Problem with Windows98 and HD?

try running Disk Defragmenter, and in settings, check off 'check drive for errors'


Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter....in case you are unsure where the program resides

I once had a similar problem with an older system.  It turned out to be a thermal problem causing intermittent hardware problems.  On the advice of a friend, I opened up the box and cleared the cobwebs out (literally).  Using a small handheld vacuum (specifically designed for this purpose - go to radio shack) clean all ventilation holes, including those on the power supply, and especially the heatsink on the cpu.  Clean all the fans and make sure they are working properly.  This procedure should be done at least once a year - more often if you own a cat!

if you have an Soundcard installed than please take the Card out and try to boot up your System, if its booting in to the normal Operation mode than you should change your IRQ's setting.
if you aint got an soundcard and the problem still contniues than try to put your CD Rom Drive on the second IDE Contr. and try again.
if still the probl. persist try it to go inside your BIOS and select the BIOS option back into the Default options, and look inside your BIOS if the Plug and Play Option is been active if it's Desabled pls. Enable this selection
if the faulire still comes up than there would be a last posible Way to check
if you got an older CD-ROM install this unsted the new one just to check if the controller is bad on the new CD Rom Drive... maybe you can borrow one just to check your System from your Friends....

Ohhh sorry I' forgot to ask you one Question did you ever try to boot up your SYTEM withouth the CD-Rom Drive...
and watching for the errors, if your Win98 comes up with the same errors than your HDD is bad... because if the HDD got bad Clusters than sometime it Works mostly it don't....
for help do the followings: Bootup with an DOS Boot Flopy with the Format Command on It, then after the DOS Prompt shows up like " A:\" then just type " A:\format C: /S/C"

if you don't know what the shortcut's means than type "A:\Format /?"
and a help File will show Up...other wise it stays for: /s = Systemfile
/c = mark bad Cluster it's taken a long time but afterwards you will be able to use your HDD again without failures.

Right-click "My Computer", "Properties" & under the "Device Manager" tab, check to see that there are no exclamation points on any of the devices?
Also, in the same area, under the "Performance" tab, does it say "Your system is configured for optimal performance" at the bottom of the window or some other messages(like: "Drive C:\ is operating under DOS Compatibility Mode")?
Let me know...

The HEATING issue and dust/cobweb/hair recommendations sure sound like the key at first glance.

I'd be surprise if you didn't find anomolies in Device Manager in SAFE MODE; keeps happening to a number of us due to setup issues or incomplete registry updates.  Try this (AFTER CHECKING/RESOlVING ANY HEAT/DUST ISSUE):

Do normal shutdown and leave off at least two minutes

Reboot holding CTRL until menu

Select SAFE MODE

Check DEVICE MANAGER, expanding all categories.  Remove all occurrences of any duplicate entries for rediscovery ... and any erroneous or unknown devices, reboot and have your CD/Disk handy as well as any update drivers.

Asta

Choose

Tell us also about your Motherboard and BIOS -- also is your system setup as Plug and Play Operating System = YES?  

Enough working FANS for your setup?

Does your BIOS give you information about your system's power usage to ensure you're not spiking or have disabled some of the monitor settings and don't see alerts about overheating or spiking?

Any BEEPS at startup, of so, how many and the order of the beeps (long long short short, etc.)?

After a Windows 98 or W98SE reinstall, it is really important to redo WINDOWSUPDATE and get fixes, enhancements.

my guess would be a flaky IDE controller or cable since this happens intermittently.  Try replacing the cable since you can get them for about a buck if you don't have extras lying around.

If, with the new cable, you get the same errors, move the hard drive to the 2nd IDE controller.  If this proves to solve the problem, you have a bad 1st IDE controller.  You can try reloading drivers from the mobo manufacturer but it will probably prove futile.

also, could you clarify this statement:

"THe CDROM and HD are on the same cable as primary & secondary"

You have a primary IDE with master and slave positions and a secondary IDE with master and slave positions.

What is your configuration for hard drives and cd-roms?

First I think you had tp decide it is caused by hardware or software.
step 1:
     restart your computer and switch to DOS mode. Run some software
    such edit or something else. If it works well for a long time, then you
    are sure the problem lies in Win98 .if it is same with Win98. Then
    hardware .
step 2:
   A: Hardware problem
      take off all other cards ,include sound card, modem card(if you have)
     and cd_rom even floppy.just left hardware. Restart computer(off course,
     modify BIOS before that).If OK, try to add other part one each time....
     If not OK. mainboard or harddisk itself
  B: sofware problem
      a: change to another version Win98 or Win2000 to check if ok.
      b: check if some virus exist

I am sorry for rejecting, just send comments and I will choose the best answer to award the points.

My M/B is an ASUS with Cyrix II 333Mhz. I have moved the CDROM to IDE2, and fixed some bad clusters in my HD and it seems to be working, but will be cautious for the next couple of days, before awarding points.

It worked fine with my sound card, modem and SCSI cards before, so why suddenly give me a problem?

Anyway, I will let you know soon.Thanks for all.

"fixed some bad clusters in my HD"

There's the problem right there!

If you're getting bad sectors, *especially* near the beginning of the drive's data table, you're going to get write errors and machine freezes.

I think although you've "fixed" the problem for now this could be a hard drive controller issue. I'd get that drive RMAed as soon as possible, and move all of your data off of it while you wait for the replacement.

Better this route than a complete crash - and that seems very likely at this point.

The CD-ROM detection issue appreas to indicate a faulty mainboard - we had a similiar situation that disappeared when the CD-ROM unit was replaced.

Try unplugging the CD and see if it makes any differance. Try a different ribbon cable to the hard drive if you have one. If you reloaded software it is hardware. By unplugging the CD you'll be sure it's not that. Same with replacing the ribbon cable.

Find out what HD you have and go to the manufacterer on the web and get their utility to check the HD. Most of them can be put on floppies.

Also if your bios supports it you could plug the HD into the secondary controler and disable the primary and try that.

Which ASUS MB?  The P3B-F, for example, just had a BIOS update which I implemented on one system from v.1004 beta 002 to 1005.  Strange behaviors resulted, working with ASUS tech support on the issue.  Curious if when you boot in SAFE MODE you find errors and duplicates for your disk drives as well as the Hard Disk Controllers, and if you then delete all, do some primary and secondary controllers remain (dual fifo) that you cannot remove?  Perhaps some of this behavior is related (assuming all the prior recommendations have checked out).  Also, if this is the same MB, did working in the BIOS exhibit strange delays when trying to address the BOOT sub menu and the jumperless settings?

Asta

BTW ... have you also checked/noticed that if at first boot, not all devices are listed in the bootup splash screen, but on reboot all are found?

Any SCSIs?

This ASUS link may prove helpful to determine your Motherboard and all the BIOS releases for it.  As you read through the fixes for your BIOS, take note of the details as to which may resolve your issues.  On one of our ASUS MBs and BIOS versions, one of the IDE related errors was Fix a 40-pin IDE cable is detected as an 80-pin one.


http://www.asus.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/

for selection of your MB.

If you also have the P3B-F, here's that link:
http://www.asus.com.tw/products/motherboard/bios_slot1.html#p3b-f


Asta

Here's the other potentially related bios fix you'll also find through above link ... Fix IDE hard drive having a formatted partition larger than 8.4G bytes cannot be enumerated by OS in "User Type HDD" mode.

It works fine now with having the CDROM in IDE2. I still cannot understand the problem. My BIOS is the most updated one, and the problem was with the system and not Win98.

Anyway thanks for all the answers... and if you can put your IDEs in different cables/controllers do so (this hints cost me 200points)

Well, think of it like this....bad news, cost you 200 points :0(  but the GOOD NEWS is, it only cost you 200 points.  PLUS, having been there and done that, I've also found that mostly it is:

 ... Good news!  Little $, issue fixed
 ... Learned new things for free
 ... Found people care and work to help

So mostly,

:0)

Asta