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Thread ID: 17968	2002-04-15 06:03:00	Windows for Workgroups 3.11 hangs	Guest (0)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
43924	2002-04-15 06:03:00	Hi everybody, I know this question refers to software made in the early, very early 1990's and most of you can't even remember back then :), but its worth a try. I have a very old PC Direct computer with an Intel 486 processor and with 8mb of RAM and Windows for Workgroups 3.11. Whenever I try to boot it up, it gets as far as the 'Welcome' splash, and then just hangs. The Microsoft support centre (they remember 3.11!) told me to do all this stuff, like remove the network card, and type all these commands at the DOS prompt to run in 'Enhanced386' mode and 'Standard' mode and 'Debug' mode and all this other stuff, but nothing has worked. I have even tried to re-install Windows without sucess and I don't know the brand of the network card or anything like that. Any suggestions? Thankyou in advance. :)	Guest (0)
43925	2002-04-15 06:51:00	1. Did the machine work before - either in DOS or Windows? 2. Can you boot to DOS now? 3. Have you removed and reseated the video card (installed in an alternative slot also)? 4. Have you removed and reseated the memory chip(s) (or tried alternative chips)? 5. Are your installation disks OK? 6. Did you attempt a network installation? 7. When you reinstalled, what did you do - and how far back did you go? 8. What version of DOS are you running? 9. Have you tried installing with only the video card plugged in? Vague recollections point me at the video card - try another one.	Guest (0)
43926	2002-04-15 07:04:00	I'll try to answer your questions at least!! :) (Don't trust any of them!) 1. Since, I have had it (it was given to me), Windows has never worked. 2. I can boot into DOS just fine. (When you turn the computer on, it displays the PC Direct Menu, like many computers of that time...) 3. Yes, I have tried that. (In fact, the video card is too having probs. Sometimes, it just turns off, I have to restart.) 4. All the memory chips are seated properly and re-inserting does not help. 5. Ummmm, unsure. They are, after all nearly ten years old... all eight disks. ( I have tried 95 but I lost the coa, so thats not an option.) 6. No, I have no other computers with network cards... 7. The computer has two hard disks - I formatted the one with Windows on, and re-installed it. (It is actually two disks, and not just a partition.) 8. I think version 6, but that might have changed now I re-installed Windows, I dunno. 9. No, I have not tried this. It only has a creative sound blaster card and a network card though, along with the video card. Thanks for replying, especially about the video card. Its even not working properly, so that may be the problem. :) I dont have another video card though, and its not worth it buying a ew one! (espcially no new card supports 3.11!!) :) :)	Guest (0)
43927	2002-04-15 08:36:00	Hi Ben, I have a complete set of discs for windows 3.11 and manuals, windows, workgroups,dos,etc. You are welcome to borrow them if they are any use. I kept them all when our 'oldie' went belly up.	Guest (0)
43928	2002-04-15 09:27:00	Just poking my nose in here to ask why would it be a graphics card problem if DOS works fine but not Windows? Why don't graphics cards cause problems in DOS? Some of the DOS games have good graphics and I would have thought they needed graphics card too? Incidentally, I have got a brother of Ben's PC and he's still humming along happily :-)	Guest (0)
43929	2002-04-15 09:42:00	Hey all, It looks like the old box is another doomed for the dumpster! :) Oh well. Thanks for the offer for the Windows disks J C, I will have a look for some other ones, but if I can't find some I might take you up on that offer. We should have some lying around somewhere though, but it doesn't look like it will make any difference. I've got some more info for you, if it helps at all (I doubt it will!) - When it hits the splash screen, it only accesses the hard disk for a few seconds, before it hangs. - The video card works fine in DOS (apart from the problem that it switches off sometimes, with a mind of its own.) Thankyou for all the help guys! :)	Guest (0)
43930	2002-04-15 23:59:00	Hi, JC again, these are the disc I have if you need them. Power Management, Software Driver EM.COM V1.02 Mouse Driver DSP-3805/A S3-805 VL-bus VGA Windows 3.1 Driver Disk MS Dos Setup V6.22 (3 discs) Windows V3.11 Setup (8 discs)	Guest (0)
43931	2002-04-16 02:39:00	Ben - I seem to rememeber that until I loaded the right video driver I could not get W3.11 to go. but it was OK in DOS. Dos, at least when first booted, uses low level (BIOS?) video modes. See if you have the video driver on an install floppy and try (re)loading that. Also check if there is any video driver being loaded via Config.sys or Autoexec.bat. You may be able to find driver on the web for old video interfaces - a Google search is a good try if you can find the make / model. jt	Guest (0)
43932	2002-04-16 10:32:00	computing.net Try the above site. Lots of 3.1 enthusiasts to give good advice.	Guest (0)
43933	2002-04-17 06:10:00	Thankyou Antonia, I have visited the site and have left a post, so I am just waiting now, waiting... hehe. And J C has been extra extra cool and is sending me a set of Windows 3.11 disks! :D	Guest (0)
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