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Thread ID: 39153 2003-10-29 02:02:00 Win98 boot problem Jeff (1070) Press F1
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187444 2003-10-29 02:02:00 I am trying to sort out a problem on my brothers computer. He was having trouble getting Win98 to start. It would always go as far as the registry checker, which would reload an old copy of the registry and ask you to reboot.

What I have now, after reformatting the hard disk, I have reinstalled Win98SE but now it stops and displays an this error message:

Invalid Vxd dynamic link call to device number 3,service B. Your Windows configuration is invalid.

And it asks you to run Windows setup again. I have but it doesn't fix it.

If you start in safe mode you get this error message:

ERROR:Himem.sys has detected unreliable XMS memory at address 00601004. XMS Drive not installed.

Could this mean a faulty memory Simm?
When the computer starts it tests the memory as OK.

Also the computer beeps a couple of times when turned on. But not when rebooted. If I remember this can mean a fault somewhere, anybody know?

Jeff.
Jeff (1070)
187445 2003-10-29 02:16:00 Sounds to me like the RAM inside the PC might be faulty.
Faulty RAM will cause registry errors and also the error you are getting when trying to load in Safe Mode.

Try swapping the RAM if you have some more, or if there are two or more sticks of RAM, try removing one and see if the problem is still there.
CYaBro (73)
187446 2003-10-29 02:33:00 It could indeed be memory problems. First, just try unlotching the memory sticks and clicking them back in. You can get bad contacts.

If you get more than a single beep after the boot, you prbably doo have a problem which the BIOS can tell you about. If you can find the brand of the BIOS (say Phoenix or AMI) put, e.g., "phoenix beep codes" into google.co.nz/ . If the BIOS name doesn't appear on the screen, look inside the box. One of the "middle size" chips might have a recognisable name.

The BIOS does not test the memory ... it checks for its presence. :D
Graham L (2)
187447 2003-10-29 03:51:00 Thanks for the info.

It has an American Megatrends Bios and I get 2 short beeps then 3 long beeps.

Will see if I can get the beep codes. But if anyone knows the answer ...?

Jeff.
Jeff (1070)
187448 2003-10-29 04:21:00 Have got the beep codes off the American Megatrends site.

According to it 2 beeps means a memory fault and so does 3 beeps.
Most likely in the first Simm.

Time to check the Simms

Jeff.
Jeff (1070)
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