Windows 98 boot up is low

[SpankYou]

Hey,

Ever since I formatted my hard drive, and re-installed Windows 98, it takes a good 5 minutes to boot up and get to the login screen. I can't say I have ever had this problem before. Since then I have installed programs and Windows updates, n the bootup time hasn't changed at all (I know it would usually get longer) It is almost as if it is waiting for something to boot. I've installed and formatted a few Hard Drives in my time but can't say i've encountered it being this slow unless it is piled up with software.

Thanks for any help

Sam

"You couldn't fool your mother on the foolingest day of your life if you had an electrified fooling machine." - Homer

 

[CluelessJon]

If the machine is looking for a IP address on Boot this would cause what you describe.

Check your network settings.

Not sure other than that


Regards

Jonno BrainDump Specialist
MCSE(NT) MCSA(2k) CCNA

 

[Rob2806]

Run msconfig to look at what is loading during booting up. Disable any that you don't want.

 

[SpankYou]

Hey,

Thanks for the help I've checked out the msconfig, but nothing unusual seems to be booting up,it's not as if I have many programs to load. N as for the IP address, not sure how to check this, if you could let me know i'd be very grateful.

thanks for you help, i'll keep on trying to sort it out.

Cheers

Sam

"You couldn't fool your mother on the foolingest day of your life if you had an electrified fooling machine." - Homer

 

[wolluf]

looks like my previous post has disappeared...

2 things you could try:-

1. Create a boot log (option from the boot menu you can invoke with F8 or Ctrl key as 98 starts to boot - same as for Safe Mode).

2. Use the step-by-step boot option (from same menu as in 1) to see if it takes a long time loading a particular driver.

 

[SpankYou]

Hey,

Thanks for the help Wolluf, I have tried these methods now but still no joy. The computer boots up all the drivers, and then once all drivers are loaded, it just seems to hang around for 5 minutes before loading. I mean it isn't really a big problem, but I wouldn't have thought it would taken this long to load.

Cheers for your help

Sam

"You couldn't fool your mother on the foolingest day of your life if you had an electrified fooling machine." - Homer

 

[wolluf]

5 minutes is way too long. Have you got networking installed? If so, are you connected to a network? Have you got protocols installed you're not using (eg, IPX, netbeui)?

also - look at FAQ to see if any hints. Google search - this is a very common topic (though 5 mins is longer than most) - lots of reasons/ideas out there.

 

[SpankYou]

Hey,

It's a stand alone pc, has 2 network cards installed, but not connected to network. Other than that i'm not aware of any protocols installed that i'm not using. I'll take a look at the FAQ section, and have another Googletastic search.

Thanks for ya help,

I'll let you know if i sort it out,

Cheers

Sam

"You couldn't fool your mother on the foolingest day of your life if you had an electrified fooling machine." - Homer

 

[wolluf]

Try removing the network cards.

 

[TekTippy4U]

Check your Msdos.sys file (hidden,system,read only) for a BootDelay entry under [Options]......such as,....BootDelay=2.......and Set it to
BootDelay=0....thats a Zero, not the letter "o".....

To find the file......make sure "show all files" is checked under Start>Settings>FolderOptions>View......then do a find for msdos.sys in the Root Directory (usually C:\)

Right click file......choose "properties".....uncheck "Read Only".........select OK.......
Right click again......select "Open With"
Scroll to Notepad....
(make sure to "uncheck" box labeled "always use this program to open these file types&quot......edit file accordingly......."Save" changes to file.....close file....

Find again(if necessary)...Right click.....choose properties.....and Re-check the Read Only attribute.....
Close all windows...
Restart

Notification:
These are just "my" thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions....I try very hard to impart correct info at all times.

 

[SpankYou]

Hey peoples.

Wolluf,thanks for the idea although unfortunately I can't remove the network cards, as they are built into the motherboard, I have disabled them on the system manager but this didn't effect the boot up time.

Thanks for your suggestion as well TekTippy4U, I will try that tonight n let you know what happens.

Thanks to you both

Sam

"You couldn't fool your mother on the foolingest day of your life if you had an electrified fooling machine." - Homer

 

[wolluf]

You've got 2 onboard ethernet connections? You should be able to disable them in the bios - disconnected network connections can be a major cause of slow booting times on all versions of windows (disabling in system (device?) manager is probably too late to prevent them (possibly) causing a boot delay).

 

[TekTippy4U]

Just to let you know.......My gut feeling after re-reading the posts is that the BootDelay=0 is not the issue here,(you may not even have this 'entry' inyoour msdos.sys), even though "I" would probably "add it", just to see what happens.......
Also, by making BootDelay=0, you will disable the ability to press the F8 key(and/or) CTRL key at startup as usual, which allows you to access earlier DOS and Startup Menu at boot.....By the way the default value for BootDelay is "2".......as in 2 seconds to press F8 or CTRL after POST.

I noticed in your original post you said that this problem started happening after "reformatting" HDD......I thought you had added a new one (my mistake)........so if it's not those NIC's causing the problem.......I'm inclined to think you've done something odd (by accident) during Format......

Are there other Partitions on the Drive?
Did you Re-Partition before Format?

Notification:
These are just "my" thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions....I try very hard to impart correct info at all times.

 

[realm174]

Spank: If you can't remove/disable the network cards, then go in the tcp/ip settings for each one, and set them respectively to have IP 192.168.0.1 and 192.168.0.2

I'm of the same opinion as CluelessJon (first response to your post) that it is the network... OS gets to the first card, sees that it's set to detect automatically... calls in the dark for a DHCP to respond... gives up after a while as it gets no response.. then does the same thing all over again with your second network card. That's where your problem is.





Cheers,

Realm174

 

[TekTippy4U]

Just to follow up on what others have said about the NIC's....
It sounds right.....especially if yourBoot Order in BIOS contains 'network' before all others (CD-ROM, Hard Disk, Floppy)

Notification:
These are just "my" thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions....I try very hard to impart correct info at all times.

 

[realm174]

It wouldn't matter in this case if it's booting from the NIC or the hard drive. The problem is still that it pauses after loading the drivers, so that tells me the wait isn't before the booting starts, but as the OS is loading.



Cheers,

Realm174

 

[TekTippy4U]

Cheers Realm174;
I probably got mixed up with the thread......
I see what you're saying now, in Spankyou's 3rd post....
I only did a quick scan and missed that aspect..my mistake.

However I'm a bit confused when it's said all drivers are loaded and THEN it takes awhile for login prompt.....
System.ini, Win.ini Problem????
Also I'd like to know System Specs and Network config in Network Neighborhood.....and even maybe Protocol.ini contents......Yes?.....No?

Notification:
These are just "my" thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions....I try very hard to impart correct info at all times.

 

[TekTippy4U]

How's about a "wrong" BootMulti= entry in Msdos.sys.....Not sure if this is after the point/time of problem during startup procedure.....
I'll try to look into it myself more, given some much needed free time...........:>)

Notification:
These are just "my" thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions....I try very hard to impart correct info at all times.

 

[serpentia]

this guy is the #2 tech here?

what is with the bootdelay thing? for what is described there would have to be a val of:
bootdelay=300
not very likely

my money is on the nics
the os is likely going through a double dhcp timeout with having 2 nics.
try to disable the nics in the bios depending on what board you have but as realm said, go to control panel and open network.
there is where you will find your tcp/ip - select properties then on the ip address tab tic specify an ip address. it is there that you can enter 192.168.0.1.

 

[TekTippy4U]

Serpentia;

If you really must play that way......take a look at your somewhat silly response to "Regedit.exe and Command.com files missing" thread you responded to.....In the first place--One doesn't need to know "which" .cab the file is in, especially with SFC.....or even the Extract command

In the second place a "search", doesn't decompress the .cab files--therefore the file is not found this way

Maybe you have some more pressing issues other than my status on a list with which I don't control.....hmmmm????

Hopefully this matter is resolved as it really is such a waste of energy.....don't you think??

TT4U

Notification:
These are just "my" thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions....I try very hard to impart correct info at all times.