Windows 98 SE fails to start, RAM issue?

I'm using a Compaq Presario V6000 notebook and have installed Windows 98 SE successfully. It is currently the only OS on the HDD. At first I couldn't get past first time startup because I had 2GB of RAM, too much for vcache's settings. So I removed 1GB and set minfilecache and maxfilecache to 128MB in system.ini. This worked and I was able to set up the user name, system plug 'n play drivers, etc. Once I restarted the system I see DOS updating the config files and continuing to load Windows. But then the system just hangs. It doesn't freeze, as the cursor is still blinking. It just stops. So I do a hard restart and choose the normal startup mode in the "Windows did not start successfully" options. The screen goes blank and I see the startup options screen again, but this time the cursor is blinking in the upper left and DOS doesn't respond to the keyboard.

I try starting in safe mode but get the same problem, although this time I see HIMEM check extended memory and complete the check. Because I saw this, could this be another memory related issue? Here are my specs:

CPU: Intel 1.6GHz
RAM: 1GB, 2GB before I removed a stick
HDD: 80GB
Video: NVIDIA Go 6150

I've gotten this far with Windows 98, I hope I don't have to scrap it because of this. Any ideas?

 

yeah i think its time to upgrade the OS. even just switching to XP. you can get it for pretty cheap, and it will be supported by microsoft until 2012.

 

win 98 would run better in a vpc on xp or for better performance a linux distro perhaps sabayon it's a nice OS the full install will give you xbmc,the iso is a live cd so can be run to see what it's like,puppys pretty choice as well if you don't want to pay money for a OS

 

I was told that this is a memory problem, and Windows 98's memory manager is stubborn and only coded to work with 512MB or less. Although I'm going to look into a RAMDisk app, once I find out what it is...

 

I have a small hunch that this person is probably aware that there are newer versions of Windows on the market. I'm sure they have their reasons for what they are doing and I don't remember anywhere in the question that they asked for opinions on other OS's. I can honestly say I can't help you with your problem but I'm not going to intentionally come on here and ignore your question and throw my opinion on why you shouldn't use Windows 98.

 

The TC has another post in this forum that explains why he needs Win98.

". . . but this time the cursor is blinking in the upper left and DOS doesn't respond to the keyboard. "

This is usually an indicator that Windows is having a problem loading the video display drivers.

Does it load in safe mode?

 

OP's last paragraph asking for opinions

vpc suggested since an old OS on new hardware will only work if drivers are made for it, a vpc console will solve it & using xp will allow communication between the two OS's assuming xp was on the comp,don't matter it will work with vista also as well as linux if money is an issue



@dailun
doesn't work

OP:-I try starting in safe mode but get the same problem, although this time I see HIMEM check extended memory and complete the check. Because I saw this, could this be another memory related issue? Here are my specs:

 

@scorpNZ. Thanks for the catch.

From TC's other post (assuming that the issues are linked)

"Well, I'm wanting to record some old game footage from a laptop running Windows 98 using a video output. The system has both a VGA and S-video output. I could use S-video just fine, but I was wanting to see if I could also use VGA for games than can run in resolutions higher than 640x480."

I have seen some newer hardware that just "doesn't" support. Win 98SE properly. The core OS works OK but driver support is non existent.

@TC, depending on your need an budget, you may be better off getting an old "clunker" from somewhere to complete this project.

 

You're right, an older machine is the best choice for this. But I figured I'd take a crack at getting it to run on this not-so-older laptop. I have yet to read into RAMDrive programs I could use, sounds interesting. I'll let you guys know if I get it working.

 

Ok so you have some old games you want to record while playing yes,was xp on that laptop originally as there is a function that xp has for a lack of a better way of putting it is "compatibility mode" that allows older programs to run in xp if all you want 98 for is to run older programs

Think'n out loud:-
Regarding screen resolution wouldn't the game itself dictate the size of window & it would only be 16bit colour ,so stretching that would look pretty freaky not to mention the pixels

 

well if his current system won't run 98, then he doesn't have a choice but to switch to another OS. for not having an opinion or being able to help, that sounds like a pretty pointless post to me.

 

Not surprising my point was lost on yet another person.

 

Give it a rest mrp

 

post edited: you got in before i could reply hence not directed at you ddp

 

I got the RAM drive installed, at first I set the size to 512MB, leaving another 512MB for Windows. Windows still didn't start, neither in normal mode or safe mode, but I could see where autoexec ran and created the RAM disk. I then changed the size to leave 128MB for Windows, the same amount as vcache's min and max values. This time safe mode (but not normal mode) started up! So I looked at the RAM, and it said 1GB (approximately, in megabytes). But doesn't vcache limit the system to 128MB? Or am I wrong about that? I also didn't see F:, my RAM drive. Does autoexec not run in safe mode?

I also looked at 2 log files, FRUNLOG.TXT and NETLOG.TXT (both found on C:\). Both have logs of missing file errors, FRUNLOG.TXT refers to missing DLLs in C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS, but \OPTIONS doesn't even exist. NETLOG.TXT refers to missing DLLs in C:\WINDOWS and C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM, but neither directory has a single DLL file in them. This may be what's causing Windows to hang... any particular reason why these files and folders are missing? Maybe setup was supposed to create them but failed?

Update: Ran System File Checker and Registry Checker, SFC only found and restored one file but Windows still doesn't start in normal mode. Looks like I'm going to scrap this and use an older machine. Thanks for the help guys.

 

It's been a while since i played with win 98 however once installed you can increase installed ram

 

your post said that we were wrong to suggest another OS, but that you didn't have any ideas to contribute, so what was your point then, mrp? you seem to be the only one who gets your point, so please enlighten all of us other members who are obviously too new and stupid to get it.