computer hangs

[darm]

Hi all,
I have an IBM Celeron 566Mz running windoze 98 64 meg ram.My problem is that the computer freezes up at least 2 or 3 times a day, no matter what program I'm running. Pressing Ctrl Alt Del does nothing and so I have to press the reset button to reboot.
A friend told me he had the same problem with win 98 and installed win ME since then he has had no problem with freeze up's.
I also read that this problem could be overheating of the CPU, should I install a case fan, or install win ME.
Your help would be appreciated
Many thanks http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[sea69]

try a case fan or more RAM, or put a chicken in a bag and run around the yard screaming with it over your head, but under NO- circumstances change to ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

anything but that.. if your friend had good experiences with ME, trust me, he is one of the FEW.

ps- don't believe everything people tell you http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif
why should you believe me??

suggest you read this (http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/Forum15/HTML/000220.html)--- or even this (http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/Forum15/HTML/000116.html), that kinda sums it up.. hehe

bet if you put in another 64meg stick of RAM, you would be just fine!!


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*another 'toaster' bites the dust*




[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 04-08-2001).]

[tjaymadison]

You really have kind of an "apples and oranges" question here http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif and you should address one before the other. Try to track down the cause of the freezes/hangs first. Start with the simple things. If your system has the capability to monitor temperatures, do so. Make sure all your drivers etc. are up to date. Eliminate any conflicts that show in Device Manager. Run Disk Cleanup, Scandisk, and defrag the drive(s). Make sure you don't have a lot of seldom-used stuff in the Start folder. If you're getting error messages when it hangs, post them or check the MS Knowledge Base, or use the excellent Troubleshooter in the PC Guide. If you are just running short of resources, you may have to modify your habits and close some programs before opening others, or get more RAM.

While there some (or even many) people who have problems with WinME, there are also many who don't. I wouldn't go so far as sea69, but on the other hand, don't install it with the hope that it will "solve" any of the current problems you are having. If anything, wait until you have a well-running, problem-free http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif configuration first.

[sea69]

I haisten to point out that of the MANY- threads regarding this subject, the two (2) that I used as a reference, did not contain any comments from me. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif
(on purpose)

and it was late when I replied.. however, additionally, I would point out that while vague- and generalized- the comments made by tj are essentially correct.

now though, he has encouraged me to 'open this can of worms'.

M$, (IMO) created ME as a beta tester, to be tested and PURCHASED, by the general public.

They did this for several reasons;

1) They played on the ignorance of many, and the hopes of the rest by marketing this OS- as an "Upgrade"- to Win98se.

2) They needed to assert furthur CONTROL, over piracy, and this was a step towards integrating thier new Enterprise software. (upcoming in winXP)

3) They needed to keep SELLING new software and everyone already had- Win98se. They didn't have anything in the interim, between the release of XP to sell.

if you believe ME is an 'Upgrade', you also most likely believe that we landed on the moon, and in the tooth fairy. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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*another 'toaster' bites the dust*



[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 04-08-2001).]

[BigBlue66]

Hey,

Couple of ideas:

1) Check the CPU fan for proper operation.
2) Clean any dust out of the case, using compressed air, and taking care not to disturb any jumpers.
3) Get a case cooling fan.
4) Go into BIOS and disable Video Pallette Snoop. Can't remember which section it's in.
5) Install more RAM.
6) Try memory optimizing software, such as MemoKit.
7) Disable all programs running in the background, except Systray and Explorer.

My first guess is heat. My second guess is memory leaks. Either more RAM or a cheaper alternative, such as memory optimizing software, might work. I use MemoKit on a system that for chipset reasons, can't be upgraded to more than 64mb of RAM. It's works exceptionally well.

Good luck.

Cheers,

Big Blue 66


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He who laughs last, thinks slowest. hehehehe, Huh?!

[sea69]

as BB_66 says memokit is nice and works , and can be gotten here (http://www.memokit4all.com/).

The more I think about it, the more I think you should upgrade to another 64MB of RAM. I used to have FAR more problems with what you have mentioned when I had only 64megs of RAM.

be carefull to see how these memory assistance apps work on your- system, because most of them take up- more RAM to run all the time then they will save you. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

Try a price list on: http://www.crucial.com/

RAm is very inexpensive these days. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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*another 'toaster' bites the dust*

[sea69]

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/redface.gif and to tj, sorry, upon looking over your initial response again- it was avery good reply, I was just having a bad night. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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*another 'toaster' bites the dust*

[Paleo Pete]

Must be full moon...

I would try different RAM altogether, as well as the other suggestions already made.

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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/)

[tjaymadison]

Sea, nothing to apologize for. I respect your opinions and ideas very much, and have picked up many useful tips from your posts. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

One thing I've been curious about -- are there fewer problems with an install of the complete version of ME versus an upgrade on top of 98SE?

[darm]

Hi all
Many thanks for all the replys to my original question. I took your advice and put in another stick of RAM. Everything seems fine at the moment(touch wood).
As to tjays question about ME. I personally did a clean install of ME about 6 months ago and as of yet have had no problems.
Amongst all this banter about 98 vs ME, I haven't seen mention of WIN2000 or is that wishful thinking?
Again Many thanks http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[Paleo Pete]

tjay: That's been posted a few times in the past, it seems most of the regulars here agree that a clean install of ME does work out better than upgrading from 98.

darm: 2000 is a completely different animal. It's built on the NT kernel, not DOS, as with 95/98 and is usually not grouped with them or ME as far as install/upgrade issues are concerned. In general it seems to be much more stable than 95, 98 or ME, but being "hot off the press" so to speak, it still has a few problems. With a bit of time and a service pack or 3 it should be every bit as reliable as NT. Take a look through the forums, or run a search, and you'll find a few posts about it.

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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/)

[Randy_tx]

On a slightly different trail......but asked before.......A Clean OEM install of ANY OS is better than an upgrade.....almost any day.

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I'm putting a new Fat32 partition in my Head Drive...hope it speeds me up.......

[sea69]

glad you got it 'sorted'. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

you most likely will see very few of the aforementioned problems that you had with only 64 megs.

at least that was the case with my experience.. heh

and as Pete, and Randy have said.. any -install of ANY new OS is better done "clean"..



[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 04-10-2001).]