Windows 98se hangs

[smoby]

I reistalled my windows 98se. I also beefed up my memory from 126MB to 640 MB. When I start my computer it seems to hang for a couple of minutes while it counts all of the new memory until windows is loaded. When I open oulook express or internet explorer the mouse arrow freezes and the computer will not respond for a couple of minutes as if it where counting memory again. The computer then works fine after that. I did download the lastest Nvidia Riva TNT2 graphics driver. My computer is also partitioned using partition magic. I've tried to reset the v-cache settings with no luck. Would someone have any suggestions as to why I hang in outlook and internet explorer.

[AnnMarie]

Hi smoby, Windows 98 has a problem if more than 512MB of RAM is installed. Try reducing the amount of memory used to 512MB or less. See here (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q253912/)

[smoby]

This may be a ditto. Thanks for the tip AnneMarie. I did go into run SYSTEM.INI and added the line MaxFileCache=524,288 KB under the v-cache line. The computer still hangs in internet explorer and outlook when I first open them. I wonder if I have an internet explorer conflict of some kind...thanks smoby

[AnnMarie]

Could be smoby. Have you tried repairing Internet Explorer? if not, close IE and go to Start > Settings and open Control Panel. Doubleclick on Add/Remove Programs and look in the list of installed programs for Microsoft Internet Explorer 6. When you find it, select it with your mouse and then click on Add/Remove. A dialogue box will open offering you three choices. Choose Repair Internet Explorer and follow the prompts. Let us know if this helped.

[smoby]

AnneMarie. I did try IE6 repair as you instructed with no fix. The computer still hangs for about a minute when I first open IE6 or outlook express. I am wondeing wether I should switch to Internetr Explorer 5.5 ? I don't remember this computer ever doing this untill I downloaded the Microsoft service pack. Do you think Bios settings could be off or something with the graphics card setting is incorrect. Thanks Smoby

[AnnMarie]

Perhaps it will help if we can see what is running on your PC. Go here (http://degs.cybertechhelp.com/files/hijackthis.exe ) and download the latest version of Hijack This. Unzip it and click on scan. Most of the files listed will be harmless and/or required so do not make any changes, just click on Save Log, copy it and post it back in this thread.

[smoby]

AneMarie...I Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 10:30:18 AM, on 6/12/05
Platform: Windows 98 SE (Win9x 4.10.2222A)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\KERNEL32.DLL
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSGSRV32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MPREXE.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\mmtask.tsk
C:\PROGRAM FILES\COMMON FILES\SYMANTEC SHARED\CCEVTMGR.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\COMMON FILES\SYMANTEC SHARED\CCSETMGR.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\NORTON PERSONAL FIREWALL\ISSVC.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\COMMON FILES\SYMANTEC SHARED\CCPROXY.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SYSTRAY.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\COMMON FILES\SYMANTEC SHARED\CCAPP.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\CD-WRITER PLUS\DIRECTCD\DIRECTCD.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\COMMON FILES\SYMANTEC SHARED\CCPD-LC\SYMLCSVC.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\TWAIN_32\D66U\D066UUTY.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\STIMON.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\SMARTDISK\FLASHPATH\SDSTAT.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\WMIEXE.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\COMMON FILES\SYMANTEC SHARED\SNDSRVC.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\PSTORES.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\DDHELP.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\INTERNET EXPLORER\IEXPLORE.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\COMMON FILES\SYMANTEC SHARED\ADBLOCKING\NSMDTR.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\HIJACKTHIS\HIJACKTHIS.EXE

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.hotsheet.com/
O2 - BHO: NAV Helper - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O2 - BHO: Norton Personal Firewall - {9ECB9560-04F9-4bbc-943D-298DDF1699E1} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\AdBlocking\NISShExt.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDHelper.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSDXM.OCX
O3 - Toolbar: Norton Personal Firewall - {0B53EAC3-8D69-4b9e-9B19-A37C9A5676A7} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\AdBlocking\NISShExt.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ScanRegistry] C:\WINDOWS\scanregw.exe /autorun
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SystemTray] SysTray.Exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LoadPowerProfile] Rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,LoadCurrentPwrScheme
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccRegVfy] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccRegVfy.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Symantec NetDriver Monitor] C:\PROGRA~1\SYMNET~1\SNDMON.EXE /Consumer
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adaptec DirectCD] C:\PROGRA~1\CD-WRI~1\DIRECTCD\DIRECTCD.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Symantec Core LC] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe start
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [D066UUtility] C:\WINDOWS\TWAIN_32\D66U\D066UUTY.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [StillImageMonitor] C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\STIMON.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [ccEvtMgr] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [ScriptBlocking] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\Script Blocking\SBServ.exe" -reg
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [ccSetMgr] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [ISSVC] "C:\Program Files\Norton Personal Firewall\ISSVC.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [ccProxy] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccProxy.exe
O4 - Startup: FlashPath Monitor.lnk = C:\Program Files\SmartDisk\FlashPath\sdstat.exe

dowloaded Hijack and this is what starts up on my computer

[AnnMarie]

The issue may be caused by either Norton or Spybot plugins (Norton is the most likely).

Close IE and go to Internet Options in Control Panel. Click on Advanced and uncheck "enable all third party browser extensions". Reboot and let us know if this helped.

[smoby]

AnnMarie...I unchecked the " enable third party" box in contol panel/internet options/advanced with no fix. My computer still freezes or hangs when I first open IE or outlook express. I noticed that it does not freeze up for a few seconds until it is has located a URL or my mail provider. Perhaps a setting with my cable lan setting is screwy. Do you think IE 6 may have a flaw in conjunction with Norton.....thanks smoby

[AnnMarie]

Not really, Norton starts the email scanner when you open Outlook Express so a lag might not be unusual. You also have "Ad Blocking" enabled in NPF so a delay when opening IE could also be expected while the plugin intializes. Recheck "enable third party extensions" as those settings will be required.

A true test would be to uninstall all Norton apps but that would depend on how annoying this is to you.

[smoby]

Anne Marie

Kind of a long time since we talked qbout the hanging problem with my win 98se. I did find the problem. When I upgraded ( downloaded) my Nvidia graphics driver it must have added alot of software to my computer. So I tried going to settings/Control panel/Display/settings tab/ advanced tab/perfomance tab and moved the Hardware accelleration tab back one notch. Fixed the problem. Now my computer does not hang when I go into outlook express or internet explorer or media player. Thanks for all of your imput. You still taught me some things.

Thanks Smoby

[AnnMarie]

That's good news smoby and thanks for posting the fix. It is much appreciated. :)