MTW Related Reboot problem

[Maccullan]

If I reboot my computer sometime after playing MTW, I get almost all the way through the reboot and then I get one of those aweful fatal error screens. If I hit any key after that, the screen goes black and I get an 'Out of Range' message. I applied the v1.1 patch, but nothing changed.

The only way I got my computer back up is with a utility called 'Go Back' which restores the hard drive to a state before which I saved my last game (so I lose the game file http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/mecry.gif ). If anybody has any thoughts or suggestions, I would really appreciate them.

Gateway 700 MHz PIII
VooDoo3
128 MB RAB
Windows 98 SE

Thanks much

[MonkeyMan]

I would think that your install of win 98 SE is starting to fall apart, rather than it being a hardware or MTW problem. You may well want to do a re-install, or a full HDD format and re-install, or buy yourself a new operating system.

It's not actually as hard as it sounds assuming you have a full set of up to date drivers on a CD, but is quite time consuming. Unfortunately win 98 was never a great operating system and degrades in stability the older the installation is. You say you have the ability to restore an earlier system state, if you had one from 6 months or so ago this may well achive the same thing.

It sounds to me as if a task or section of memory is failing to shut down properly and this is an OS problem most likely. Or you have a damaged registry/set of drivers.

edit...

BTW when you say the machine goes through the re-boot does it fail after the machine has shut down and re-started (i.e. counts memory detects drives etc.) or does it hang while the 'windows is shutting down' screen is still up?

[Maccullan]

The system goes through the whole reboot cycle and dies at or very near the very end. I'm afraid you diagnosis might be correct, although if I reboot the computer without running MTW, it comes up just fine.

[MonkeyMan]

Well it's still a mystery as the the exact cause of the problem, but from working with win 95 and then 98 for the best part of 7 years there was never a problem like the one you describe that could be soled with this 'ultimate deterant'. If you need help with re-installing, I'd be happy to run you through all you need, hopefully you have a decent way of backing up your important data. I actually bought a second hard drive a few years ago, because I got fed up of having to zip things to 60 floppies before I could do a re-install.

[Gregoshi]

Hi there Maccullan. It must be the week for Win98 problems with Gateway PCs sporting the Voodoo3. My brother was having odd problems with a very similar Gateway system to yours. I talked him into reinstalling Win98. A word of warning to you: the documentation you get from Gateway doesn't not reflect what happens when you follow their directions. So my brother found out - fortunately before he did anything fatal. A call to Gateway support put him on the right path (amazing in itself http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif ). I also know because I followed their instructions on my dad's Gateway last summer. Instead of just reinstalling Win98, I also wiped out his C: drive and he lost everything. Man, did I want to crawl under the carpet when I realized what I did. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/redface.gif So be careful I'm sure MonkeyMan wouldn't steer you wrong, nor, it seems Gateway support.

[Maccullan]

Gregoshi and MonkeyMan,

Thanks for your advice. I've been having a few other strange problems with my PC recently (weird Internet Explorer behavior, mostly) - reinstalling windows and possibly starting over by reformating the hard drive are probably the best solutions (unfortunately).

I know what you mean about Gateway instructions. Some time ago I tried to defrag the hard drive using Norton and almost blew away everything because of problems with Gateway's GoBack utility (GoBack is what saved me this time).

Sadly I'm not going to be able to fix the problem until the middle of next month since my computer and I are a long way from home and I don't have all my software with me. So I guess that means no MTW for me for awhile ( http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif ). If I need help then, I'll be sure to ask (and thanks in advance). Hopefully after that I'll be back to these boards with things to say about triumphs and tragedies on the field of honor rather than irritating computer problems.

Cheers