how's the cache setting? also is udma enabled?

I have a Dimension 4100 with a P3 933, 512MB, and Geforce FX5200. I don't have it hooked up ATM, but I don't remember having any problems install Win98SE on it. If you don't have any luck tonight, I can hook it up tomorrow to see if I can at least tell you my BIOS settings. BTW, agree with leileilol's recommendations. Check cache and UDMA settings in BIOS.

Good luck!

i think its set to udma 5 and im not sure on the cache, but ill fire it up tomorrow after work, Im hitting the bed early Ive got a pounding headache and I got to be up eary in the morning yay me.

Where exactly does it freeze? Same exact point each time?

Can you list all the parts of this machine?

Its set to ultra udma mode 5
the specs are:
CPU:1GHz Pentium 3 socket 370
RAM: 512MB
120GB HDD Cable Select
DVD Drive Master
CD Writer Slave

AGP: Radeon 9550xl 256MB
PCI1
PCI2
PCI3 Ethernet Card
PCI4 Creative Sound Blaster
PCI5 Via USB Card

you know now that i thing about it i use to have that exact cpu and video card in another computer and it would only freeze when the command prompt was open or like a batch was ran.
In windows 98 setup when the first menu pops up and you have to click next thats where it freezes.

Ok.

How long did you wait, when it froze, before you shut it down?

Give it several minutes, it might be looking for a device.

Similar issues happen for me when I don't have a floppy drive connected. At two parts of the installation it will hang for a few minutes.

Also swap out common culprits, like the installation CD, the optical drive (read error), the IDE cable, RAM and HDD.

i let it site for 30 minutes Ive swapped everything out except the cpu and video ill try that later on today and ill post up a video if that dont work just show where it freezes on 98 and ME

Why's the HDD on "cable select" and not on "master"?

I've bought a P3-450 rig with WinXP installed so that's not a problem.

Also it won't hurt to remove all the other 3 cards (ethernet, soundcard and USB) -- if you haven't already -- to minimize variables while you're troubleshooting.

^^^
this

Ive taken out all cards at one point, but always do cable select for the hdd on all my towers and master on the first cd driver except for the really old towers they only like master

Just for fun, switch from CS to Master as a troubleshooting step.

cable select is automatic on an 80 conductor cable but i will give a shot on the master pin and see where it goes
http://www.pchell.com/hardware/masterslaveorc … bleselect.shtml

I think I never used CS either 😊

For a HDD and ODD I do:

Using two IDE cables: Both set to Master and connected to the end of the IDE cable.

Using one IDE cable: HDD set to Master and connected to the end of the IDE cable, ODD to slave connected to the middle of the IDE cable.

Some motherboards are picky though.

Oldskoolmaniac wrote:

Some motherboards are picky though.

Hmm, not really my experience. I would say more that some drives can be picky. I never had an issue, but I agree, that doesn't mean much as I only have a few parts.

ok so i took out all pci cards disconnected secondary cd drive swapped ram stick for just a single 256mb one, swapped out video card for a matrox g450 swapped out hdd for a brand new 40gb ide with jumper set to master and heres where it freezes every time:

-Check for swollen caps on motherboard.
-Check PSU.
-Check BIOS for OS Type setting.
-Load BIOS defaults (failsafe over performance if it gives those options).

the board is in awesome shape no blown caps.
I will try swapping the cpu, power supply and resetting default in a little bit

...and then swap the motherboard... or try use the cd to install on another machine...

Btw do you mean you have a spare Dell PSU? Don't they have different connectors (wirings) i.e. non-standard ATX?