Problems Installing Win98SE
 

I'm trying to do a fresh install of Win98SE on an old computer and am
running into a problem. I get almost to the end of the installation
process, past the point where I type in the I.D. number and where it shows a
small window saying that it is Installing Drivers. At this point the screen
goes blank and the computer locks up. (I've built several other computers
without any problems but this one is giving me fits.)

I have partitioned and reformatted the hard drive several times and started
from scratch but each time I get to the "installing drivers" point and it
stops. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks for the help.

Strip that machine to basics. Pull any cards that aren't absolutely
necessary (IOW all except video and drive controller if present.) In
BIOS, disable all peripherals. If you know what you're doing, set
required components to conservative configurations. Get that sucker down
to minimums--video, drives necessary to load Windows, keyboard and
mouse. Nothing else.

Sounds to me like it's choking while detecting and installing drivers.
With luck, the problem will be in a non-essential area and you'll be
able to finish installing, after which you can add components back in
one by one.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User
http://www.grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
http://www.grystmill.com/articles/security.htm

"MacKenrick" wrote in message
...
I'm trying to do a fresh install of Win98SE on an old computer and am
running into a problem. I get almost to the end of the installation
process, past the point where I type in the I.D. number and where it
shows a
small window saying that it is Installing Drivers. At this point the
screen
goes blank and the computer locks up. (I've built several other
computers
without any problems but this one is giving me fits.)

I have partitioned and reformatted the hard drive several times and
started
from scratch but each time I get to the "installing drivers" point and
it
stops. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks for the help.

Being that this is a fresh install on an old machine:
Was 98SE installed on the machine before?
Was it operable before the fresh install?
Is the inside of the case free of dust?
Are the fans running properly?
Are all connectors secured properly along with proper device placement/jumper
settings?

If yes to all of the above:

Can you boot to Safe Mode? Power up the machine, right after the memory count
during POST, press/hold down Del or continually tap F8 until you get the startup
menu.
Right click MyComputer, click Properties Device Manager tab.
Remove any/all devices showing duplicates and/or conflicts.
Close out and shutdown.

Unplug, start with the basics and remove all adapters and drives that are not
needed to install/run windows. If you get a successful boot, add each device
back one at a time until you hit the problematic one.

--

Brian A. Sesko
{ MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://basconotw.mvps.org/



"MacKenrick" wrote in message
...
I'm trying to do a fresh install of Win98SE on an old computer and am
running into a problem. I get almost to the end of the installation
process, past the point where I type in the I.D. number and where it shows a
small window saying that it is Installing Drivers. At this point the screen
goes blank and the computer locks up. (I've built several other computers
without any problems but this one is giving me fits.)

I have partitioned and reformatted the hard drive several times and started
from scratch but each time I get to the "installing drivers" point and it
stops. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks for the help.

Forgot to include: Pare your RAM down to one stick *if* that's enough to
load Windows--I would call 32 MB a decent amount, not likely to be a
problem.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User
http://www.grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
http://www.grystmill.com/articles/security.htm

"Gary S. Terhune" wrote in message
...
Strip that machine to basics. Pull any cards that aren't absolutely
necessary (IOW all except video and drive controller if present.) In
BIOS, disable all peripherals. If you know what you're doing, set
required components to conservative configurations. Get that sucker
down to minimums--video, drives necessary to load Windows, keyboard
and mouse. Nothing else.

Sounds to me like it's choking while detecting and installing drivers.
With luck, the problem will be in a non-essential area and you'll be
able to finish installing, after which you can add components back in
one by one.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User
http://www.grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
http://www.grystmill.com/articles/security.htm

"MacKenrick" wrote in message
...
I'm trying to do a fresh install of Win98SE on an old computer and am
running into a problem. I get almost to the end of the installation
process, past the point where I type in the I.D. number and where it
shows a
small window saying that it is Installing Drivers. At this point the
screen
goes blank and the computer locks up. (I've built several other
computers
without any problems but this one is giving me fits.)

I have partitioned and reformatted the hard drive several times and
started
from scratch but each time I get to the "installing drivers" point
and it
stops. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks for the help.