Trying to resurrect an old computer

[DR.Death]

Hi i am trying to get my IBM net vista going but at the same spot in normal mode it keep resetting but i can run it in safe mode fine so it has to be drivers or something gone wrong i has done this for a long time now scence i cooked my first 9250 in it well any help is greatly welcomed and if you need any thing else just ask

[Frick]

Format/reinstall the OS?

[DR.Death]

i did and it still dose it i have tryed lots of things to fix it but with no luck ia m goign to run prime 95 on it and see what hapens

[DR.Death]

well it passed prime 95 for 5 hours and it still is doing it

[Frick]

Exactly when does it freeze?

EDIT: Or restart..

[DR.Death]

at the window 98 screen that u get when u come to your desk top for the first time

[Frick]

That's wierd. Escpecially when it happens even if you've reinstalled the OS. On the other hand, maybe it's a sign of bad hardware? Have you tried to disconnect everything in the computer? NIC's, some memory (if you have more than one stick), HDD's, CD/DVD's.. Perhaps switch master drive too..

[DR.Death]

i dont think it is ram or anthing to do with that because it would do it no mader what and it runs perfctly fine in safe mode right now i am reinstaling window agian

[bbriand]

If its there Bootlog.txt and/or bootlog.old is your friend (it might be hidden but it should be under C:\ or C:\Windows).

Try booting into normal mode. When it locks up boot into safe mode and open bootlog.old in Notepad.

Been a while since I used '98 but I am 80% certain that it is there.

Basically look for anything that failed/errored in that file or check what the last operation was before it reset.

Bill

[DR.Death]

cant seem to find that anny way i am goignto try a old hard drive and see if it workes

[DR.Death]

humm i think somthing is fuc.....http://img.techpowerup.org/060822/DSCN1034537.jpg

[bbriand]

cant seem to find that anny way i am goignto try a old hard drive and see if it workes

Sorry, I couldn't remember if '98 had a Bootlog file or not. I think it might have started with Windows Me (In the non NT line of Windows).

Anyone know for certain?

Bill

[bbriand]

Well I got ambitious and had to see for myself. Windows 98 indeed has a bootlog.txt file.

check out these two links:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=188867
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/127970/EN-US/

I hope this helps.
Bill

[bbriand]

humm i think somthing is fuc.....

Are those stickers magnetic?? ;)

Sorry couldn't resist. Thats a messed up looknig Safe Mode! Maybe try a different graphics card?

Bill

[DR.Death]

no and i found the boot log it is caled net log on my comp but it just dosent say anthing so it is only 3 things left to swap out and see if it is that and 2 i cant conseriding that it is the mobo and cup and the other one is the hard drive i have a nother one i just need to go get it

[Frick]

I looks like it's the graphics card.. Or is it integrated? Anyhow, try another video card. How old is the power supply? It shouldn't have anything to do with it, but if I was you I'd switch EVERYTHING. If you have the parts for it, that is.

[DR.Death]

the psu is the orignal one and i have tryed everything other then the hard drive and cpu and the mother board

[bbriand]

Hmmm maybe a bent pin on the monitor cable connector? If you move the cables around while the monitor is on does it change whats displayed on the screen? Perhaps some sort of RF interferance is being caused by something.

Does the monitor work on another computer?

If its a PCI vid card maybe try it in another slot?

Bill

[Frick]

It can't be the monitor as the computer actually works. Restarts have nothing to do with the monitor.

So, when you've tried another harddrive, there's only CPU and motherboard left. The CPU must be OK as the computer works (IMO). So, it can be the motherboard. If you have another one, try it out.

[DR.Death]

no and it is non of that i still have yet to get that hard drive but i will let u guys know when i do

[bbriand]

If there is one thing I learned, especially where computers are involved, is its usually that thing you thought of and then rejected as it couldn't possibly be that.

Rule out everything one by one (in another known to be working system IF possible). There is nothing that says because your computer won't boot it has to be ONE thing screwing it up.

I'm coming from old school where say a Zoltrix modem and Zoltrix soundcard would cause some funky system issues without hours of jumper changing and reboots. I'm sure some of you out there know this kinda pain. Just where its an older OS and possibly older parts it may not be as plug and pray as things currently are today.

Good luck!
Bill