System registry/registry checker gone haywire

[Cornbread]

What does it mean when your computer constantly loops itself, having to restart until it finally lets win98se load, after about 6 or 7 unsuccessful attempts beforehand?

This is the third reformat and reinstall of win98se on this clone so far, it's been extremely unstable the whole 2 or 3 months it's been used, but always plagued with the registry problem. Every time it restores the registry, it deletes my video driver back to default and it has to reload the network card. Help!

[ski]

If it's a new machine, then have the supplier repair or replace it.
If it's a used one, then consider getting a new one.

[Cornbread]

Actually, I built this clone myself from parts I acquired through online vendors. I thought I'd researched all the parts pretty well beforehand, but I could be facing some incompatibility issues. I just don't understand where this perpetual registry problem is coming from.

[ski]

What are your system's specs?
Are you installing the full version of 98SE, or is it a 98SE upgrade?
Are all of the cards installed before formatting and running Windows setup?

[Cornbread]

Here are the system's specs:

AMd Athlon 1.13 GHz with BB coolermaster fan
Asus A7V133 Motherboard
256k Micron PC133 SDRAM
WD 7200 RPM 40Gig Caviar HDD running ATA100
Toshiba DVD ROM
ATI Radeon VE 32mb video
Soundblaster live 5.1 sound

It's a full copy of Win98 second edition, and now that you mention it, not all the cards were installed yesterday when I reformatted and reinstalled windows. I added an ethernet card and a modem.

Are you saying I should leave all this stuff in it, reformat and reinstall again and I might have better luck?

[ski]

You did the proper thing by not installing a lot of cards before formatting and running setup. Actually, it's best to have only the video card initially installed, and then install all other cards one at a time after Windows is loaded and running. Try doing another format and Windows install with just the video card in.

Is everything set up ok in CMOS, specifically the FSB and CPU multiplier?
Are you overclocking?

Also, check the watt rating on your power supply module. With an athlon CPU greater than 1 GHz, it should be at least 300 watts. And the combined "+3.3V & +5V" rating should be 165 watts minimum(180 watts preferred).

[Cornbread]

I'm not sure if it's set up right in CMOS. In fact, I can't remember how to get back into CMOS. I think I might have made some settings like FSB and cpu multiplier in BIOS and I'm not overclocking it.

I do in fact have a 300 watt power supply, but those other numbers you just said look familiar but not THAT familiar... if you know what I mean.

What do you think? Should I just put it out on the curb?

[Cornbread]

Aww crap, I just looked on the side of the power supply and the combined +3.3v & +5V rating is only 145 watts!!

Guess I might need a more powerful power supply.

[mjc]

Ummm......yep, not all power supplies are created equal. 20W may not seem like much of a difference but during the initial power up is the most demanding time for a power supply, everything is calling for power at once, and if it is weak in one area it just may not be enough to get things rolling.....and in a power supply it is better to have nore than you actually need than less.

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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.

[Cornbread]

That is righteous, my brother. I will fix this dang ol computer yet.