Computer freezes

Killerred005 · 07-08-2008, 04:08 PM

Well, on this newer computer, Windows XP didn't work. I've decided to install Windows 98 for the time being. (I didn't have a Windows XP disk) Anyway, this computer at random times keeps freezing. Like, completely frozen where everything becomes unresponsive where you have to reset it. This has been happening when it had XP as well. Any idea on what it could be?

Specifications:
OS: Windows 98SE (Temporarily, but it did do the same thing on Windows XP)
Processor: AMD Athlon 64 3500+ (2.2 GHZ)
Video Card: ATI Radeon 9600 (256 MB of Memory)
RAM: 512 MB

**OldGrayGary** · 07-10-2008, 03:14 AM

Hi K--

Many recent motherboards contain chipsets that are not supported by Windows 98. Win98 has trouble with cpus faster than 2ghz also. It's just not a good idea to try to run Win98 natively on a recent motherboard. You can, however, run it just fine in emulation in a virtual environment - using a tool such as VMWare or Virtual PC (Microsoft provides Virtual PC for free nowadays).

Laptops prebuilt with Vista can be particularly troublesome to downgrade, even to XP. (Laptops often have unique hardware proprietary to the vendor, which require utilities that the vendor may have only written supporting one operating system).

If the system originally had XP running OK, I'd recommend trying that path again. Recovery Disk sets can usually still be ordered from the original vendor for many years past the original sale date - and they are usually only about $20 or so (USD).

Best of luck
. . . Gary

07-08-2008, 04:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
Killerred005 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 3 OS: Windows 98 Second Edition	Computer freezes Well, on this newer computer, Windows XP didn't work. I've decided to install Windows 98 for the time being. (I didn't have a Windows XP disk) Anyway, this computer at random times keeps freezing. Like, completely frozen where everything becomes unresponsive where you have to reset it. This has been happening when it had XP as well. Any idea on what it could be? Specifications: OS: Windows 98SE (Temporarily, but it did do the same thing on Windows XP) Processor: AMD Athlon 64 3500+ (2.2 GHZ) Video Card: ATI Radeon 9600 (256 MB of Memory) RAM: 512 MB Last edited by Killerred005 : 07-08-2008 at 04:10 PM.

07-10-2008, 03:14 AM	#2 (permalink)
OldGrayGary Mentor, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Woodland Hills, CA Posts: 1,979 OS: Windows 98se/2000/XP/Vista	Re: Computer freezes Hi K-- Many recent motherboards contain chipsets that are not supported by Windows 98. Win98 has trouble with cpus faster than 2ghz also. It's just not a good idea to try to run Win98 natively on a recent motherboard. You can, however, run it just fine in emulation in a virtual environment - using a tool such as VMWare or Virtual PC (Microsoft provides Virtual PC for free nowadays). Laptops prebuilt with Vista can be particularly troublesome to downgrade, even to XP. (Laptops often have unique hardware proprietary to the vendor, which require utilities that the vendor may have only written supporting one operating system). If the system originally had XP running OK, I'd recommend trying that path again. Recovery Disk sets can usually still be ordered from the original vendor for many years past the original sale date - and they are usually only about $20 or so (USD). Best of luck . . . Gary __________________