My PC freezes on installation of Windows ME

[tonysolomon]

I've tried to install Windows ME from two different CDs, many times. Each time, I run FDISK and Format, before choosing the WinME setup file.
It keeps doing the following:

When WinME is installing, it gets to a point where it reboots. After it turns the PC back on, it freezes up at the following message: Setting up Hardware. Windows Millennium is now initializing it's driver database. 18 minutes left.

I reboot the PC, because it tells me to if it stops responding for a long period of time. It continues installing, but freezes when it says 10 minutes left.

I reboot and it freezes on an empty blue screen. I don't know what's causing all of these problems, but I have unplugged the power cable to the slave drive, but left the IDE cable plugged in (I wouldn't think that that would be a problem). I also have CAT 5e plugged into the NIC. Then there is the CD-RW and the C: drive.

I reboot and it freezes on the following message: now initializing driver database. 10 minutes left.

I turn the PC off and unplug the power cable and the CAT 5e cable. I plug the power cable back in and get the following message: An exception 0E has occurred at 0028:C000B67D in VxD VMM (01) + 0000A67D. This was called from 0028:F6FFFFFF in VxD ---. It may be possible to continue normally. Press any key to continue.

I press a key, but it's frozen, so I reboot. It freezes on the ME splash page. I reboot, again. Each time I reboot, I usually get asked to choose normal or safe mode. I choose normal mode, because it's supposed to be installing. I also let the automatic scandisk run.

I've tried, on other installation attempts to choose safe mode, but when I simply can't get it to reboot into normal mode, I run FDISK, Format, and re-install the OS.

After the reboot I saw the password dialog box, but an error dialog box showed up, immediately afterwards. Then it went to a Windows blue error screen, followed by another one. The first two error messages went by to fast to read and right down, but I got the one that was on the second Windows blue error screen. I'm pretty sure it was the same VxD error message that I had gotten before the reboot.

I shut the PC down and turned it back on. I saw scandisk, then the password dialog box. I couldn't see a mouse pointer. I moved the mouse and the PC rebooted itself.

When it turned back on, I saw scandisk, the password dialog box, then a Windows blue error screen. It said, "File Name: VMM (01) + 0000A761 Error: 0E 0028: C000B761". Press any key.

I rebooted to the emergency diskette and ran scandisk. It said that there were no problems, so I shut down the PC and posted this message. I would appreciate any ideas. I may have to try to install Windows 98, but I would rather stick with ME, since it has a few nice features that ME doesn't have.

[Budfred]

When you are waiting for WinME to finish installing the hardware before the first time you reboot, how long do you wait. It will often get really slow there, so it is a good idea to go away, have a cup of coffee, chat with the neighbors and so on.... If it hasn't moved when you get back, then try the reboot. Also, when you leave the IDE cable plugged in, but no power to the device, the is likely to confuse things; I would disconnect the cable.

In general, you may want to strip down the hardware to a more basic config and then reinstall. The hardware setup always seems to be the hardest part of the install and you are usually better off installing specific components later. When you do reboot, if it fails the first time, power off the second time and then power back on. I once struggled with an install for an hour or two until I did that...

[tonysolomon]

I waited at least 20 minutes, just to make sure. I will take out the NIC and the CD-RW, but everything else is on the motherboard. Thanks for the help. I'll let you know what happens.

[Paul Komski]

What sort of video card/onboard video and how much ram in the system?

[tonysolomon]

Originally posted by Paul Komski
What sort of video card/onboard video and how much ram in the system?

It's in my sig. Thanks.

[Paul Komski]

I don't view avatars or sigs - though I did check your profile.

I was just thinking that too much RAM (>512) exaccerbated by any AGP could be causing problems.

For example:-
http://www.dewassoc.com/support/win98/win9x_512memory.htm

[tonysolomon]

Thanks, Paul. I was told about ME having a 512MB limit, when I was looking for some RAM, so that's all I have installed. I'm debating whether I should type in all of the problems I've been having or just format the C: drive and install Windows 98, until I can get Windows 2000 or XP.

Does anyone have a preference, between Windows 2000 and Windows XP?

[Mark Miller]

For day to day stuff Xp. It does need more to run than 2ooo though. Make sure your hardware and software are up to it. People who don't like XP think the activation is wrong and that it, to them, has a "cartoon" look.
I find it easy to use and it never crashes [like 2ooo]
As far as newer games and some peripherals Xp also seems easier to use.
The hard core guys seem to like 2000 better though.
Both are good.
If I have confused you think how I feel
Mark:D

[tonysolomon]

Okay, I'm going to try to install ME from my other ME CD and if that doesn't work I'm going to a different OS.

Here's what I've done since my original post:

I was in safe mode and I went to MSCONFIG and unchecked all of the boxes under selective startup. I rebooted into safe mode and I got the following error: Explorer has caused an error in KERNEL32.dll. An error loading C:\Windows\System\mstime.dll. The file may not have been installed or it has been corrupted. Then the PC froze up.

I turned off the PC and removed the CD-RW, unhooked the IDE cable from the unplugged d: drive, and took out the modem. I rebooted and got this error: "Regsvr32 has caused an error in KERNEL32.dll. Regsvr32 will now close."

I ran the emergency boot disk, scandisk, then I rebooted the PC. I saw the password box, but then the PC rebooted. The automatic scandisk ran and then I saw the password dialog box, again. I hit enter and WinME started installing the Control Panel, programs in the Start Menu, etc., but then I got the Regsvr32 error message again.

I closed the Regsvr32 error box & WinME continued, but then I got the Windows blue VxD error page, again. I am now formatting the drive again. I will try to install ME one last time, before I give up.

For the record, I checked all of the hard drives with the utilities that came on the accompanying diskettes and they are all working perfectly.

I also noticed something weird when I use the emergency boot disk and try to format the C: drive. At the A: prompt I type C: and hit enter. Then I type "format c:" and hit enter. I get an error message saying, invalid media type (I think) and it asks me to choose abort, retry, or fail. I've tried them all, but typing f (for fail) is the only one that starts the format executable file. Does that mean anything to anyone?

EDIT: Thanks Mark. No you didn't confuse me. What features does XP or 2000 have over the other, or are they very similar. I thought 2000 didn't crash that much. I also think that XP looks too cartoonish.

What features will I lose if I go from ME to 2000 or XP?
Which OS crashes the least and has some of the best features?

[Sylvander]

See the hardware detection phase here http://tinyurl.com/o2sv
Especially where it says:
“After the file copy process finishes, Setup tries to restart the computer automatically. If your computer stops responding at this first restart, restart your computer. At the beginning of the first restart, Plug and Play detection occurs, including hardware and devices that you have attached or installed. In some hardware configurations, your computer may stop responding during Plug and Play detection, and this generally occurs with 12 to 13 minutes remaining. This occurs when the Windows Millennium Configuration Manager (Configmg.vxd) is unable to successfully detect the devices that are attached to the computer.

For a step-by-step procedure to troubleshoot detection issues, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
How to Troubleshoot Computer Hangs During Hardware Detection.” = http://tinyurl.com/o2t2

Complicated isn’t it?
I always thought the thing to do was to switch off the PC, wait 15 seconds, switch back on and select “Safe Recovery” and the O/S would by-pass the initialisation of the troublesome item of hardware.
You repeat this every time it freezes during hardware initialisation.
Then you try to fix the hardware problem after Windows Setup is complete and IF you manage to boot into Normal or Safe Mode.
Perhaps the methods described in the article above is to be used when this doesn’t work.

[Budfred]

If you turned off everything in msconfig, that is probably part of the problem. You generally need to leave systray and explorer at a minimum. I think you can get back in and turn them back on by using the Step by Step option from the boot menu. Or you can just reinstall WinME again.

If your WinME is not installing properly and you are following the correct procedures, it suggests that you have a hardware problem and installing another OS is not likely to correct that.

As for WinXP vs. Win2K, flip a coin.... I use Win2K because I don't like the activation on WinXP and it is a little too simple minded in some ways. I have played with it and it is quite stable and does have some nice features. Win2K and WinXP are roughly equal in stability, WinXP is supposed to be somewhat more stable, but ???? You can get OEM WinXP cheaper than OEM Win2K. Win2K is designed primarily for networking and business, WinXP is more for home use and is a little more user friendly (it comes with more games)....

[Sylvander]

Some notes from Windows 95:

If a previous attempt to install Windows 95 has failed, Windows 95 Setup provides an option to use the Safe Recovery feature or to run a full new Setup process. If the Safe Recovery dialog box appears when you start Windows 95 Setup, you should select the Use Safe Recovery option. When you select this option, Windows 95 Setup can use built-in methods to avoid problems that occurred previously.

If Setup fails BEFORE hardware detection, Windows 95 Setup recovers by reading SETUPLOG.TXT to determine where the system stalled, what to redo, and what to skip.
If Setup fails DURING hardware detection, the DETCRASH.LOG file is created, containing information about the detection module that was running and the I/O port or memory resources it was accessing when the failure occurred.
When the detection process finds this file, it automatically runs in Safe Recovery mode to verify all the devices already in the Registry and then skips all detection modules up to the failed module. Safe Recovery then skips detection and any attempts to configure the failed module, in effect skipping the action that caused the failure. Then, Safe Recovery continues the detection process, starting with the next module. If the detection process is completed successfully, DETCRASH.LOG is deleted.
Sometimes the detection process causes some devices to quit working. If you rerun Setup, Safe Recovery recognizes that the detection process has already been completed successfully and assumes that all the necessary hardware information is in the Registry. Therefore, it skips the detection process completely at this point and continues the installation process.
See also:
Abnormal FORMAT Termination Yields Invalid Media
http://tinyurl.com/o2xw

This suggests that access to your HDD is no longer possible,
Which could explain your problems.

it assumes that the disk is only partially formatted and therefore unusable; therefore, the disk is marked as such.

[Paul Komski]

Very long-term XP-sceptic now says that if you have compatible hardware and a modern system with adequate RAM (256 or 512 better) that WXP wins over W2K every time. Just the time taken to boot-up and close down is worth it alone. Activation has, in reality, become a small-beer issue. If it's just the "look" of things that gets people's goat, most of such customisation can be turned back into classic view.

Hate to admit it - but though I dont like Microsoft - I do like XP.

I don't see how using msconfig could be part of the problem and don't know how or why you would want to stop explorer from running.

[Mark Miller]

Hi Tony.
Glad I didn't confuse the issue. For most people activation is the worst part of XP
Compared to ME both are much more stable [IMHO] I don't think you will lose any features but things such as networking and system resources are also superior with both of the newer os's.
I guess I lean toward XP because I don't need all the security of 2000
I think using photos and music is much easier with XP also.
It really comes down to what you want from your system. The third option of course is XP pro.
I know I had mentioned this but not having to worry about reboots and system resources to me is a big plus. In 2 years with XP I have had 2 system crashes and the computer just restarted itself and away I went.
Programs still crash but they don't take the whole system down.
Anyway I am an XP fan especially over ME.
mark:)

[Jhorner1]

One other thing to check. In the BIOS, make sure that Plug and Play OS is set to "yes". I recently had a problem with a new board where it was set to "no", and Win2k hung at about the same spot as you are.

[tonysolomon]

Budfred, I unchecked the selective startup boxes, because of this link: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;262381

I was having the problem even before I did that. It did it, because I didn't know what else to try.

Sylvander, that abnormal format link doesn't describe what is happening. Thanks, though. I just don't understand why f(ail) would start the format and not r(etry), or even why it gives an error. Format C: should do it.

Jhorner, thanks for your suggestion. I'will try that and a few others, in the morning.

Thanks to everyone for your comments.

[iisbob]

I don't see it posted here yet( or i just missed it ), but the first thing i would suggest is to run both a memory diagnostic, and a harddrive diagnostic.

Some of the error's you have described sound like a possible bad memory module.

[tonysolomon]

I have run the diagnostic tests on the hard drives, using the utilities provided on the diskettes that came with the drives.

Somebody told me to try to start the PC with one stick of RAM at a time. Other than that I don't know how to test the memory if Windows won't load. Thanks.

[Budfred]

You can download and run DocMemory... (http://www.simmtester.com/PAGE/products/doc/docinfo.asp)

[tonysolomon]

Eureka! I’ve found the solution.

I should have chosen typical installation instead of custom installation. Apparently the choices that I was making were not good enough. I was just trying to avoid having things like online services, MSN, and Outlook Express installed, in the first place. The way I used to install the OS was using typical and then going to the windows setup tab in add/remove programs. I only recently tried to do the custom installation. This is awesome. Now, I can get on with things.

I also found out why I was getting that error when I was trying to format. This time, when the A: prompt appeared, I typed, “format C:”. The other times I typed “C:”, hit enter and then typed, “format C:”.

There was just one error that I saw while Windows ME was installing. It said Extrac32 has caused an error in GDI32.dll. Extrac32 will now close. I’m going to do a Google search on this error to see if it’s important. Does anyone have an idea about this one?

Before I figured out what was hanging up Windows ME, I did try a few suggestions. I will spare you the error details, but here were the suggestions: I checked BIOS to make sure that plug-n-play was enabled; I could never get into MSCONFIG to check the selective startup boxes; and I tried one RAM stick at a time. I was told, each time, that the machine had 255MB of RAM. I tried each stick in safe and normal mode, but nothing worked. I was just about to give up before I chose the typical installation. I can’t believe how many hours that I’ve spent trying to figure this problem out. I am studying for the A+ exam and I am learning so much, through trial and error, with my two PCs.

I would like to thank everybody who suggested solutions to my problem.

[Budfred]

What custom settings were you trying to use? I always do a custom install of WinME and haven't had any more than the usual problems...

[Paul Komski]

Sounds like there was a problem extracting one of the compressed files within one of the cab files.

Just a thought for the future but one often gets a "cleaner" (and faster) installation by copying the installation files from the CD to the HDD beforehand and then running setup from the HDD.

Two additional advantages are that this may pick-up any corrupt files during the copying stage and also all the installation files will reside on the HDD thereafter and not require you to go searching for the CD if ever prompted by the OS.

[tonysolomon]

Originally posted by Budfred
What custom settings were you trying to use? I always do a custom install of WinME and haven't had any more than the usual problems...

Nothing that isn't given as a choice. After I chose the typical install, and WinME booted, I went to Windows Setup, in add/remove programs, and picked the exact same choices. I normally do it that way and don't get a problem. That's why it took me so long to realize that the custom installation was the problem. I'm going to take Paul's advice and copy the file onto my data CD, for future use. Thanks, Paul.

[tonysolomon]

Windows was working, but then I started having problems, so I decided to re-install Windows. I was going to get Windows 2000, but I haven't, yet. I figured I'd try to install Windows 98, since I have it on the other PC. It didn't install correctly, either. I've tried to install both OSs many times, but I always get error messages, freeze-ups, and failure to boot into normal mode. I did get normal mode working once, but I couldn't find the drivers, on my motherboard CD. I ran the automatic-install program on the motherboard CD, but after I rebooted the PC it wouldn't work properly. I've written so many error messages down that I don't know what happened after that reboot. I tried to re-install and do a search for the drivers, myself, but I couldn't get that far. I could only boot into safe mode. I got a lot of freeze-ups during installation. The one that bothers me the most is the one that also had flashing horizontal lines across the screen and 1 1/2 inch vertical lines at the top of the screen. I rebooted after I saw that happen. By the way, that happened during the installation of the control panel, start menu items, system configuration, etc.

Afterwards, I could only boot into safe mode, if I stopped the help center from loading. I ran a thorough scandisk without having it automatically fix the errors, so that I might see what the problem was. I got an error message that said two files were trying to use the same section of the disk. I didn't know which file or solution to choose, so I started scandisk over and told it to fix the errors. After it finished I opened the help program, through the start menu. Then I closed it and shut down the PC.

This morning when I turned on the PC I got a blank screen and a beep ever 2 or 3 seconds, but Windows didn't load. I turned it off. I turned it back on and got the same thing, but this time I hit the restart button and when it turned back on I booted normally until it froze at the Windows splash page. That was as far as I've gotten. I'm thinking that I may have to pay somebody to check the PC out. I have no money, so I'm hoping for an alternative solution.

Does anyone have an idea what might be causing all of these problems? I've had the PC for about 3 years and I've been taking the drives out, switching the IDE cables and jumpers around, and rebooting the PC, countless times. I'm thinking that some piece of hardware is giving out. I'm thinking that it might be the onboard video card. I also think that those VXD VMM errors have a lot to do with it. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Budfred]

I have lost track of all the things you have done, so excuse me if any of this is redundant. The 3 things that seems likely to be issues to me would be something wrong with the hard drive, RAM or power supply. These seem to be the components that most often cause the most confusing problems.

You can check the drive with the manufacturer's diagnostics, you can check the RAM with DocMemory or another RAM tester and you can check the power supply with a voltimeter or another power supply that you know is good.

[tonysolomon]

Thanks Budfred, I have checked the drives with the manufacturer's tesing programs. I have also checked the RAM with the Docmemory program that you suggested, before.

I'm going to re-check my RAM, and then I'm going to try to install ME using only one memory stick. I haven't tried that yet and the last time I remember it installing correctly I had a lot less RAM.

I can also check the power supply, but I am trying to remember how. I think that I connect to pieces of a paper clip to the + and - of the volt meter, and then stick them into the clip that connects the power supply to the motherboard. I just need to know which two wires I should test(I think it's a red and black wire) and if I should leave the PC plugged into the wall, but not turned on.

Afterwards, if that doesn't solve the problem I'll probably try some other suggestions, such as, going into BIOS and disabling the onboard NIC and soundcard, and also copying the cab files to the HD, before I install the OS.

P.S. The PC Guide forum is very slow, today. Is anybody else noticing that?

[tonysolomon]

I'm trying to delete this post, since I accidentally posted it twice, but I get the following message:

You do not have permission to access this page. This could be due to one of several reasons:

1. You do not have permission to access the page that you were trying to. Are you trying to edit someone else's post or trying to access administrative features? Check that you are allowed to perform this action in the Forum Rules.

2. If you are trying to post, the administrator may have disabled your account, or it may be awaiting activation.

What should I do? I am logged in correctly.

[Steve]

"P.S. The PC Guide forum is very slow, today. Is anybody else noticing that?"

You bet. I thought it might be just me, but it's not...

[Budfred]

tonysolomon,

Yep, it is running erratically slow for everyone I think...

As for that message, I have gotten that when I accidently click on the wrong button, I usually just go Back and it works fine the next time....

[tonysolomon]

I've tried using different RAM sticks to install Windows ME. I also used a CD-RW copy, of the OS, which had no scratches on it. I got almost no errors, but the PC stalled, on the final reboot. It says updating system configuration and stops working. I can get it to boot into safe mode, if I stop the help center from loading, by closing the help center window while it's opening. I am out of ideas. I've put my old RAM back in. I think that I'll have to take the PC in to get checked out. I think that it's the onboard video, because the one error I saw was a page full of colored blotches and symbols. I've tried all types of configurations, using BIOS, and MSCONFIG, but I'm out of ideas.

I don't have the cash, now, which is why I was trying to figure out the problem. It's been over two weeks, since I've started having problems with that PC. I think that they started when I plugged the ethernet cable into the NIC while the PC was booting up. I probably shorted something. I don't know. I just think that that's when the problems started.

[tonysolomon]

I ordered a new motherboard and will get it this week. I will probably install ME to see if it works, but will most likely install 2000. I don't know why I got all of these errors, but I've had the motherboard for about 3 years. I know that I've installed ME, without any problems, on more than one occasion. It was only recently that I couldn't install ME or 98. I hope I have better results from the new board.

[Budfred]

If you want to be adventurous, you can do a dual boot with WinME and Win2K....

[tonysolomon]

I got a new motherboard and installed ME. I didn't have any errors. I even chose the custom installation. I'll check the other board out one day. I think that it was the video, but it doesn't matter now. I've got a working system. After I installed all of the programs I backed up the C: drive for the 98 and ME machines.

I wish it weren't so, but there are two small problems with my ME PC.

I will start new posts for them. One is a recycle bin problem and the other is something I notice when Windows starts up. I will describe the new motherboard on those posts.

Thanks for all of the help on this topic, though.


EDIT: I also networked both PCs and have been tweaking them and transfering data. That caused some additional delay in my response to this post.