Win 98 + Temporary Stupidity = HELP ME :)

[Muad'Dib]

I don't know where to post this, so if its in the wrong place, sorry. When I start up my comp, it seems to go through a temporary "stupidity." It sits there and litterally does nothing for about a min to a min and a half. No hd/cd activity, nothing. It happens right when win 98 (se included) begins it's boot up crap just after the Matrox monitor detection thing (VBExt is it?). If you have any suggestions, let me know, I'm getting pissed. I've defraged, scan disk'd, ... I REALLY don't want to reformat and reinstall it.

[ObiBen]

Does your pc lock up completely, or does it continue to boot after it's 1-2 minutes of "stupidity". I experience a similar situation with my pc. During the bootup of Win98SE, my machine enters a similar state of "stupidity" where there is no disk activity. Although, mine only last about 30 seconds.

[Kruzin]

The machine may be looking for hardware that isn't there, or isn't turned on.

For example: I have a digitizer tablet. If it is not hooked up, or not turned on, my machine will do just what you described.

Make sure all external devices are on. If they are, go into safe mode, and check your device manager for duplicate devices, or devices listed that are not really in the system...

[BreadFan]

If you have a NIC bound to TCP/IP with DHCP enabled, it could be trying to poll for an IP address. If this is so, either unbind the NIC from TCP/IP or give it a fake IP address. Hope this helps.

[Muad'Dib]

Breadfan - how do I check this? I have a linksys 10/100 NIC at school. I have an IP address, but I don't know if it is bound or not (as you mentioned). Thanks for your help.

Obiben - After this "stupidity," yes, it continues to boot up, although during this time, I usually have a cup of coffee and read the Daily Bruin (UCLA Newspaper)...

My dad's system (no NIC) runs faster than mine in starting up and he's only got a P1-133Mhz.


Thanks everyone for your help.

[FaRaN]

I've got the same thing and know exactly what it is. It's your NICs. I've got two of them in 1 PC. The NICs (especially IPX installed) probe for connection and speed (10/100). This takes about a minute or half. It's perfectly normal, and we have to live with it. Donnot worry.

Have Fun! Play some Q3!!

[Muad'Dib]

FaRaN - is there no way I can fix this problem? No one else in my dorm that I know seems to have this problem. Thanks for telling me what it is though. If I uninstall my NIC, this will boot it up faster (just as a trial)?

[hominid skull]

Dune rocks, but the film sucks!!!!!!

[specialk]

I have had this occur in the past. The issue for me has always been because some cards are trying to share an irq. Go to Start>Programs>Accessories>System Tools>System Information. Click the + nest to hardware resources and then click on irq's and see if any devices are sharing an irq. It is ok for devices to share with: IRQ Holder for PCI steering, but avoid anything else being shared. If you have too many devices, i.e. not enough irq's then disable one or both com. ports in your bios to free up an irq. I have all my irq's taken up and my boot process also involves a SCSI controller's bios boot process- my entire boot process takes around 1:30, but no irq's are being shared.

Hope this helps!

My hardware:
Dual boot Win98/Linux
PIII500 (at 124x5=620mhz)
Abit BX6-2
Samsung GH 256mb
IBM 14.4 7200
Maxtor 20.4 7200
SB Live
Marox G400 MAX
Tekram SCSI
Kenwood 52x
Creative 5x dvd (w/out dxr2 installed)
Plextor 8/2/20 cdrw
Netgear FA310TX NIC
Sportster 128K ISDN
Ms Intellimouse USB
Ms Intellimouse Pro PS/2

[FaRaN]

Muad'Dib

Nope, we just have to live with it and play Q3! Really. There is nothing to do about it besides switching to NT or removing the NICs. I asked alot of technical wizkid nerdies I know. And they tell me the exact same thing. I learned to live with it. I usually make some coffee when firing up or rebooting my PC.

As for IRQ sharing, this is not the cause of the problem. Tried it tested it didn't work. My NICs are not sharing any IRQ's.

Grz
FaRaN@NL

[Muad'Dib]

Damn, I don't want to live with it. I think my IRQ's are fine too, but just if you want to look, here they are:

0 System timer
1 Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard
2 Programmable interrupt controller
3 Communications Port (COM2)
4 Communications Port (COM1)
5 Creative Ensoniq AudioPCI
5 ALi PCI to USB Open Host Controller
5 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering
5 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering
6 Standard Floppy Disk Controller
7 Printer Port (LPT1)
8 System CMOS/real time clock
9 (free)
10 Linksys LNE100TX Fast Ethernet Adapter
10 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering
11 Matrox Millennium G400 DualHead - English
11 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering
12 PS/2 Compatible Mouse Port
13 Numeric data processor
14 Primary IDE controller (single fifo)
14 Standard Dual PCI IDE Controller
15 Secondary IDE controller (single fifo)
15 Standard Dual PCI IDE Controller


Thanks

[paul]

go into your bios and disable at least one of those com ports. If you have a ps/2 port mouse, disable both coms (unless 1 is for your modem).
disable usb if that's unused, too.
you could always disable 1 unused item at a time and then boot 2 complete boots to see if prb solved

[RAB]

Muad'Dib,
I'd have to agree that its the NIC. Before I put my Linksys 10/100 in, Windows would boot in about 30 seconds. Now it takes well over a minute. Seems like forever, but look at it this way, now you have an opportunity to get a cup of coffee.

RAB

[mj12]

Muad'Dib, I'm assuming your on a tcp/ip network, and if so is your workstation using dhcp or static address?

[FaRaN]

It IS the Nic dammit!
Anyway. I'm still really sorry.
L I V E with it!
If you don't believe me, remove the Nic and try again. It has nothing to do with the IRQ's either. I tried shuffling those around too, it doesn't help. Remove the Nic or start drinking coffee.
Removing IRQ's in the bios just gives you free IRQ's. It wont stop your NIC searching for some response at startup.
Try installing only the protocols you NEED, no excessive things like IPX. Or (if you don't use the card as a modem) try to install NetBui only. That is the most stable protocol for your home network.
WinNT anyone?

Good luck (again)

FaRaN@NL