Windows 98 se freeze on install

[format c:]

Hey there I got a Compaq 4540 233 mhz with 48 megs of sdram
I was trouble shooting a constant freeze up , I found that the owner had tried installing WIn 98 and that was where he left it
I could not get Windows to load , I got registery errors himem.sys errors and the machine even froze up in the CMOS screen , if it would load at all
I replaced the k6 233 with the Intel 233 mmx ( I set the voltages accordingly )
All was going well until Windows goes to detect plug and play hard ware, It goes for a bit then locks up solid
I tried diabling the cache memory and the onboard sound
I can not find a setting for the video and bios shadow so I could try those, I wonder if when the CPU burnt out if it took the board with it
ANy idea anyone or should I shoot this poor thing

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Format c I'm givin er all she's got cap'in !!! )

[Sowulo]

Most Windows' failed installs I've run into could be attributed to defective RAM...

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Note to self: Re-index brain cells, database corruption present.

[sly69]

<font face="Tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, Geneva" size="2">Originally posted by sowulo:
Most Windows' failed installs I've run into could be attributed to defective RAM...

</font>

Got to go along, check your ram if possable, and make sure all cards are seated..

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"More Than Merely Names"
"NEVER FORGOTTEN"

[format c:]

Well I did check the ram and 16 megs of it are soldered to the motherboard,( You know what that means ) I pulled the 32 meg sdram stick out and the system still froze up solid at the same spot where Windows detects your plug n play hard ware
I tried a didferent hard drive , just to test an idea , and still freezes up, tried another power supply , tried to use the secondary controller
What is strange is that the Hard drive was set to cable select from the factory and the cd rom drive is primary slave This system is only using the primay controller and I tried setting it up as Hard drive Pimary Master and CD rom as secondary master, The BIOS did not find the hard drive when I set it up that way
These Compaq's are a proprietary night mare
I thank you all for the ideas , but keep them comming , I am inclined to think the mother board is toast as well as the CPU

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Format c I'm givin er all she's got cap'in !!! )

[This message has been edited by format c: (edited September 12, 2001).]

[sly69]

I've found when compaq are set up with the cable select it is easiest to set the system the same way.

Hard drive on Pimary with cable select the first one on the cable, the CD-ROM on the secondary also on cable select also on the first connector on the cable. This should help the bios to see both drives. Than try the install..

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"More Than Merely Names"
"NEVER FORGOTTEN"

[This message has been edited by sly69 (edited September 12, 2001).]

[format c:]

Why does COmpaq use the cable select setting rather then the good old master slave settings
I am trying the cable select for both drives on both controllers, Hard drive on the primary and the CD rom on the secondary

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Format c I'm givin er all she's got cap'in !!! )

[DonJ]

In case you haven't already done so, check out Compaq's website for their Quick Reference Guide: http://web14.compaq.com/falco/sp_syn...esario4500.pdf

Also, read up on "How much memory can I install in my 4500 series Presario?"... http://web14.compaq.com/falco/detail.asp?FAQnum=FAQ3096

For Model 4540, 32MBs SDRAM Standard - Maximum RAM is 48MEG.

As for the jumpers on the drives, I don't have an explanation. All I know is that Compaq just about always sets hard drives and CD-ROM drives to Cable Select.

Let us know how it goes...Good Luck!
DonJ


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"Don't Mess with Texas!" --The Dubya


[This message has been edited by DonJ (edited September 13, 2001).]

[sly69]

<font face="Tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, Geneva" size="2">Originally posted by format c::
Why does COmpaq use the cable select setting rather then the good old master slave settings
I am trying the cable select for both drives on both controllers, Hard drive on the primary and the CD rom on the secondary

</font>

Not realy sure, but I think it has something to do with the way thier bios is set-up, at least thats what I was told..

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"More Than Merely Names"
"NEVER FORGOTTEN"

[orange]

Looks like a great opportunity to sell the customer a decent machine, built by yourself!

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orange
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[format c:]

Well I set both drives to cable select , Hard drive on the primary controller and the CD rom on the secondary controller
I got Windows to install with a couple of errors, Windows actually did load and run , I let the machine sit for a couple of days and now explorer crashes just as you get to the desktop, I replaced all the ribbon cables just to be sure and I made sure they are in correctly
I am going to reinstall Windows after I format this thing, If it fails again I get to sell these folks a custom buit computer that will actually work
BTW this thing actaully did run the burn in test software right after I got WIndows installed
Sounds like a PSU or a mother board problem to me
Oh and thanks all for the ideas

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Format c I'm givin er all she's got cap'in !!! )

[DocPC]

Compaq puts the BIOS on the HDD I believe. Could have something to do with your issue.

[Andi]

As per the last post.
Ensure you have the Compaq bios installed correctly on the harddrive before installing the OS.
It is installed via a seperate setup boot disk available on their website dependent on the model involved.

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Life is always stranger than fiction ..... and then some

[format c:]

Well I know for sure that the bios is in a flash eprom, I flashed the bios with the latest update , Compaq just has to be diferent
I figure the onboard memory is defective so I hope to sell the customer a nice custom built system


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Format c I'm givin er all she's got cap'in !!! )