W98SE computer will not restart

André Bordeleau wrote:
The Startup Sequence (shown in my previous post) is set at the default
values.
The 2 beeps when the "fault" is on (no beep for a normal start) leads to
a POSTerror /162 Configuration change, according to
http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm
When no change is done to the computer (installation or removal of
hardware/software, electrical power interruption), the computer starts
and shuts down normally. Windows 98 starts and shuts down normally.

That's as far as I am comfortable to do for any troubleshooting of this
problem, and I can live with that glitch.

I thank everyone for your suggestions,
André


Thanks for posting back. Sorry we couldn't be of more help with this
issue. You still might want to download those linked PDFs for your
computer for future reference, and please post again should you wish to
deal with this or other issues you may have in the future.
Good Luck.


"MEB" a écrit dans le message de
...
André Bordeleau wrote:
I got confused due to the numerous starts required for a disk recovery
and installation of softwares; it took me a while to figure out what was
happening. What I thought to be a problem with the «restart» only is not
accurate, I just found out that it occurs also during a "cold" start,
with no modification done to the computer.

Here's the requested informations:

IBM Aptiva Microtower Model 2178-95U
Intel Pentium III 533 Mhz 128 MB SDRAM
Kerio firewall and Avast anti-virus installed

I bought it new in 2000 and replaced it for a Vista about 2 years ago.
My sister has been using it since. Because the computer was getting to
slow, maybe loaded with undesired objects and having starting problems,
I reformated the hard disk with the original recovery CD. The computer
works fine now, like a new one except for the starting problem. This
problem existed prior to disk recovery, but I don't think prior to the
AVG anti-virus program removal done a few months ago. During the
removal process, AVG asked for some files removal in the registry or
something like that. I clicked yes and I got the start problem during
the subsequent required restart. I associated the problem with this
incident, thinking that a recovery will cure it. Obviously it did not.

Okay, let's take SPECIFIC notice that at the original error time, you
thought it was related to the removal of AVG, *but have since
reformatted and re-installed*, negating the AVG issue {unless it was
re-installed via the Recovery Disk}.

Let's start with the original error which was the:
"162 Configuration change has occurred Select one of the following:
Continue / Exit Setup"

The 162 error can be produced by any number of BIOS/CMOS issues. The
first to check would be the HARDWARE, e.g., the cards/adapters and
potential corrosion or disconnect issues, INCLUDING memory modules. Try
*carefully* wiggling the cards side to side WITHOUT removing them, same
with the processor and memory.
While in the case, check for fan issues [noise, etc.] and you may want
to oil any found fans with a micro-drop of sewing machine [or like light
weight [10 {preferred} or 20] oil]. Also check for dried heat sink
compound and replace with something like Arctic-Silver or similar making
sure to NOT get the compound on other parts.
Make sure to check ALL cable connections by partially removing and
re-seating.
To do this checking and re-seating, make sure to follow SRTSP, by shut
off of the computer, unplugging and grounding yourself to remove any
static charge you may be carrying [also do so occasionally as you work
within the computer].

Reference materials:
Hardware Maintenance Manual (HMM) for Aptiva 2173, 2178 and 2179 systems
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/si...id=MIGR-4H32BF


Reference Guide for Aptiva 2178 and 2198 models.
http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub...a/bb99fbas.pdf


Here's what's happening:

Tower power switch pushed in: LED green light on.
CD-ROM activity LED green light on then off.
2 beeps coming from inside the tower followed by the Diskette Drive
activity LED green light on then off with interrogating noise.
Monitor not activated, display remains black.
Sound similar to a fan inside the tower. Nothing else happening.
Tower power switch pushed in: computer shuts down, no more fan type
noise.
Tower power switch pushed in:
CD-ROM LED on and off.
Diskette Drive LED on and off with interrogating noise.
Display activated, blinking dot on the top left corner and Windows
98 starting up normally.

For the previous step, instead of pushing the power switch, if the
Ctl/Alt/Del keys are used I get this message after the blinking dot on
the top left corner of the screen:
POST Startup Error(s)
162 Configuration Change has occured
Select one of the following
Continue
Exit Setup

By choosing «Exit Setup», Windows 98 starts up normally.

By choosing «Continue», I get the «Configuration/Setup Utility» window
from which I can select various options.
Selecting the Start Options, I have the following «Startup Sequence»
window:
Primary Startup Sequence...
First Startup Device..........[Diskette Drive]
Second Startup Device......[CD-ROM]
Third Startup Device.........[Hard Disk]
Fourth Startup Device........[Disabled]

Using this particular configuration generally causes errors. Try moving
the hard disk to the second or first device as reflected below after
checking the hardware.


Automatic Power On Startup Sequence.........[Enabled]
First Startup Device...................................[Hard Disk]
Second Startup Device...............................[Disabled]
Third Startup Device..................................[Disabled]
Fourth Startup Device.................................[Disabled]

Error Startup Sequence.................[Disabled]



After a normal shutdown (through Start/Shut Down), if electrical power
is removed from the computer the subsequent start is normal.

Hope this clarifies the problem.

I don't quite understand Mart writing:
[...] - see also (for example) the reply to the following post on
how to clear/reset the BIOS using the jumper #10. The url to the
location is dead (so you may need your User Manual) but that to the
procedure is good.


Please explain.

André

PS. Well now the computer is fooling me this morning: The first start
was like described above, with the 2 beeps. I just tried several
consecutive starts/shutdowns, done normally through Start/Shut Down
without unplugging the computer from the electrical outlet, and every
start is normal. No more beeps, Windows 98 gets running OK. It is
beyond my understanding!



---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



"Mart" a écrit dans le message de
...
Ooops ... omitted the url - sorry!

http://www.motherboardpoint.com/setu...op-t60326.html



Mart



"Mart" wrote in message
...
Startup Error(s) message [162 Configuration change has occurred
Select one of the following:

Sounds like you *may* have an IBM machine. Besides changing the CMOS
battery - suggested elsewhere - see also (for example) the reply to
the following post on how to clear/reset the BIOS using the jumper
#10. The url to the location is dead (so you may need your User
Manual) but that to the procedure is good.

Try a "162 Configuration change has occurred" search on Google for
more. There's plenty out there.

Mart



"André Bordeleau" wrote in message
news Hi,

After a system settings change that requires a computer restart or
when I select Start/Shut Down/Restart, the computer will not
restart: Diskette Drive gets interrogated, but the display remains
black with no further progress. I have to turn off the computer by
the tower switch and press it again to get a start. Using the
Ctl/Alt/Del will also do , but I get a Post Startup Error(s) message
[162 Configuration change has occured Select one of the following:
Continue / Exit Setup] from which I choose «Exit Setup» to get a
restart.

How could that problem be solved?

Thanks for your help,
André






--
MEB
--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
Windows Info, Diagnostics, Security, Networking
http://peoplescounsel.org
The "real world" of Law, Justice, and Government
___---

In message , MEB
writes:
[]
Primary Startup Sequence...
First Startup Device..........[Diskette Drive]
Second Startup Device......[CD-ROM]
Third Startup Device.........[Hard Disk]
Fourth Startup Device........[Disabled]

Using this particular configuration generally causes errors. Try moving
[]
I'm curious as to why it should, though certainly not saying you're
wrong! Do you have a reason, or just experience?
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously
outdated thoughts on PCs. **

"I'm not against women. Not often enough, anyway." - Groucho Marx

In message , MEB
writes:
[]
Primary Startup Sequence...
First Startup Device..........[Diskette Drive]
Second Startup Device......[CD-ROM]
Third Startup Device.........[Hard Disk]
Fourth Startup Device........[Disabled]

Using this particular configuration generally causes errors. Try moving
[]
I'm curious as to why it should, though certainly not saying you're
wrong! Do you have a reason, or just experience?
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously
outdated thoughts on PCs. **

"I'm not against women. Not often enough, anyway." - Groucho Marx

J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In message , MEB
writes:
[]
Primary Startup Sequence...
First Startup Device..........[Diskette Drive]
Second Startup Device......[CD-ROM]
Third Startup Device.........[Hard Disk]
Fourth Startup Device........[Disabled]

Using this particular configuration generally causes errors. Try moving
[]
I'm curious as to why it should, though certainly not saying you're
wrong! Do you have a reason, or just experience?

Well as recently as around a month ago, I worked on an IBM where that
particular setup did cause issues [even though it supposedly doesn't].
There are some other BIOS that seem to also have an order of access
issue which causes problems, to the point of not allowing the OS to
start, such as some old BX/FX motherboards.
SO short answer: experience.. YMMV.

--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
Windows Info, Diagnostics, Security, Networking
http://peoplescounsel.org
The "real world" of Law, Justice, and Government
___---

J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In message , MEB
writes:
[]
Primary Startup Sequence...
First Startup Device..........[Diskette Drive]
Second Startup Device......[CD-ROM]
Third Startup Device.........[Hard Disk]
Fourth Startup Device........[Disabled]

Using this particular configuration generally causes errors. Try moving
[]
I'm curious as to why it should, though certainly not saying you're
wrong! Do you have a reason, or just experience?

Well as recently as around a month ago, I worked on an IBM where that
particular setup did cause issues [even though it supposedly doesn't].
There are some other BIOS that seem to also have an order of access
issue which causes problems, to the point of not allowing the OS to
start, such as some old BX/FX motherboards.
SO short answer: experience.. YMMV.

--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
Windows Info, Diagnostics, Security, Networking
http://peoplescounsel.org
The "real world" of Law, Justice, and Government
___---

In message , MEB
writes:
J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In message , MEB
writes:
[]
Primary Startup Sequence...
First Startup Device..........[Diskette Drive]
Second Startup Device......[CD-ROM]
Third Startup Device.........[Hard Disk]
Fourth Startup Device........[Disabled]

Using this particular configuration generally causes errors. Try moving
[]
I'm curious as to why it should, though certainly not saying you're
wrong! Do you have a reason, or just experience?

Well as recently as around a month ago, I worked on an IBM where that
particular setup did cause issues [even though it supposedly doesn't].
There are some other BIOS that seem to also have an order of access
issue which causes problems, to the point of not allowing the OS to
start, such as some old BX/FX motherboards.
SO short answer: experience.. YMMV.

Interesting! Thanks for coming back. Experience is always useful to
share!
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously
outdated thoughts on PCs. **

"I'm not against women. Not often enough, anyway." - Groucho Marx

In message , MEB
writes:
J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In message , MEB
writes:
[]
Primary Startup Sequence...
First Startup Device..........[Diskette Drive]
Second Startup Device......[CD-ROM]
Third Startup Device.........[Hard Disk]
Fourth Startup Device........[Disabled]

Using this particular configuration generally causes errors. Try moving
[]
I'm curious as to why it should, though certainly not saying you're
wrong! Do you have a reason, or just experience?

Well as recently as around a month ago, I worked on an IBM where that
particular setup did cause issues [even though it supposedly doesn't].
There are some other BIOS that seem to also have an order of access
issue which causes problems, to the point of not allowing the OS to
start, such as some old BX/FX motherboards.
SO short answer: experience.. YMMV.

Interesting! Thanks for coming back. Experience is always useful to
share!
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously
outdated thoughts on PCs. **

"I'm not against women. Not often enough, anyway." - Groucho Marx