Win98 Hanging at startup- can start in safemode

[colin72]

Windows 98SE
Pentium 3, 128 MB RAM

My computer is hanging during startup. I don't know if this has anything to do with it but a fuse blew at my house and so the computer shut down. The problem with startup happened right after the fuse blew and I tried starting the computer.

I am able to start in safe mode, ran scandisk and have tried everything suggested on Microsoft's web site. One of the things I tried was disabling startup items in the Sys Config Utility. I'm not sure if this has any significance, but "cal reminder shortcut" appears twice on the list (I realize it is the calendar scheduler but I don't think it should be there twice). One of them (Cal Reminder Shortcut) will not "uncheck". When I uncheck it and restart, I go back to find it is checked again. Does this have something to do with my computer hanging?

I've also run AVG Anti-Virus, Swat It, SpyBot and Ad-aware. The only problem is that I can not update them because I can not connect to the internet. I get a message that my modem can't be detected. I'm a NOVICE at this stuff so I don't know if that is typical while in safe mode or not.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[colin72]

I was able to delete the Cal Reminder shortcut- but my computer still hangs at the Win98 splash screen and won't open to Windows. I also have been told the modem doesn't work in safe mode.

Details of what I've tried to fix the hang at startup:

Completely shut down, unplugged the computer, restarted many times in safemode and then tried starting normally, disabled Startup items in Sys Config Utility and went through steps trying to pinpoint the problem disabling itms in "selective Startup", I checked the Automatic Skip Driver (no info listed), basically I did everything listed on Microsofts web site for troubleshooting.

 

[micker377]

The reason some programs show up twice is that one entry is for "global" and one for "logged in user". As for your problem, pull un-needed boards (everthing but video), and disconnect all drives except master boot and floppy. If it boots up, start putting things back in one-by-one. Time consuming, but that's part of the game!

 

[torturedmind]

try viewing the content of file bootlog.txt. it's a hidden file located in the root path of the c:\ drive. this will tell you more or less what's going on during boot-up.

hope this help. peace!

kilroy
philippines

"Illegitimis non carborundum!"

 

[1101001100110101]

you may also want to try a step by step startup. It is one of the options when you hit f8 to go to select safe mode. Pay attention to what it being loaded when it hangs.