Problems connecting 98SE to new internet b/band connection
 

I have an aging Dell desktop running 98SE into which I've installed an
ethernet network card to enable me to connect to my new broadband internet
connection. I've manually configured the connection ('cos no one writes
set-up software for 98 anymore), and the internet connection works a treat as
my XP laptop connects successfully.

On my 98SE desktop, in setting up the Internet Connection through Control
Panel - Internet Options - Connections, I've turned off my old dial-up
connection.
In LAN Settings I have nothing set.
I click SetUp "To Setup an Internet Connection" to get to the Internet
Connection Wizard. I then select the following...
I want to connect through a LAN.
I connect through a LAN.
LAN Internet Configuration I leave blank (don't select any poxies or
auto-config scripts).
I select No to not setup Internet Mail.
When I get to Finish, I leave the tick-box set for Connect Immediately.

Explorer 6 then starts and fails immediately because it "has encountered a
problem and needs to close." (But it does apologise for the inconvenience...)
The error signature is...
appname: iexplore.exe
appver: 6.0.2800.1106
modname: unknown
modver: 0.0.0.0
offset: 00771177

I've run a repair of IE; tried Firefox (which returns "Server Not Found");
and running OE to see if I can connect to a mailserver, OE fails because it
also "has encountered a problem and needs to close."

As Keith in Oregon says: "I'm running out of ideas other than buying a new
computer - again and again and again - which I would rather not do. Hate
designed obsolescence. Help ????"

Witsend, from nowhere near Oregon.

Problems connecting 98SE to new internet b/band connection
 

Witsend wrote:

As Keith in Oregon says: "I'm running out of ideas other than
buying a new computer - again and again and again - which I
would rather not do. Hate designed obsolescence. Help ????"

It's not designed obsolescence. It's operator stupidity.

Do you see a "network neighborhood" icon on your desktop?

If yes, right-click on it, select properties.

You will see a list of items in a box. Slide the list down. Near the
bottom you should see something like "TCP/IP - (ethernet device)"
where "(ethernet device)" will be your ethernet card. Select it, then
hit the Properties button. Another window will open.

There are a number of tabs across the top. It should open on a tab
called "IP address".

At this point, go to your XP computer, open a DOS or Command prompt,
and type "ipconfig" and hit enter. You might see several listings for
ethernet adapters. Find one that says "IP Address ..............:
192.168.x.y"

Write down what it says for x.

Under that line it will say "Default Gateway". Again, it should be
192.168.x.z. Write down x and z. The value for x here should be the
same as the value for x in the previous step. (hint: x will most
likely be either 0, or 1, or 2, and z will most likely be 1).

Go back to your win-98 machine. Click the radio button that says
"Specify an IP address". Then in the box called "IP Address" enter
192.168.x.123 (where "x" is what you wrote down above".

Subnet mask should be 255.255.255.0

Click on the Gateway tab. If there is anything listed in "installed
gateways" then select it and remove it. Then in the New gateway box
enter 192.168.x.z (where x and z are numbers you wrote down above).
Then click the Add button.

Click the DNS configuration tab. Hit the radio button "Enable DNS".
Under host, enter some cute name, or just type the word "hello". In
the box "DNS server search order", enter 4.2.2.2 and hit add. Then
hit the "Bindings" tab.

You should have a check-box that says "client for microsoft
networks". Make sure there is a checkbox in that box.

Then hit the OK button. That should take you back to the Network
window. Hit the OK button on that window. Windows will want to
restart, so let it.

You should have internet access when it restarts.

Problems connecting 98SE to new internet b/band connection
 

Comments of "operator stupidity" not withstanding, internet access was there
on the restart... in that, I can now ping websites... however... no
application requiring access to the internet connection will run without
fatal error... :-(

IE continues to fail immediately on start up, with the same error as
previously.
OE fails with MSIMN caused an invalid page fault in module unknown at
0000:00580404.
Firefox fails with an invalid page fault in module unknown at 0000:00000034.

So, whilst I have an internet connection, I can't use it. Any further help
would be much appreciated.

Problems connecting 98SE to new internet b/band connection
 

Witsend wrote:
I can now ping websites... however... no application requiring
access to the internet connection will run without fatal error...
:-(

IE continues to fail immediately on start up, with the same error
as previously. OE fails with MSIMN caused an invalid page fault
in module unknown at 0000:00580404.

A good first step with any error message is to do a google search on
the error message.

For example:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...known%3E&meta=

One of those results is this:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/238585

Read that and see if it applies to you.

I'm going to run down a list of probable reasons why your win-98
system is unstable:


1) Your hard drive is more that 5 years old, and has developed bad
sectors. Run Scandisk and do a surface scan. You may have to replace
dammaged files from their original CD or from the internet.

2) You haven't run scandisk for more than a year, and you have
crosslinked files. Again, run scandisk. You may have to replace some
system files that have become corrupted.

3) The memory in your system has become faulty, or needs to be
re-seated. With the computer turned off (and up-plugged from the
wall), and with the case open, wiggle the memory modules with your
finger. If your system has less than 128 mb of memory, try to add
more to bring it up to at least 128 mb, and 256 mb if you can. Wiggle
or re-seat your video card while you're at it. If there's lots of
dust in your computer (especially on the CPU fan, heatsink, or inside
the power supply) then try to blow out all the dust. Dust buildup
prevents airflow and causes system components to run hotter than they
should. Some components don't operate properly when they're running
hotter than they should. Your CPU fan may have failed and doesn't
rotate any more, or maybe it's jammed with dust.

4) There are some things running at startup that are causing problems
or otherwise don't need to be running. Start your system, and when
it's up and running, go Start, Run, and type "msconfig" and hit
enter. You will see a bunch of tabs. Select the Startup tab on the
far right. There will be a bunch of entries with check-boxes. What
items have a check in the box?

5) Your system needs to be updated via the WindowsUpdate website. See
if your system can access the website
http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp (using IE).

6) Your system has been infected with a trojan, worm or virus. There
are a few things you can do, but I won't outline them here until all
of the above have been eliminated as posibilities first.

Problems connecting 98SE to new internet b/band connection
 

A good first step with any error message is to do a google search on the error message. For example:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...known%3E&meta=

I had tried this but couldn't find anything which appeared relevant on the
first few pages of links returned.

One of those results is this: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/238585 Read that and see if it applies to you.

Discounted this as I don't have CleanSweep installed.

Running down your list of probable reasons why my win-98 system is unstable:

1) Your hard drive is more that 5 years old, and has developed bad sectors. Run Scandisk and do a surface scan.

The HD is definitely over 5 years old. But running Scandisk produces no
errors whatsoever. The scan completes and it reports everything to be fine.

You may have to replace damaged files from their original CD or from the internet.

I have the original CD. But how would I go about locating damaged files ?

2) You haven't run scandisk for more than a year, and you have crosslinked files. Again, run scandisk. You may have to replace some system files that have become corrupted.

File corruption is where I think this is at, as this IE/OE misbehaviour
started occurring after I installed the network card to get LAN connectivity
to get on the Router. Prior to this it all worked fine on dial-up... although
it only ran at 33Kbps. But Scandisk didn't report any "crosslinked files" and
I don't know how to check, detect and replace corrupt files.

3) The memory in your system has become faulty, or needs to be re-seated. ... If your system has less than 128 mb of memory, try to add more to bring it up to at least 128 mb, and 256 mb if you can. ... If there's lots of dust in your computer ... then try to blow out all the dust.

The RAM was upgraded to 512Mb last year and looks to be seated firmly, and
inside gets cleaned out regularly and was last done some 6 months ago.

4) There are some things running at startup that are causing problems or otherwise don't need to be running.

I'd run msconfig and have removed all that doesn't look to be required.

5) Your system needs to be updated via the WindowsUpdate website. See if your system can access the website http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp (using IE).

Ironically, it got updated by dial-up whenever required, but since this
problem started a couple of weeks back I've not been able to access any web
resource.

6) Your system has been infected with a trojan, worm or virus. There are a few things you can do, but I won't outline them here until all of the above have been eliminated as possibilities first.

Prior to installing the LAN card, I'd removed NAV to replace it with AVG and
run a new scan with AVG and removed anything that looked dubious... which
wasn't much.

I really want to avoid a complete op/sys replacement as I have 7 years of
stuff on here which I'd very much like to leave as is. I see my problem as
needing to understand what's become corrupt during the LAN card installation
and how I can replace these files. Or am I barking up the wrong tree... ?
btw, many thanks for all the help so far.

Problems connecting 98SE to new internet b/band connection
 

I'm not going to be much help as I don't know much about troubleshooting
these kinds of problems. But I will tell you what I do in cases like these
and it works 100% of the time. I reformat and reinstall! Not only does
everything run nicely again, but the registry is brand new and my computer is
zippity fast! Just make sure you have all your drivers for your ethernet
card/sound card/video card and all other hardwre connected to your computer.
Oh, and of course, make sure you have all your installation files/discs!

"Witsend" wrote:


A good first step with any error message is to do a google search on the error message. For example:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...known%3E&meta=

I had tried this but couldn't find anything which appeared relevant on the
first few pages of links returned.

One of those results is this: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/238585 Read that and see if it applies to you.

Discounted this as I don't have CleanSweep installed.

Running down your list of probable reasons why my win-98 system is unstable:

1) Your hard drive is more that 5 years old, and has developed bad sectors. Run Scandisk and do a surface scan.

The HD is definitely over 5 years old. But running Scandisk produces no
errors whatsoever. The scan completes and it reports everything to be fine.

You may have to replace damaged files from their original CD or from the internet.

I have the original CD. But how would I go about locating damaged files ?

2) You haven't run scandisk for more than a year, and you have crosslinked files. Again, run scandisk. You may have to replace some system files that have become corrupted.

File corruption is where I think this is at, as this IE/OE misbehaviour
started occurring after I installed the network card to get LAN connectivity
to get on the Router. Prior to this it all worked fine on dial-up... although
it only ran at 33Kbps. But Scandisk didn't report any "crosslinked files" and
I don't know how to check, detect and replace corrupt files.

3) The memory in your system has become faulty, or needs to be re-seated. ... If your system has less than 128 mb of memory, try to add more to bring it up to at least 128 mb, and 256 mb if you can. ... If there's lots of dust in your computer ... then try to blow out all the dust.

The RAM was upgraded to 512Mb last year and looks to be seated firmly, and
inside gets cleaned out regularly and was last done some 6 months ago.

4) There are some things running at startup that are causing problems or otherwise don't need to be running.

I'd run msconfig and have removed all that doesn't look to be required.

5) Your system needs to be updated via the WindowsUpdate website. See if your system can access the website http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp (using IE).

Ironically, it got updated by dial-up whenever required, but since this
problem started a couple of weeks back I've not been able to access any web
resource.

6) Your system has been infected with a trojan, worm or virus. There are a few things you can do, but I won't outline them here until all of the above have been eliminated as possibilities first.

Prior to installing the LAN card, I'd removed NAV to replace it with AVG and
run a new scan with AVG and removed anything that looked dubious... which
wasn't much.

I really want to avoid a complete op/sys replacement as I have 7 years of
stuff on here which I'd very much like to leave as is. I see my problem as
needing to understand what's become corrupt during the LAN card installation
and how I can replace these files. Or am I barking up the wrong tree... ?
btw, many thanks for all the help so far.

Problems connecting 98SE to new internet b/band connection
 

I'd (reluctantly) reformat & reinstall IF the machine was performing poorly,
but it's not... it's pretty zippity as it is actually. All I've done is to
install a network card and now some 98 apps don't want to connect to the
internet. The rest of the machine is absolutely fine and just as I want it. A
complete rebuild seems overkill (...and I doubt I could locate all the
required drivers anyway.) Isn't there a better way to be able to
correct/reinstall just the failing apps... ?

Problems connecting 98SE to new internet b/band connection
 

"Witsend" wrote:
In LAN Settings I have nothing set.
I click SetUp "To Setup an Internet Connection" to get to the Internet
Connection Wizard. I then select the following...
I want to connect through a LAN.
I connect through a LAN.
LAN Internet Configuration I leave blank (don't select any poxies or
auto-config scripts).
I select No to not setup Internet Mail.
When I get to Finish, I leave the tick-box set for Connect Immediately.

Perhaps the above is your problem? I have done a clean install on Windows
98 several times and everytime I install the drivers for the ethernet card, I
go to the Internet Connection Wizard and let it choose "Automatic" in the
proxy setting. It's the recommended check box.

Problems connecting 98SE to new internet b/band connection
 

Witsend wrote:

I'd (reluctantly) reformat & reinstall IF the machine was
performing poorly, but it's not...

Go spend $50 for a new 80 gb hard drive and swap it into your computer
as the primary (C) drive and remove your existing drive. Then install
98 on the new drive. If you get it working, you can re-connect your
existing drive in the secondary or slave position and copy all of your
personal files from the old drive to the new drive.

Yes, you'd also have to re-install your apps to the new drive as well.

Problems connecting 98SE to new internet b/band connection
 

"98 Guy" wrote:

Witsend wrote:

I'd (reluctantly) reformat & reinstall IF the machine was
performing poorly, but it's not...

Go spend $50 for a new 80 gb hard drive and swap it into your computer
as the primary (C) drive and remove your existing drive. Then install
98 on the new drive. If you get it working, you can re-connect your
existing drive in the secondary or slave position and copy all of your
personal files from the old drive to the new drive.

Yes, you'd also have to re-install your apps to the new drive as well.


So... that's it then... ? A complete operating system and application
install on a brand new HD is the only way to get a couple of Windows apps to
see a working internet connection... ?! We're back to "designed obsolescence
..vs. operator stupidity." If you ask me, it seems pretty stupid to have to
reinstall an entire operating system just to get IE to see a network
connection...sigh...

Oh well, it wasn't completely without learning opportunity, so thanks v.
much for your help, it was appreciated and I thought for a short while that
we might actually fix it.

Cheers, Witsend.