Windows 98 will not start on my son's desktop HP pc. The Windows screen appears, then the blue line scrooling at the bottom of the screen freezes.

We have reformatted the hardrive, scanned for viruses and the problem keeps returning.

Can anyone offer any suggestion?

With the limited data you have provided about the PC [Manufacturer HP: Model?]based on the symptom of Bootup freeze without any error messages, it could be any one of a number of causes.
I suspect the following at the top of the list of hardware causes.

1. Problem with RAM.
2. Problem with Video Card
3. Problem with CPU fan
4. Problem with the Motherboard.

If you can post the model of this HP PC displayed on its chassis we might be able to figure out its hardware and usual software at the time of sale.

What is the last thing you installed before the problem started?

pcsbob;

can you boot into safe-mode?
(at the first sign of the "booting win95" start tapping the "F8" key.)

Also sounds like a possible faulty card in the machine.
Remove EVERYTHING except the CPU, Memory, & video card. try booting again.

repost.

curleyrl

The pc is a HP6553, it's about 3 years old.

The system will boot in safe mode. The only software loaded on the pc is the original software load provided by HP, d-Link 120+ wireless adapter, and the windows 98se updates that are found on the Microsoft update page.

Let me know if additional inof is needed.

Thanks

Would a 98SE boot disk with a:

Scanreg \restore command help!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi pcsbob.

Have you tried FDISK? It may be that you need to do a complete, clean reinstall. I would do FDISK /mbr and then the regular FDISK and remove and reset the partition(s) and then reformat. You may have a virus in the master boot record (mbr) and that will prevent a successful reinstall. You will need a bootdisk for 98SE. (see bootdisk.com)

Good luck. HTH

Hi pcsBob,

Thank you for posting the Computer model. I could find the original Hardware and Software specifications of this HP PAVILION 6553. The link below will open the HP Tech support Page on that:
HP Pavilion PC Model 6553 (US) -Product Specifications

The PC's original Configuration included Intel Celeron 466 Megahertz (MHz) processor and Standard Memory: 64 megabytes (MB) SDRAM . It has an Integrated Video Adapter with Intel 810 Controller and sharing 11MB of System RAM ( whatever RAM is installed the total will show 11MB less in System Propertes]

This information has actually confused me!
How can we reconcile these data with the 333/256 shown on your posted CPU/RAM specs?

If infact the freezing problem of this HP Pavilion 6553-US started after additional RAM to 256 MB I will focus my troubleshoot there.

My further problem anlysis or troubleshoot tip will follow the clarifiaction of this discrepancy.

Sorry for the confusion on the cpu and memory. The cpu is the 466 and the ram is 192. I added 128 meg about 2 years ago.

I mistakenly gave you the spec on my pc, not my son's

Thanks

Bob

Please tell us when did the problem of freeze up start and how was it started [ what preceded..I mean software/hardware changes (=install/uninstall)]. The single most importanat troubleshooting tool is a careful history of Computer health prior to problem if it started later in its life:-)
I still feel that 128MB RAM is a suspect! I might be proven wrong later with additional data.

i have same proberlem i tryed scanreg and suface scan no luck can someone sujest a sollution plz

system is
200mhz
49mb ram
2gb hdd
8 mb sis pci graphics card

note i have checked all cables and removed all other hardwair so cn someone help me
the system boots in safe mode and nothing looks out of place

oh yeh and its a fresh install

The most recent change in the PC was the instalation of D-Link software to support my wireless network. i installed a wireless adapter on this machine.

WE turned off the pc while we went on vacation. It would not start upon our return.

I just completed reformatting and partitioning the harddrive. I then reinstalled the HP softare load and the d-link software. The pc worked fine the 1st times we restarted it, then it locked up again.

Any suggestions?

I just tried to start the pc in "step by step configuration mode" The pc stopped loading at the line labelled;

msmouse.vxd

Is that any help?

mine also stops at the exact same place when using step by step confermation

pcbob,

What type of Mouse you have? USB or PS/2

I suspect an IRQ conflict between your D-Link Wireless PCI Adapter ( unspecified Model) and another device (? Mouse).

My suggested troubleshoot:

With the usual Antistatic Precauations move the device to anotherfree PCI slot after uninstalling it in Device Manager and then Reinstall software as if you are doing a fresh install.
Please let us know the outcome.

Andy,
I have not read your post well enough to answer in this thread now, but will try later.

Thanks for the fresh ideas

My mouse is the standard mouse that came with this pc. It uses a PS2 connection.

The wireless adapted is a D-Link DWL-12-+. This adapter is connected to a usb port. Should I uninstall this device?

Thanks

Hi pcbob,

I think there could be a typo in your Specs! I make a lot of typos owing to my clumsy single-hand-single finger hunt & peck; so its is like the kettle calling the pot...-:)

Because you have an D-link External USB Wireless Adapter DWL-120+ the previous troubleshoot for PCI adapters won't work.

PLease look at this link for a series of stepwise troubleshoot:
"After installing my DWL-120+, my Windows 98/Me machine will not boot up properly. What can I do to resolve this"?

This is probably because of your DWL-120+ (that is why I am also here reading this), check the DLink support site for that model, they mention about this problem. http://support.dlink.com/faq/view.asp?prod_id=1377&question=DWL-120+

Pull the USB cable from the DLink adapter and try to reboot. If it still doesn;t, remove the herdware.