F5 as you first boot ) once you get into safe mode, look in your system properties/device manager and delete all instances of display monitors you see there. Then use which ever one ( but only one! ) to install windows. If you decide to switch monitors again, boot into safe mode when you attach the monitor, and make sure you delete the old one, then reboot and let windows load normally with the new monitor.

hope this helps you a little. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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iisbob
"Soap and education are not as sudden as a massacre, but they are more deadly in the long run."

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[This message has been edited by iisbob (edited 07-30-2001).]

[jules]

iisbob-

Thanks for the reply. Thought I should clarify my install glitch. When I was trying to load windows, I couldn't get the cd driver to load. My initial thought was that the drive itself was bad, so I tried using one that I know is good. Turned out not to be the drive - but the wrong driver after all. So, I had to abandon the whole process at that time because I didn't have the correct drivers. When I brought the box to my office, I ended up using a different boot disk (a custom one for our setup at work) with the correct cd driver. So, yes, I reformatted after monitor #1, with monitor #2.

I just followed your suggestions, deleting all monitors (yes, there were two-but both the same) in device manager, letting windows load with the correct monitor. Still have the message.

I noticed that the CPU fan rpm = 0.

Also in device manager I have the little yellow 'bangs' (!) for both PCI controllers - because I'm not patched into the network as of yet (I assume). Could that be the reason my hardware is 'abnormal'?? http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

Thanks!

[mjc]

Open the case and check to see if that fan is spinning...if not DO NOT[/b} use the machine until you get a new fan...

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/highrise/11/index.htm)

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

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[jules]

Well, I took the lid off this morning. The cpu fan IS working. But still says "0 RPM". I am still getting the message "System hardware abnormal, press any key to continue....." while the computer is booting. Any new thoughts??

[mjc]

Do you have the manual for this motherboard?

If so check to see if the fan is wired properly according to the manual, also check the PCI configuration in BIOS (it may even be wise to reset the BIOS to default values...should be an option some where in it to reset the values).

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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.

Gun Control...hitting what you aim at!

[jules]

Regarding my original message and the 'abnormal hardware' issue....

I have 2 objects in the Device Manager window that have yellow "!" marks next to them. They are: PCI Ethernet Controller and Intel 82371AB/EB PCI to USB Universal Host Controller. When checking to see what the status of these objects is... it seems that Windows 98 has a function called Automatic Skip Driver (ASD) that "...identifies failures that have caused Windows 98 to stop responding on previous startups and marks them so they are bypassed on subsequent startups."

Is it possibly because the Intel Controller is being bypassed that it is causing the 'abnormal hardware' message? Windows 98 is also suggesting updating the driver for this controller.

[ziba-june]

[B]Jules[B], Try this; Go to the device manager,remove all the devices with the "!" next to it, and then reboot the system.

Win98 is good for recognizing the devices attached to the computer; However, this is not the case all the time. If you have any device drivers for your hardware, try to install them instead.

If you get the "!" next to your PCI controller again, see if there is any fix in the CD-ROM that came with the motherboard.

[jules]

ziba june -

Thanks for the response. I deleted both items, and re-booted. I got a fatal exception when it was trying to load the 'new' controller. YIKES!! What to do now?? http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif

jules