Hi can't get into windows it stalls at the blue background during the start wav.Sometimes get, BSD fatal ecception 0028:C0003F5E in VXD VMM(01)+0000F5F is an eg but not always.(done error seach MS knowledge base etc no joy).Other times get explorer has caused a fault and will be shut down,which causes a freeze and have to reboot.If I can get into windows if I have an audio stream(via internet) and say start surfing the audio gibbers(!) and everything freezes. This is what I've tried used ghost back up to previous good set up, both with and without reformating. Full virus scan (up to date) none found Done step by step confirmation fine until come out of DOS and onto 98se blue wallpaper then freezes with explorer error. What do you think? From my limited knowledge it is not hardware no yellow exclamation in device manager and doesn't seem to be windows.So could it be bad Ram.I am always a bit wary of opening my computer up as blew motherboard up last time!!!!Does anyone else have any ideas or should I gird my loins and open her up. I have got 2 sticks of 256mb so presume take one out at a time. Any tips would be helpful Thanks for reading this John

Sounds like a bad sound card. The exclaimations and red signs on Hardware Manager only indicate the state of the driver -- it does not test the hardware. Yank the sound card out and see what happens. If your problems go away, you know who the bad boy is.

If you want to check the RAM: Doc memory test http://www.simmtester.com/PAGE/products/doc/docinfo.asp I suggest running it overnight. You might also consider running scandisk 'thorough' on your hard drive.

I would also scan the Windows system files with the System File Checker that is built into Windows 98. Go to Start -> Run -> type in 'sfc' (no quotes). If System File Checker finds system files that that need to be restored because they are missing or corrupted you will be prompted for your Windows 98 CD.

i suggest going to www.pcpitstop.com and testing your machine.

It could be bad RAM...could also be overzealous RAM timing in your BIOS. Have you made any kind of changes or tweaks that may have brought this on?

Sorry I've not got back to you my Pc gave up the ghost so haven't been able to get online until today. Thanks for your advice all of you especially Bill for the memory test it passed 2 scans and then failed.Turns out it was a bad stick thank god for crucials life time guarantee!!!!I even ventured inside it again to change the sticks round I ain't going to let any PC beat me. Thanks again John