Can you test shutting down in safe mode? If it works fine in safe mode, then there's some kind of software issue (probably drivers).

are you running kernelex by chance?

stanwebber wrote on 2025-02-15, 21:52:

are you running kernelex by chance?

Yes, I’ve ran it on my other machines and it doesn’t give me this problem however

smtkr wrote on 2025-02-15, 19:37:

Can you test shutting down in safe mode? If it works fine in safe mode, then there's some kind of software issue (probably drivers).

after hitting F8 and selecting safe mode windows 98 freezes on the splash screen with the bottom bar animation still going

ive booted into safe mode and occasionally it will shut down, but other times when it says it is now safe to turn off your computer the fans still run and the pc beeps while still running

If you're using one of the last Nvidia drivers, there's a patch here, or you can try installing an older driver.

Flashback wrote on 2025-02-16, 00:42:

If you're using one of the last Nvidia drivers, there's a patch here, or you can try installing an older driver.

it fixed my shutdown issue
but restarting into DOS mode still gives me a windows protection error

For Win 98se I would recommend using the 45.23 drivers if you are using a nVidia gpu. The shutdown patcher might help but the later drivers cause all sorts of stability issues with win 98se. Some games might not even work properly with the newest drivers.

Also making a no ACPI installation and minimizing the use of USB devices help. I also found that Win 98 sometimes freezes up if you change the hardware specs of the system you installed. Win 98se is very delicate in terms of stability.

Try installing driver version 77.72. I'm not sure if that will solve the problem, but it's worth a shot. The oldest driver with 6200 support is 66.94, but its 6200 ID differs from the later drivers. So the inf would need modifying to install it.

Sorry about the driver hotlink. Nvidia archive web pages are broken heh.

Flashback wrote on 2025-02-17, 02:01:

Try installing driver version 77.72. I'm not sure if that will solve the problem, but it's worth a shot. The oldest driver with 6200 support is 66.94, but its 6200 ID differs from the later drivers. So the inf would need modifying to install it.

Sorry about the driver hotlink. Nvidia archive web pages are broken heh.

would using Windows ME make things better by any chance? and yea ill give that driver a shot

Not unless you want to use this to restore real mode DOS. More info here.

Alexthetechie wrote on 2025-02-17, 21:53:

would using Windows ME make things better by any chance? and yea ill give that driver a shot

I use Windows ME on my P4 retro machine (FX graphics) and it has no issues shutting down. 98 would often just sit on the windows is shutting down screen forever.

Also there's no weirdly long boot times when I have it connected to my network.

Alexthetechie wrote on 2025-02-16, 21:58:

Flashback wrote on 2025-02-16, 00:42:

If you're using one of the last Nvidia drivers, there's a patch here, or you can try installing an older driver.

it fixed my shutdown issue
but restarting into DOS mode still gives me a windows protection error

Does it shut down OK when the NIC is removed ?
You can try the MS "Windows 98 Second Edition Shutdown Supplement" (239887UP.EXE) to see if that fixes it...

Alexthetechie wrote on 2025-02-15, 23:00:

Yes, I’ve ran it on my other machines and it doesn’t give me this problem however

i had some weird shutdown issues when i excluded background apps from kernelex that i thought didn't need the extensions (in particular munt). when i reverted them back to the default setting & had everything running under kernelex no more shutdown issues.