98 freezes while idle only mouse works

When I completely re-install W98SE, computer works fine. After using the
Windows Update tool to receive "critical updates" I have problems. I am not
sure which update causes this problem but it's cronic. Every time I leave
the computer alone for more than a half hour or so, the thing is frozen.
Even control alt del won't fix it, I have to pull the plug and start over.
As long as I keep using it, it works fine.
Any suggestions would be appreciated, this has been going on for two years.

Maybe start with this one...

http://support.microsoft.com/default...51&Product=w98
USB Mouse May Hang When the Computer Is Idle for a Long Time

So, if you have "Find Fast", try disabling that.
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=199787
OFF2000: How to Turn Off the Find Fast Indexer
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;158705
OFF97: How to Disable the Find Fast Indexer
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;135476
OFF95: Office for Windows 95 Find Fast Indexer Overview


--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR

"SteveO" wrote in message ...
| When I completely re-install W98SE, computer works fine. After using the
| Windows Update tool to receive "critical updates" I have problems. I am not
| sure which update causes this problem but it's cronic. Every time I leave
| the computer alone for more than a half hour or so, the thing is frozen.
| Even control alt del won't fix it, I have to pull the plug and start over.
| As long as I keep using it, it works fine.
| Any suggestions would be appreciated, this has been going on for two years.

Do you have any power savings that are set to kick in at about 30 minutes?.
If so, turn them off.
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
"SteveO" wrote in message
...
When I completely re-install W98SE, computer works fine. After using the
Windows Update tool to receive "critical updates" I have problems. I am
not
sure which update causes this problem but it's cronic. Every time I leave
the computer alone for more than a half hour or so, the thing is frozen.
Even control alt del won't fix it, I have to pull the plug and start over.
As long as I keep using it, it works fine.
Any suggestions would be appreciated, this has been going on for two
years.

Thanks for the help, but A my mouse never freezes, it's everything else
that does B Find Fast is not installed or turned on.

Any other ideas? Again, it is related to a Microsoft security update.

"PCR" wrote:

Maybe start with this one...

http://support.microsoft.com/default...51&Product=w98
USB Mouse May Hang When the Computer Is Idle for a Long Time

So, if you have "Find Fast", try disabling that.
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=199787
OFF2000: How to Turn Off the Find Fast Indexer
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;158705
OFF97: How to Disable the Find Fast Indexer
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;135476
OFF95: Office for Windows 95 Find Fast Indexer Overview


--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR

"SteveO" wrote in message ...
| When I completely re-install W98SE, computer works fine. After using the
| Windows Update tool to receive "critical updates" I have problems. I am not
| sure which update causes this problem but it's cronic. Every time I leave
| the computer alone for more than a half hour or so, the thing is frozen.
| Even control alt del won't fix it, I have to pull the plug and start over.
| As long as I keep using it, it works fine.
| Any suggestions would be appreciated, this has been going on for two years.

Oops. I must have been standing on my head! Are you fully updated now at Windows Update? Here is something about the Video Adapter...

(a) Turn off hardware acceleration at... "Control Panel, Display,
Settings tab, Advanced button, Performance button". If things get
better, it could be right to suspect the Video Drivers.

(b) Switch to the Standard Display Adapter per the following. It won't
be pretty, & I hope you will be able to reach all buttons you want to
click, that they won't be off the screen. BUT, if things are better,
surely it is the Display Adapter at fault. In that case, first try
reinstalling the one you have now, & see whether it improves.

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=127139
Troubleshooting Video Problems in Windows

"START, Run, MSConfig, Advanced button". If checked, then uncheck "VGA
640x480x16", & reboot.

"Control Panel, Display, Settings tab". Select as you wish from the
Colors dropdown menu & the Size slider. Really, you should need nothing
higher than "High Color (16 bit)", for speed/resource considerations.

If you move the Screen Area slider to 1024x768 there, be sure to click
the Advanced button, & select Large fonts.

Try to get your colors/size at least twice that way. If it continues to
fail, you may need to reinstall your Monitor or Display Adapter...

For the Monitor...
(1) Boot to Safe Mode
(Hold F5 as you boot or CTRL for the Startup Menu)
(2) "START, Settings, Control Panel, System, Device Manager tab"
(3) Open the Monitors branch, & Remove all entries.

Perhaps, FIRST, even in Normal Mode, note what is installed
similar to below for the Adapter. That is...
(a) D-Clk the monitor there for Properties, Driver tab.
(b) Click the Update Driver button, then "Next".
(c) Bolt "Display a list...", & click "Next".
(d) Bolt "Show all hardware".
Examine the two panes to see what is currently installed.
That is likely what you wish to end up with, after step (4).

(4) Boot to Normal Mode.

Hopefully, it will be rediscovered & installed. Then, if still
necessary, here is the rigmarole of the Display Adapter...

.......Quote..........
The first thing to do is to remove the video adapter you have
installed. Right-click on the desktop; choose "Properties" from the
drop-down menu; select "Settings;" click on the "Advanced" button; and
click on "Adapter". An adapter is a program that tells Windows how to
deal with a specific video card. Make note of the adapter that is
currently installed. Then, change the adapter to "Standard Display
Adapter (VGA)" and restart the system.

[That is: Click "Change, Next, bolt 'Display a List...', Next, bolt
'Show all hardware', scroll left pane to top, select '(Standard display
types)', select 'Standard Display Adapter (VGA)' in right pane, click
'Next'"... PCR]

This will remove the current adapter and replace it with a generic VGA
adapter that works with all video cards. You will not like VGA because
it supports only 16 colors, but the purpose of installing it is to get
rid of whatever was there before.

Next, return to the adapter screen and install an adapter that matches
your video card. This may or may not be the adapter that you are
using now. Examine the materials you received with your computer to
see if they include a CD-ROM or floppy disk that contains the correct
video adapter. Or go to the Gateway website and see if they have an
adapter for you to download. Or check the website of the company that
made your video card.

Bill Starbuck (MVP)
.......End....of quote....

Also...
..........Quote................
To identify your video adapter correctly, download and run either the
Everest or Aida32 utility, available he
http://aumha.org/freeware/freeware.php#everest

Once you have identified the display adapter, go to the manufacturer's
web site and download the correct driver for you operating
system....(such as) Windows 98/98SE.
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
.........EOQ....................


--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR

"SteveO" wrote in message ...
| Thanks for the help, but A my mouse never freezes, it's everything else
| that does B Find Fast is not installed or turned on.
|
| Any other ideas? Again, it is related to a Microsoft security update.
|
| "PCR" wrote:
|
| Maybe start with this one...
|
| http://support.microsoft.com/default...51&Product=w98
| USB Mouse May Hang When the Computer Is Idle for a Long Time
|
| So, if you have "Find Fast", try disabling that.
| http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=199787
| OFF2000: How to Turn Off the Find Fast Indexer
| http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;158705
| OFF97: How to Disable the Find Fast Indexer
| http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;135476
| OFF95: Office for Windows 95 Find Fast Indexer Overview
|
|
| --
| Thanks or Good Luck,
| There may be humor in this post, and,
| Naturally, you will not sue,
| should things get worse after this,
| PCR
|
| "SteveO" wrote in message ...
| | When I completely re-install W98SE, computer works fine. After using the
| | Windows Update tool to receive "critical updates" I have problems. I am not
| | sure which update causes this problem but it's cronic. Every time I leave
| | the computer alone for more than a half hour or so, the thing is frozen.
| | Even control alt del won't fix it, I have to pull the plug and start over.
| | As long as I keep using it, it works fine.
| | Any suggestions would be appreciated, this has been going on for two years.
|