System is acting very strange - What do I do?

Hello. I am using an old Windows 98 computer that doesn't seem to work
properly.
Apart from all the hard drive and boot problems, there are more problems
with the drivers on the computer.

Here are the problems:

1. When I finally decided to try it (after some considerable time) it said
that it found a permanent hard drive failure. What The?

2. At startup, the sound driver produces this loud 'BEEP'. I have no idea
what it is, but it also happens when I insert the PC Card. There is also no
sound.

3. After installing a mouse driver from a CD, it told me that the driver
would be ready to use - after resolving a conflict. Do I fix it? Yes. But it
doesn't let me!

4. The display settings are using the wrong color. "John, just change it in
the Display properties!". Can't do that either. I was thinking of updating
the drivers anyway.

5. After running a few programs on the computer, decided to stop editing
the system files through DOS. Computer screen goes white and system stops
responding.

6. There is some sort of program called 'Britticana 2005' installed on it.
Have no idea what that is for. I guess that is why the person who gave it to
us didn't pick up the laptop!

7. The keyboard doesn't work while I am in the 'Windows 98 Startup Menu'.
Am I suppose to update the BIOS and Keyboard drivers as well?

That is just some of the problems I found out. I suppose it is a virus, but
I don't know how to install an antivirus program on it without the screen
going blank.

I am going to try the System Restore and MS-DOS Scandisk and Scanreg, but
while it does that, I am going to have to study how to identify and remove a
virus.

Any help is really appreciated.

John.

"John" wrote in message
...
| Hello. I am using an old Windows 98 computer that doesn't seem to work
| properly.
| Apart from all the hard drive and boot problems, there are more problems
| with the drivers on the computer.
|
| Here are the problems:
|
| 1. When I finally decided to try it (after some considerable time) it
said
| that it found a permanent hard drive failure. What The?
|
| 2. At startup, the sound driver produces this loud 'BEEP'. I have no idea
| what it is, but it also happens when I insert the PC Card. There is also
no
| sound.
|
| 3. After installing a mouse driver from a CD, it told me that the driver
| would be ready to use - after resolving a conflict. Do I fix it? Yes. But
it
| doesn't let me!
|
| 4. The display settings are using the wrong color. "John, just change it
in
| the Display properties!". Can't do that either. I was thinking of updating
| the drivers anyway.
|
| 5. After running a few programs on the computer, decided to stop editing
| the system files through DOS. Computer screen goes white and system stops
| responding.
|
| 6. There is some sort of program called 'Britticana 2005' installed on
it.
| Have no idea what that is for. I guess that is why the person who gave it
to
| us didn't pick up the laptop!
|
| 7. The keyboard doesn't work while I am in the 'Windows 98 Startup Menu'.
| Am I suppose to update the BIOS and Keyboard drivers as well?
|
| That is just some of the problems I found out. I suppose it is a virus,
but
| I don't know how to install an antivirus program on it without the screen
| going blank.
|
| I am going to try the System Restore and MS-DOS Scandisk and Scanreg, but
| while it does that, I am going to have to study how to identify and remove
a
| virus.
|
| Any help is really appreciated.
|
| John.


Sure, maybe we can help... but you really have to give us something to work
with...

How about what make and model for the first answer.

How about the exact error messages.

How about what diagnostic routines you have already tried...

As for the beeps, likely BIOS attempts to advise of issues, was there any
pattern?

And did you check the internal batteries for CMOS/BIOS and any other
additional (some have three).

--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com
________

Opps, and Brittanica 2005 is likely an encyclopedia...

| --
| MEB
| http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com
| ________
|
|

"John" wrote in message
...
Hello. I am using an old Windows 98 computer that doesn't seem to work
properly.
Apart from all the hard drive and boot problems, there are more problems
with the drivers on the computer.

Here are the problems:

1. When I finally decided to try it (after some considerable time) it said
that it found a permanent hard drive failure. What The?

Download/run a disk diagnostic utility to check the drives integrity from the HD
manufacturer support site. If the drive is done in or has many bad sectors which
indicates it's on its way south, you'll need to install another drive in its place.

Will it boot to Safe Mode?

Do you have another PC available to connect the HD in as a slave to see if you can
access the disk?


2. At startup, the sound driver produces this loud 'BEEP'. I have no idea
what it is, but it also happens when I insert the PC Card. There is also no
sound.

Check your beep pattern for the BIOS installed here for causes:
http://www.bioscentral.com/beepcodes/awardbeep.htm

http://www.f-prot.com/products/home_use/dos/

3. After installing a mouse driver from a CD, it told me that the driver
would be ready to use - after resolving a conflict. Do I fix it? Yes. But it
doesn't let me!

If you can boot to Safe Mode you will be able to remove any/all unessential device
drivers not needed to use Windows. Once removed shut down and remove/disconnect
any/all hardware peripherals/adapters leaving only the monitor, mouse and keyboard
connected. If you can successfully boot to Windows, shut down, install the video
adapter and see if it will boot successfully to Windows. If you can, shut down,
install the sound card and boot. Keep doing this until all devices are installed or
the sytem fails to boot due to the device just installed, that of course is if you
were able to boot with only the mon/kb/mouse.


4. The display settings are using the wrong color. "John, just change it in
the Display properties!". Can't do that either. I was thinking of updating
the drivers anyway.

That's what you need to do if you can get into Windows.


5. After running a few programs on the computer, decided to stop editing
the system files through DOS. Computer screen goes white and system stops
responding.

Editing System files, not good. What System files?


6. There is some sort of program called 'Britticana 2005' installed on it.
Have no idea what that is for. I guess that is why the person who gave it to
us didn't pick up the laptop!

You sure it's not Encyclopedia Britticana?
If this is a laptop I guess you'll have to skip removing physical harware.


7. The keyboard doesn't work while I am in the 'Windows 98 Startup Menu'.
Am I suppose to update the BIOS and Keyboard drivers as well?

The way it's looking I'm not sure if anything will help.


That is just some of the problems I found out. I suppose it is a virus, but
I don't know how to install an antivirus program on it without the screen
going blank.

I am going to try the System Restore and MS-DOS Scandisk and Scanreg, but
while it does that, I am going to have to study how to identify and remove a
virus.

http://www.f-prot.com/products/home_use/dos/


Any help is really appreciated.

John.


--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

Watch this, MEB, as I craft a properly composed and edited usenet
reply. Something you are unable or too lazy to do.

John wrote:

Hello. I am using an old Windows 98 computer that doesn't seem
to work properly.

1. it said that it found a permanent hard drive failure.
What The?

Your hard drive is failing, and diagnosing all other problems is not
useful until or unless you obtain a new hard drive and re-install
windows-98.

Hard drives have a finite lifespan, which is generally 5 years. While
drives made in the past 3-4 years have really good MTBF
(mean-time-between-failure), drives made back in 1998 - 2002 had lower
MTBF's.

"98 Guy" wrote in message ...
| Watch this, MEB, as I craft a properly composed and edited usenet
| reply. Something you are unable or too lazy to do.
|
| John wrote:
|
| Hello. I am using an old Windows 98 computer that doesn't seem
| to work properly.
|
| 1. it said that it found a permanent hard drive failure.
| What The?
|
| Your hard drive is failing, and diagnosing all other problems is not
| useful until or unless you obtain a new hard drive and re-install
| windows-98.
|
| Hard drives have a finite lifespan, which is generally 5 years. While
| drives made in the past 3-4 years have really good MTBF
| (mean-time-between-failure), drives made back in 1998 - 2002 had lower
| MTBF's.

Its a laptop idiot!!! Diagnostic routines for these older laptops must
first deal with the potential internal batteries and their replacement...

--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com
________

MEB wrote:

| Hello. I am using an old Windows 98 computer that doesn't seem
| to work properly.

Its a laptop idiot!!!

Based only on this cryptic paragraph:

"There is some sort of program called 'Britticana 2005' installed
on it. Have no idea what that is for. I guess that is why the
person who gave it to us didn't pick up the laptop!"

The last sentence doesn't make sense.

Anyone who doesn't know what "Britticana" is probably isin't ready for
computers anyways.

Diagnostic routines for these older laptops must first deal
with the potential internal batteries and their replacement...

You can putz with batteries all you want. If we are dealing with a
laptop, the OP is probably running it off it's AC adaptor anyways.

"it said that it found a permanent hard drive failure"

A hard drive with media errors will give all sorts of unpredictable
software and operational errors. Unless there is important personal
information or files on it, the best course of action is to replace
the drive and re-install the OS and apps.

"98 Guy" wrote in message ...
| MEB wrote:
|
| | Hello. I am using an old Windows 98 computer that doesn't seem
| | to work properly.
|
| Its a laptop idiot!!!
|
| Based only on this cryptic paragraph:
|
| "There is some sort of program called 'Britticana 2005' installed
| on it. Have no idea what that is for. I guess that is why the
| person who gave it to us didn't pick up the laptop!"
|
| The last sentence doesn't make sense.
|
| Anyone who doesn't know what "Britticana" is probably isin't ready for
| computers anyways.

Leave the person alone, you aren't exactly god's gift to mankind.... nor
are you mensa material...

|
| Diagnostic routines for these older laptops must first deal
| with the potential internal batteries and their replacement...
|
| You can putz with batteries all you want. If we are dealing with a
| laptop, the OP is probably running it off it's AC adaptor anyways.
|
| "it said that it found a permanent hard drive failure"
|
| A hard drive with media errors will give all sorts of unpredictable
| software and operational errors. Unless there is important personal
| information or files on it, the best course of action is to replace
| the drive and re-install the OS and apps.

YEEEEAAAHHH, but with a laptop you have suspend/hibernation issues, loss of
CMOS settings, and a myriad of other potentials to deal with, which are
SPECIFIC/UNIQUE to laptops/notebooks.

Plugging it into a power adapter corrects NONE of the issues the deep
discharge or extended lack of use will cause with laptops/notebooks, and the
potential IS that the hard drive may APPEAR as bad, when its nothing more
than bad batteries/power [which may still take a charge if left plugged in,
or need replaced] and resetting the laptop to the proper settings.

So take your simplistic ideas to a forum where they may laud you as
semi-intelligent,,, let this group continue to try to guide these people
that come through here for help...

MEB spewed:

So take your simplistic ideas to a forum where they may laud you
as semi-intelligent,,,

You really are an ass hole.

"98 Guy" wrote in message ...
| MEB spewed:
|
| So take your simplistic ideas to a forum where they may laud you
| as semi-intelligent,,,
|
| You really are an ass hole.

Well, let's review your history here...

When you brought your ideas to this group regarding IE hacks, I was the
ONLY one who attempted to work with you on that... you didn't apparently
pick-up on TESTING techniques required ....

When you brought your ideas concerning hard drives to this group, we all
tried to direct you to the materials you needed to understand and consider
for your presentation... glad you picked up on SOME of that.. to bad you
didn't grasp the full picture...

When you started your "you don't need firewalls anymore" we but in
particular I, tried to direct you to the FACTS of networking and Internet
use, regretfully that was apparently beyond your abilities to understand...

Shall I go through other of your posts here?????

And here you are trying to direct someone to spend money for something
BEFORE you have verified that is the problem....

So perhaps I may appear to be an *AH* NOW, but really, you need to THINK
before you type... and let those who do understand SRTSP, apply them.

--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com
________