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10-05-2002, 12:21 PM
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#1 |
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Member (9 bit)
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Location: Southern England
Posts: 264
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Win98SE boot problems...
I'm re-booting an old AMD P100 (equivalent) with Win98SE and after fdisk and formatting the 1080mb(!) HDD, the boot floppy runs then I change to e:\ and select the win98 directory and type setup - it runs through the setup untill the license agreement then I get a black rectangle in the middle of the screen and that's it !
I have noticed that the mouse is not being found during the initialisation POST and is not available to press the buttons during setup - could this be linked to the prob ? The mouse is an old 9-pin serial device and I know it works on another machine. The HDD is formatted in FAT32. TIA |
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10-05-2002, 03:41 PM
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#2 |
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Member (12 bit)
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: UK
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the POST shouldn't ever report on whether a mouse is found as the computer doesn't need a mouse. but it does need a keyboard
It would seem to me that your Win98 CD is scratched / damaged Have you tried it on another machine. Have you tried copying the WIN98 folder from the CD onto your hard drive, removing the CD then running 'setup' from the new WIN98 folder on your Hard Drive? HTH, Thanks, Jim |
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10-05-2002, 06:46 PM
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#3 |
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Member (14 bit)
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Location: The Great NorthWest
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Hi magicdog,
Check you BIOS settings. Check to see if there is any Virus protection that you can turn off. Win 98.2 often choked on this on older mobos and mysteriously hang. HTH TwoRails |
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10-05-2002, 07:13 PM
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#4 |
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Member (12 bit)
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Woodland Hills, CA (suburb of Los Angeles)
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Try Jim and Rails' last two tips, and if still no luck - try a different mouse, if you have one. Once into the "GUI" part of Setup, your mouse should be working (GUI= the nice screens of the Graphic User Interface)
If you are using a PS/2 mouse with a serial adaptor, try a plain serial mouse (with no adaptor). [and the bios virus protection might be called "Bios Guard" or "Bios Shield"...or something clever like that - in your Bios Setup screens] . . . Gary |
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10-06-2002, 07:07 AM
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#5 |
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Member (9 bit)
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Southern England
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Thx for the help so far - it seems to have been the BIOS anti-virus setting and Windows is loading happily now. Thanks TwoRails !
I now have another prob though - the mouse is still not loaded and when I get to the license agreement I need it to select 'accept' to continue - can I do this without a mouse ? TIA |
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10-06-2002, 09:13 AM
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#6 | |
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Shiro Usagi
Premium Member
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Kaneohe, Hawaii
Posts: 34,002
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Quote:
 Cricket
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10-06-2002, 09:23 AM
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#7 |
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Member (9 bit)
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Thx Cricket - immediately after I had posted the last message I went back and found it for myself !
Win98SE is now loaded and fine but I still have no mouse. I've been into the device manager and it's got the old exclamation mark but I can't load drivers from the windows disk. It's a serial (9-pin) mouse and I'm wondering if I need some sort of dos driver ? TIA |
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10-06-2002, 04:01 PM
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#8 |
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Shiro Usagi
Premium Member
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Kaneohe, Hawaii
Posts: 34,002
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Hi magicdog,
Does the mouse have the exclamation mark or the serial port? Have you tried that mouse on another computer yet? Do you have another mouse you can try on this computer? What about trying a PS/2 mouse? Cricket
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10-06-2002, 05:06 PM
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#9 |
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Member (14 bit)
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Hi All,
Are we having server problems??? I didn't get an email notification that this thread had any new posts, as well as others.... ?? Glad to hear that you at least have the OS installed, magicdog !!  TwoRails |
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10-06-2002, 06:32 PM
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#10 |
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Member (9 bit)
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Southern England
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The mouse has the exclamation.
I've tried another serial mouse and hadn't thought about a PS/2 before you mentioned it but it didn't work anyway. I then realised that the BIOS settings were wrong (PS/2 disabled) and the device manager was listing it as a serial mouse. I removed it in device manager and restarted but it still didn't find it. I then did a cold start - nothing. Suddenly, it dawned on me - I don't think the serial port is set up in the device manager but I don't know how to open the tree to the 'ports COM & LPT' to check ! Bet you're chuckling now. My details say it should be + and _ but they don't do anything. HELP - I can almost taste victory! |
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10-06-2002, 08:50 PM
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#11 |
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Member (14 bit)
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Hi majicdog,
Just like there is a heading for "mouse" there is also a heading for "ports." If it wasn't / isn't there, then go back to the BIOS and see what ports are enabled/disabled... TwoRails |
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10-06-2002, 10:36 PM
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#12 |
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Member (12 bit)
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Woodland Hills, CA (suburb of Los Angeles)
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Hi magicdog, Rails
If you're not comfortable looking around in the Bios Setup screens for your computer, you can try the "Select Default Settings and Exit" option as a quick fix. [Then read the motherboard's manual, and perhaps visit Adrian's Bios Optimization Guide sometime if you wish to fine tune]. Before you do that, though, boot into Safe Mode (press F8, OR hold down the shift key, OR hold down the CTRL keys during bootup) . . . and remove all your COM ports and Mice. Then enter your Bios Setup & either select defaults[like I mentioned above], or manually-one-at-a-time enable your com ports and ps/2 ports (depending on what type of mouse you wish to use) Windows should re-detect everything when you reboot. (if you have a working mouse) . . . Gary [oops...forgot to paste the link for Adrian's Guide...Tell you what, I'll paste the link for his homepage, since the Bios Guide is partly being revised. I think the 6.5 revision will have everything your bios needs. The newest revisions are for brand spanking new motherboards with the latest settings. . . http://www.adriansrojakpot.com cheers...Gary] Last edited by GaryRouth; 10-06-2002 at 10:42 PM. |
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10-07-2002, 03:03 AM
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#13 |
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Member (9 bit)
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Southern England
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Hi
I have no prob with the BIOS (it may list me as freshman but I'm not a newcomer to this !). I have been through the BIOS many times - I will try 'restore default settings' and see if that helps. The real question was how to I open the trees in the device manager with key commands ? Gary - the link doesn't seem to work ? I'll try it again later. Thanks. |
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10-07-2002, 03:34 AM
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#14 |
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Member (9 bit)
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: North West England
Posts: 410
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Use Tab until the top option in the list is highlighted. Then use the Up and Down arrow keys to move up and down and the Right and Left arrow keys to Expand and Collapse the tree.
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10-07-2002, 03:48 AM
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#15 |
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Member (12 bit)
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Woodland Hills, CA (suburb of Los Angeles)
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Hi again
magicdog - pointd just posted the keyboard way to navigate through Device Manager when your mouse isn' t working . . . So, you should be able to go ahead & clear out those ports & mice & get a fresh start. . . __________ I just tried the link to Adrian's guide: seems to be OK from here. Did you get an error message of any sort? Truthfully, you'll get pretty good guidance if your motherboard's manual is any good at all. But Adrian's guide is awfully fun reading - especially if you read the comments section where folks get into details and background info on some of the settings . . . Gary |
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10-07-2002, 06:02 PM
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#16 |
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Member (9 bit)
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Hehehe!
I'll look back at it! I'm just gonna try again - thanks pointd. |
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10-08-2002, 07:33 PM
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#17 |
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Member (9 bit)
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Still no joy !
I've checked the port settings in the BIOS and they match what Windows says. I've removed and reinstalled the ports COM1 and COM2 with key commands and I'm going mad ! Any other ideas ? |
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10-09-2002, 02:30 AM
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#18 |
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Member (12 bit)
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Location: Woodland Hills, CA (suburb of Los Angeles)
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Did you remove the mice in safe mode too? If you haven't already, try that.
And if you have any other mice to try, try them: but remove the previous ones from Device Manager first if they are a different type. Might just be a dead mouse, and there are plenty of those everywhere. Best of luck . . . Gary |
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10-09-2002, 07:08 PM
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#19 |
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Member (14 bit)
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Join Date: Jan 2002
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HI magicdog,
Do you have a PS2 mouse? Dump the serial mouse, at least for the time being, and try one if you have it. Also, it you don't have an extra mouse of either type, you can often find them for only a few dollars in the bargin bin at the local computer shop. TwoRails |
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10-10-2002, 04:52 AM
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#20 |
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Member (9 bit)
Join Date: Sep 2002
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I've removed the mouse from the device manager each time and tried 2 different serial mice and 2 different PS/2 mice.
I think the problem is with the CON ports but the device manager shows them as installed and working correctly. I've even removed them and re-installed them but still no mouse ! Thanks for the help so far ! |
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10-10-2002, 06:20 PM
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#21 |
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Member (14 bit)
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Hi magicdog,
I'm scratching my head, but...... I hope I didn't miss this, but have you just plain old re-flashed you BIOS to the latest version?? At this point, I have doubts, but it seems to be the only thing not tried?? TwoRails 
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10-10-2002, 07:07 PM
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#22 |
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Member (9 bit)
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Southern England
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Hi TwoRails
I've not flashed the BIOS yet 'cos I can't find a copy of it ! It's an old Hsing 'board and the website doesn't list an update. I've just realised that I haven't tried Gary's idea of removing the mouse in safe mode so I'm off to try that ! Keep 'em comin'... |
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10-12-2002, 04:33 AM
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#23 |
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Member (9 bit)
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Southern England
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I've tried removing the mouse in safe mode but I still can't load it.
Here's the link to the BIOS update: www.pcchips.com.tw/BIOS.html It's an M558 MOBO but the link is opening Real player ! Any ideas where else I might find it ? |
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10-12-2002, 04:38 AM
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#24 |
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Member (12 bit)
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: UK
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Right Click --> Save Target As...
Won't Open real player then Jim |
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10-12-2002, 06:46 AM
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#25 |
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Member (14 bit)
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Hi magicdog,
Well, I tried to download it in IE, and it blew up my system !?!? At to hit the reset button. After rebooting, I tried NetScape 4.7x and got it download no problem. This is a ROM file. Since I'm not that familiar with PC Chip mobos, is this the right file extention? Full file name: 0609s19.rom. If this is the right file, magicdog, just tell me how to get it to you! PM is OK if you want. HTH TwoRails |
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10-12-2002, 07:40 AM
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#26 |
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Member (9 bit)
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Southern England
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Thanks TwoRails and fatboyjim
I've tried fatboyjim's suggestion and got the file ! Does a .rom file run in dos ? |
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10-12-2002, 12:53 PM
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#27 |
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Member (9 bit)
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Also, had another thought - would dodgy RAM cause this ?
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10-12-2002, 02:35 PM
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#28 |
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Member (12 bit)
Join Date: Feb 2001
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Believe me, dodgy RAM can be the cause of ANY problem in your PC
Get DocMemory from www.simmtester.com run the tests in DOS (it makes a boot disk and does it for you pretty much) and it'll tell you of any problems your RAM has How much RAM you have will determine how long the tests take HTH, Jim |
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10-12-2002, 02:43 PM
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#29 |
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Member (12 bit)
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Woodland Hills, CA (suburb of Los Angeles)
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Hi magicdog & all
If you want to flash the bios to your downloaded version, you usually need a bios-flash utility program to do that. On the website that you found the bios update, look for a utililty: probably named awdflash.exe (if you have an Award bios), or something similiar. You need to use the one suggested by your motherboard's manufacturer, and follow the directions exactly. Whatever you do, don't power off your system in the middle of a bios flash - then you might have to hope for replacement parts in the mail... (it can make the bios unusable) In answer to your other question about RAM problems causing the mouse not to detect/install/work . . . doesn't seem likely. Seems like you'd see more problems than just the mouse if your RAM was flaky. . . Next time you're in Device Manager, take a look at your IRQs (highlight "Computer", click on "Properties" --the first screen usually shows the IRQs). Or you can run the System Information tool in Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/System Information [in fact, the System Configuration tool is there under the "Tools" menu, and so is the System File Checker - both handy tools. Hmm - a Registry Checker is in there too. Couldn't hurt to run each of those, just in case somethings not quite right]. I'd be surprised if both your PS/2 port and your serial port were bad. In fact, I'd be surprised if either one is bad - there's just not much to go wrong with a connector. Most likely there's something up in the bios, or some interrupt/resource conflict in Windows (or you have tried four really old broken mice) Keep at it, this one should be fixable. . . . Gary |
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10-12-2002, 02:45 PM
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#30 |
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Member (12 bit)
Join Date: Feb 2001
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Gary, have you ever had flaky RAM before ?
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