Presario 5365/Win98SE - inexplicable shutdowns to a blinking cursor

Mediamon wrote:

Hi. I just posted this to alt.sys.pc-clone.compaq. Now I am finding
other newsgroups that this topic is appropriate. But not sure how to
forward original post to other related newsgroups without crossposting.

Cross posting is in fact the best approach. That way
those who read more than one group in the list see the
post marked as read in the other groups they read.

So may apologies in advance. Follow-up set to alt.sys.pc-clone.compaq

Followup molesting reversed.

I'm helping a friend with his Compaq Presario 5365
running Win98SE on AMD K6-3D Cpu (400MHZ I think).
Mobo manufacturer unknown with SIS 530 chipset.

Friend reports PC was acting sluggish and sometimes
locking up. Says it possibly began after a Windows
Update was cancelled in the middle of download.

Much more likely to be a coincidence.

At the same time he syas Norton Anti-Virus 2003 Pro was
acting funky, as NAV would not lauch from the system tray.

Worth trying a different anti virus, some viruses molest NAV.

So I uninstalled NAV 2003 with the intent on re-installing
(and updating NAV via LiveUpdate).

However following the NAV uninstall I observed PC shuts down at
random times, usually after after 10-30 minutes after starting windows.
The PC functions just fine until inexplicable shutdown. (PC shuts
down no matter which apps are running, or if on internet or not).

When it shutsdown I just see blackscreen
with blinking cursor in upper left corner.

I installed Zone Alarm Internet Security Suite 6.x and
also Adaware SE and attempted to scan system but
PC shutsdown in the middle of the scannning with either.

Installed HijackThis but no unusual tasks running.

I ensured no bad BHOs were installed In IE.

I connected fine to internet and using IE6 ran Windows Update
and installed the latest critical updates for IE6 and Win98. And
revisiting WindowsUpdate shows all critical updates installed.

I disabled the screensaver, wallpaper, and power management.

Ran System File Checker (SFC) in Safe Mode.
SFC reported the following files may be corrupted:
C:\windows\system\setupx.dll
C:\windows\system\fpwpp.dll

(used defualt search settings - searched
C:\windows\system
C:\windows\system32
C:\Program Files\Accessories
C:\Program Files\Common Files

for files with following extnesions:
386 / com /dll /drv / exe / mpd / ocx /scr / sys / vxd

System has MS Office 2000 installed.

But FrontPage appears to not be installed.
So uncertain source of fpwpp.dll listed above.

I double checked all the tasks which were running and all related to
hardware installed on machine (I removed unneccessary tasks/services).
Still shuts down.

I cannot test impact of items showing up in tasklist related to HP
LJ1000 printer, as friend did not bring printer with (I'm avoiding
uninstalling for this reason).

In MSCONFIG I chose Selective Startup and unchecked everything so they
would not load at Windows startup. PC still shutsdown unexpectedly.

I've allowed the system to sit idle in SafeMode to see if unexpectedly
shutsdown there as well. But it does not.

Right now before I post this I have regular Windows launched, with
selective startup chosen. Only items in task list is explorer, cpqeadm
(compaq keybd utility), bttnserv (compaq easy buttons utility),
em_exec (logitech), and systray. No HP printer or scanner drivers
loaded.

I have had on for a half hour and no crash! So maybe it is an issue
related to the LaserJst drivers? Will see if PC is crashed in the
morning.... Yep it crashed.

I have mixed thoughts on if it is a Windows issue or hardware issue.

Bootlog.txt shows following four errors:

LoadFailed = C:\ESSOLO.sys
(which i think are real mode sound drivers... not needed... sound
works fine in Windows)

LoadFailed = ndis2sup.vxd
(not sure why this is but PC conencts to the intternet via dial-up
fine and PC is not conencted to a LAN)

INITCOMPLETEFAILED = SIS530V
(I assume this is for the SIS chipset with integrated video' video
seems to be fine in windows)

INITCOMPLETEFAILED = SDVXD
(not sure yet what this is)

No bad entries appear in Device Manager (no question marks) and all
hardware appears to be working correctly.

I ran scandisk from DOS prompt and some lost clusters were found and
were auto fixed. And then also ran full surface scan and a bad sector
or two was found which scandisk flagged.

Opening case I checked to be sure power supply and cpu fans were
working and areas around CPU was clear. Components don't seem to get
overly warm.

Discovered the original 64MB RAM in PC (PC-100), was upgraded
with two additional 256MB PC-133 SDRAM mods. But Windows
only reports 444MB (whereas 576MB=256+256+64 total was installed).

That may well be important. Likely some is lost to
the onboard video, but the numbers still dont add up.

I assume the system board just does not support more than 444MB?

Very unlikely.

Anywya I awapped in and out different combos of RAM modules,
and re-ordering mods in sockets with no positive results.

What happened with the total reported ?

The Compaq BIOS Setup is quite lean (the fewest settings I have
observed). Does not provide any settings to alter memory timings, etc.

My friend states that the RAM was upgraded almost
a year ago so and was not having issues until recently.

I tested the ATX PowerSupply with an Antec PS tester and shows OK.

Doesnt prove a lot.

As a FYI...

My friend pulled the orginal hard drive from system in favor of a new
larger 80GB 9image of original hard drive was copied over a year ago
or so, same time as RAM upgrade). So I assume any hidden partion
mirror recovery files on the orginal hard drive are no longer available.

But found new hard drive has hidden system.sav directory which appears
to be the Windows recovery files (friend states he did not get a
recovery CD with PC, but I am not sure, As I assumed Compaq was
delivering OEM WIn98 CD with PC's back then).

Also I see C:\bootdisk which contains files to create a recovery
bootdisk.

I'm sure I'm forgetting to include the many other diags I've
performed.

Any thoughts on how to proceed troubleshooting this?

I'd image the current hard drive, do a clean 98SE install,
see if it still shuts down. That basically distinguishes
between a hardware and an OS/software problem.

Likely you will find its a hardware problem in which case its time to
check for bad caps on the motherboard and try a power supply swap.

Should I proceed with a Windows repair from CD (I have Win98SE
boot floppy also)? If so which specific steps are recommended?
Run Setup from the hard drive hoping the PC will not crash?

Generally best to do a clean install of 98SE, thats really the only way to
clean up the mess if the install has got comprehensively screwed over time.
It'd be unusual to get a timed crash like that due to the OS tho.

On Sat, 1 Jul 2006 08:11:41 +1000, "Rod Speed"
wrote:


Discovered the original 64MB RAM in PC (PC-100), was upgraded
with two additional 256MB PC-133 SDRAM mods. But Windows
only reports 444MB (whereas 576MB=256+256+64 total was installed).

That may well be important. Likely some is lost to
the onboard video, but the numbers still dont add up.

The board is only seeing 1/2 of the 2nd 256MB module, and
4MB allocated to video. Depending on how you look at it
(ignoring cost per MB), it's not necessarily a problem, he
should just test with memtest86 and consider pulling out the
64MB module only using the other two in the first two
slots... if it'll see all of both of them then.



I tested the ATX PowerSupply with an Antec PS tester and shows OK.



Take voltage readings with a multimeter.
Reseat all cards, cables, etc, and clean out dust if
applicable. Check fans/etc.




It'd be unusual to get a timed crash like that due to the OS tho.



Agreed, it's probably not the OS.