Me freezes at destop window after clean install

I've recently done a clean reinstall of Windows ME on an IBM NetVista desktop
(2251-TAU) using the product recovery CDs that came with the system. The
clean install finishes without any problems/errors and then goes into the
final bootup of Me. It gets to the desktop window, loads the icons on the
desktop and the system tray and then freezes always at the same place every
time. I've tried just about everything including scandisk /all (comes up
clean) scanreg /fix (fixes registry), memory test (clean), ran diagnostics on
all hardware (clean). I only have physically installed the monitor (E74),
mouse, keyboard, and the cards that came with the original system. During
setup I chose not to set up internet access (will do that later). Any ideas
of why I'm getting the freeze at the desktop always at the same place. Any
tools I can use to see what is locking up/freezing Me? Thanks so much for any
help you may be able to provide. This is driving me nuts!

helpMe wrote :-

Any
tools I can use to see what is locking up/freezing Me?

Maybe .. a couple of possible options

1) You could try inspecting Device Manager (in Safe Mode) to see if there
are any conflicts in loading hardware - assuming you can boot into Safe
Mode!

And/or

2) Either boot into Safe Mode or even Real Mode DOS (using the WinMe EBD or
Startup Floppy) and inspect the bootlog.txt file in the root folder, (N.B.
You may have to use your startup menu to 'create' a fresh bootlog.txt file).
The final entries *might* give you a clue as to what's causing the failure.
A further tool is 'Boot Log Analyser' (Freeware) utility from :-
http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/terrace/pk29/
which *may* help you make more sense of the bootlog.txt file - but you'll
probably have to adapt it to work on your 'working' pc having copied
bootlog.txt to a floppy disk. BTW - In spite of what it says, BLA also works
on WinMe!! (And XP, if you are using it just to inspect the file)

Mart


"helpMe" wrote in message
...
I've recently done a clean reinstall of Windows ME on an IBM NetVista
desktop
(2251-TAU) using the product recovery CDs that came with the system. The
clean install finishes without any problems/errors and then goes into the
final bootup of Me. It gets to the desktop window, loads the icons on the
desktop and the system tray and then freezes always at the same place
every
time. I've tried just about everything including scandisk /all (comes up
clean) scanreg /fix (fixes registry), memory test (clean), ran diagnostics
on
all hardware (clean). I only have physically installed the monitor (E74),
mouse, keyboard, and the cards that came with the original system. During
setup I chose not to set up internet access (will do that later). Any
ideas
of why I'm getting the freeze at the desktop always at the same place. Any
tools I can use to see what is locking up/freezing Me? Thanks so much for
any
help you may be able to provide. This is driving me nuts!

Hi Mart, thanks for your quick reply. I unfortunately can't get into safe
mode (it also freezes after the desktop is loaded). Also, I did create and
look at the bootlog.txt. and didn't find anything unusual (no errors,
failures, etc.). I will try Boot Log Analyser. Can you run this without
having a working Me system? Also, Me setup installs ATI Multimedia Center.
Anyway to disable that? Thanks again for your help

"Mart" wrote:

helpMe wrote :-

Any
tools I can use to see what is locking up/freezing Me?

Maybe .. a couple of possible options

1) You could try inspecting Device Manager (in Safe Mode) to see if there
are any conflicts in loading hardware - assuming you can boot into Safe
Mode!

And/or

2) Either boot into Safe Mode or even Real Mode DOS (using the WinMe EBD or
Startup Floppy) and inspect the bootlog.txt file in the root folder, (N.B.
You may have to use your startup menu to 'create' a fresh bootlog.txt file).
The final entries *might* give you a clue as to what's causing the failure.
A further tool is 'Boot Log Analyser' (Freeware) utility from :-
http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/terrace/pk29/
which *may* help you make more sense of the bootlog.txt file - but you'll
probably have to adapt it to work on your 'working' pc having copied
bootlog.txt to a floppy disk. BTW - In spite of what it says, BLA also works
on WinMe!! (And XP, if you are using it just to inspect the file)

Mart


"helpMe" wrote in message
...
I've recently done a clean reinstall of Windows ME on an IBM NetVista
desktop
(2251-TAU) using the product recovery CDs that came with the system. The
clean install finishes without any problems/errors and then goes into the
final bootup of Me. It gets to the desktop window, loads the icons on the
desktop and the system tray and then freezes always at the same place
every
time. I've tried just about everything including scandisk /all (comes up
clean) scanreg /fix (fixes registry), memory test (clean), ran diagnostics
on
all hardware (clean). I only have physically installed the monitor (E74),
mouse, keyboard, and the cards that came with the original system. During
setup I chose not to set up internet access (will do that later). Any
ideas
of why I'm getting the freeze at the desktop always at the same place. Any
tools I can use to see what is locking up/freezing Me? Thanks so much for
any
help you may be able to provide. This is driving me nuts!

As a matter of interest, what sort of size is the bootlog.txt file?
Mine is about 90 Kb Is there a bootlog.prv there too - and if so, what
size?
What are their last entries (assuming both files)? If they concern hardware
then that *may* be a clue.

In the meantime try "Windows Millennium Edition Setup.txt File Contents"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/271240/en-us

Eliminate possible BIOS AV settings etc.

In your first post, you mentioned :-

I only have physically installed the monitor (E74), mouse, keyboard,
and the cards that came with the original system.

Cards! What cards?

Might be worth removing one or two, e.g. your modem and perhaps your sound
card - at least until you can get beyond the current 'barrier'.

Also confirm that all is OK in Real Mode DOS (Startup floppy) and confirm
that all is well in the Help option - might even be worth confirming that
your RAM is good. Check your RAM and confirm that it's
all OK. Test your memory chips using Simmtester's DocMemory (free) from
http://www.simmtester.com/page/products/doc/docinfo.asp and create the boot
disk from that - run it overnight if necessary, to check the RAM.

Your symptoms certainly suggest a hardware/driver issue.

Mart



"helpMe" wrote in message
...
Hi Mart, thanks for your quick reply. I unfortunately can't get into safe
mode (it also freezes after the desktop is loaded). Also, I did create and
look at the bootlog.txt. and didn't find anything unusual (no errors,
failures, etc.). I will try Boot Log Analyser. Can you run this without
having a working Me system? Also, Me setup installs ATI Multimedia Center.
Anyway to disable that? Thanks again for your help

"Mart" wrote:

helpMe wrote :-

Any
tools I can use to see what is locking up/freezing Me?

Maybe .. a couple of possible options

1) You could try inspecting Device Manager (in Safe Mode) to see if there
are any conflicts in loading hardware - assuming you can boot into Safe
Mode!

And/or

2) Either boot into Safe Mode or even Real Mode DOS (using the WinMe EBD
or
Startup Floppy) and inspect the bootlog.txt file in the root folder,
(N.B.
You may have to use your startup menu to 'create' a fresh bootlog.txt
file).
The final entries *might* give you a clue as to what's causing the
failure.
A further tool is 'Boot Log Analyser' (Freeware) utility from :-
http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/terrace/pk29/
which *may* help you make more sense of the bootlog.txt file - but you'll
probably have to adapt it to work on your 'working' pc having copied
bootlog.txt to a floppy disk. BTW - In spite of what it says, BLA also
works
on WinMe!! (And XP, if you are using it just to inspect the file)

Mart


"helpMe" wrote in message
...
I've recently done a clean reinstall of Windows ME on an IBM NetVista
desktop
(2251-TAU) using the product recovery CDs that came with the system.
The
clean install finishes without any problems/errors and then goes into
the
final bootup of Me. It gets to the desktop window, loads the icons on
the
desktop and the system tray and then freezes always at the same place
every
time. I've tried just about everything including scandisk /all (comes
up
clean) scanreg /fix (fixes registry), memory test (clean), ran
diagnostics
on
all hardware (clean). I only have physically installed the monitor
(E74),
mouse, keyboard, and the cards that came with the original system.
During
setup I chose not to set up internet access (will do that later). Any
ideas
of why I'm getting the freeze at the desktop always at the same place.
Any
tools I can use to see what is locking up/freezing Me? Thanks so much
for
any
help you may be able to provide. This is driving me nuts!

Hi Mart, thanks for all your good advice and information. I will try some of
these and get back to you. Thanks again.

"Mart" wrote:

As a matter of interest, what sort of size is the bootlog.txt file?
Mine is about 90 Kb Is there a bootlog.prv there too - and if so, what
size?
What are their last entries (assuming both files)? If they concern hardware
then that *may* be a clue.

In the meantime try "Windows Millennium Edition Setup.txt File Contents"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/271240/en-us

Eliminate possible BIOS AV settings etc.

In your first post, you mentioned :-

I only have physically installed the monitor (E74), mouse, keyboard,
and the cards that came with the original system.

Cards! What cards?

Might be worth removing one or two, e.g. your modem and perhaps your sound
card - at least until you can get beyond the current 'barrier'.

Also confirm that all is OK in Real Mode DOS (Startup floppy) and confirm
that all is well in the Help option - might even be worth confirming that
your RAM is good. Check your RAM and confirm that it's
all OK. Test your memory chips using Simmtester's DocMemory (free) from
http://www.simmtester.com/page/products/doc/docinfo.asp and create the boot
disk from that - run it overnight if necessary, to check the RAM.

Your symptoms certainly suggest a hardware/driver issue.

Mart



"helpMe" wrote in message
...
Hi Mart, thanks for your quick reply. I unfortunately can't get into safe
mode (it also freezes after the desktop is loaded). Also, I did create and
look at the bootlog.txt. and didn't find anything unusual (no errors,
failures, etc.). I will try Boot Log Analyser. Can you run this without
having a working Me system? Also, Me setup installs ATI Multimedia Center.
Anyway to disable that? Thanks again for your help

"Mart" wrote:

helpMe wrote :-

Any
tools I can use to see what is locking up/freezing Me?

Maybe .. a couple of possible options

1) You could try inspecting Device Manager (in Safe Mode) to see if there
are any conflicts in loading hardware - assuming you can boot into Safe
Mode!

And/or

2) Either boot into Safe Mode or even Real Mode DOS (using the WinMe EBD
or
Startup Floppy) and inspect the bootlog.txt file in the root folder,
(N.B.
You may have to use your startup menu to 'create' a fresh bootlog.txt
file).
The final entries *might* give you a clue as to what's causing the
failure.
A further tool is 'Boot Log Analyser' (Freeware) utility from :-
http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/terrace/pk29/
which *may* help you make more sense of the bootlog.txt file - but you'll
probably have to adapt it to work on your 'working' pc having copied
bootlog.txt to a floppy disk. BTW - In spite of what it says, BLA also
works
on WinMe!! (And XP, if you are using it just to inspect the file)

Mart


"helpMe" wrote in message
...
I've recently done a clean reinstall of Windows ME on an IBM NetVista
desktop
(2251-TAU) using the product recovery CDs that came with the system.
The
clean install finishes without any problems/errors and then goes into
the
final bootup of Me. It gets to the desktop window, loads the icons on
the
desktop and the system tray and then freezes always at the same place
every
time. I've tried just about everything including scandisk /all (comes
up
clean) scanreg /fix (fixes registry), memory test (clean), ran
diagnostics
on
all hardware (clean). I only have physically installed the monitor
(E74),
mouse, keyboard, and the cards that came with the original system.
During
setup I chose not to set up internet access (will do that later). Any
ideas
of why I'm getting the freeze at the desktop always at the same place.
Any
tools I can use to see what is locking up/freezing Me? Thanks so much
for
any
help you may be able to provide. This is driving me nuts!

Hi Mart, I did try a few things. I did test my memory chips using
Simmtester's DocMemory and everything checked out fine. Also, the size of my
bootlog.txt file is 65,377. The last 2 entries are
[0016FFFB] Enumerating Standard Floppy Disk Controller (ACPI\PNP0700\0)
[0016FFFC] Enumerating Standard Floppy Disk Controller (ACPI\PNP0700\0)

I will try a few more things tomorrow. Thanks

"helpMe" wrote:

Hi Mart, thanks for all your good advice and information. I will try some of
these and get back to you. Thanks again.

"Mart" wrote:

As a matter of interest, what sort of size is the bootlog.txt file?
Mine is about 90 Kb Is there a bootlog.prv there too - and if so, what
size?
What are their last entries (assuming both files)? If they concern hardware
then that *may* be a clue.

In the meantime try "Windows Millennium Edition Setup.txt File Contents"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/271240/en-us

Eliminate possible BIOS AV settings etc.

In your first post, you mentioned :-

I only have physically installed the monitor (E74), mouse, keyboard,
and the cards that came with the original system.

Cards! What cards?

Might be worth removing one or two, e.g. your modem and perhaps your sound
card - at least until you can get beyond the current 'barrier'.

Also confirm that all is OK in Real Mode DOS (Startup floppy) and confirm
that all is well in the Help option - might even be worth confirming that
your RAM is good. Check your RAM and confirm that it's
all OK. Test your memory chips using Simmtester's DocMemory (free) from
http://www.simmtester.com/page/products/doc/docinfo.asp and create the boot
disk from that - run it overnight if necessary, to check the RAM.

Your symptoms certainly suggest a hardware/driver issue.

Mart



"helpMe" wrote in message
...
Hi Mart, thanks for your quick reply. I unfortunately can't get into safe
mode (it also freezes after the desktop is loaded). Also, I did create and
look at the bootlog.txt. and didn't find anything unusual (no errors,
failures, etc.). I will try Boot Log Analyser. Can you run this without
having a working Me system? Also, Me setup installs ATI Multimedia Center.
Anyway to disable that? Thanks again for your help

"Mart" wrote:

helpMe wrote :-

Any
tools I can use to see what is locking up/freezing Me?

Maybe .. a couple of possible options

1) You could try inspecting Device Manager (in Safe Mode) to see if there
are any conflicts in loading hardware - assuming you can boot into Safe
Mode!

And/or

2) Either boot into Safe Mode or even Real Mode DOS (using the WinMe EBD
or
Startup Floppy) and inspect the bootlog.txt file in the root folder,
(N.B.
You may have to use your startup menu to 'create' a fresh bootlog.txt
file).
The final entries *might* give you a clue as to what's causing the
failure.
A further tool is 'Boot Log Analyser' (Freeware) utility from :-
http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/terrace/pk29/
which *may* help you make more sense of the bootlog.txt file - but you'll
probably have to adapt it to work on your 'working' pc having copied
bootlog.txt to a floppy disk. BTW - In spite of what it says, BLA also
works
on WinMe!! (And XP, if you are using it just to inspect the file)

Mart


"helpMe" wrote in message
...
I've recently done a clean reinstall of Windows ME on an IBM NetVista
desktop
(2251-TAU) using the product recovery CDs that came with the system.
The
clean install finishes without any problems/errors and then goes into
the
final bootup of Me. It gets to the desktop window, loads the icons on
the
desktop and the system tray and then freezes always at the same place
every
time. I've tried just about everything including scandisk /all (comes
up
clean) scanreg /fix (fixes registry), memory test (clean), ran
diagnostics
on
all hardware (clean). I only have physically installed the monitor
(E74),
mouse, keyboard, and the cards that came with the original system.
During
setup I chose not to set up internet access (will do that later). Any
ideas
of why I'm getting the freeze at the desktop always at the same place.
Any
tools I can use to see what is locking up/freezing Me? Thanks so much
for
any
help you may be able to provide. This is driving me nuts!