Constant Lock

[Lit]

Ok..well this is my BIG problem, this computer of mine (166 mhx, pentium, 32 mb ram) has been constantly been locking up on me for some unknown reason. I think it all started when I bought and installed my SyQuest Zip drive (ezflyer 230 mb)..but I'm not really sure of it..Please help, this problem has been going on for a year!

[MR COMPUTER]

Going on for a Year? Boy,are you patient. If you are not showing any conflicts in device mgr,got to Microsoft ftp or ZDnet.com and download "Registry Cleaner".Might just be a bad entry causing this. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[Nathan]

Those SyQuest Zip drives can be very difficult to setup. It only wants one IRQ. I think it's 5, but I'm not sure.

[Lit]

Device mgr? Um..sorry, I dont really know what that is..but I do have that registry cleaner you were talking about mr computer, and I have been using it, and nothing really happened..just continuous lockup..I thought it would eventually go away by scan disk or something..but I guess not..thanks, any other info?

[Lit]

Well..about the SyQuest setup, I just inserted the disk, and ran install..and it ran fine..sorry, I still have much to learn about computers..

[socalgal]

Just a sidenote if you are going to use that RegClean AND if you have Win98, make sure you download the latest build that works w/Win98 and IE5.0
Check out this thread. www.sysopt.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/000583.html (http://www.sysopt.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/000583.html)

I downloaded the link from Gentle Giant, seems to be fine here on Win98/IE5.0

[This message has been edited by socalgal (edited 05-30-99).]

[Lit]

No sorry..I'm currently using Windows 95..I really want to find a way to get around this really really REALLY annoying lock on without formating the computer, thanks.

[Gentle Giant]

Does removing the device make any difference?
Delete the device from the device manager as well.

[Lit]

Ok...I'm in system properties, and theres a main branch called "SCSI controllers", so..I clicked on it, and then under it is "SyQuest Parallel Port Device"..Should I take out the main branch? Or just the SyQuest Parallel Port Device?

[Lit]

Oh yeah, another thing, when the computer freezes, the SyQuest zip drive isnt even on..I dont know what the problem is causing this freeze/lock whatever it is..

[Gentle Giant]

I would start by physically removing that drive from your computer and seeing if the problem stops.

[Lit]

Hm..I already tried that..it still locks up on me for some unknown reason whenever I'm using windows.

[Lit]

Is it the registry that's making the computer freeze/lock?

[philipg]

Ok, Here it goes, I bought a Quickcam VC and couldn't get it to work - something about useing ECP port and DMA's. Anyway After pulling all my hair out I went out and bought a ECP plug in card still no luck until I open Device Manager and looked into the properties of the whole computer( if you close the (-) sign only one item is left). I saw my Vidcam was trying to share the same DMA setting as my onboard sound. So I moved the jumper setting on the ECP card and whalla it worked. Sounds like your SCSI Card is doing the same thing. The computer will see it but not list a conflict and will lock - up like my system used too. Also had a sound problem that was cured once I moved the jumper.

Hope this can help you out..

[Lit]

Ok..I sorta understand this..but I dont really know how to do all of that information you told me, I really thank you for all of that, and I think that is the problem..but how do I do what you told me?

[BBA]

Well, its not a SCSI issue, he has a parrallel port drive, just acts like SCSI. It's prob not the port, if set to bios default. I see a lot of times that windows will pick it up as a physical drive and will look for it, even if a disk is not installed in it or even if you disconnect it.

Try this: put a disk in it and let it stay in it, does it make a difference?

If you dont have it installed anymore then you should remove the device from device manager. Sometimes windows will see it the right way and act normally, but Ive had to reload windows to get rid of this errant behavior before, just from removing a drive.

Haven't had these kinds of probs since Win98, go figure!

Good luck,

BBA

[Lit]

Ok..I tried something else, I decided to format..everything went fine and dandy, but it still locks up, even when I JUST installed Win98! What is wrong with this stupid computer? I'm thinking its something with the hardware, since I already formatted and all..

[fishboy]

if you just formatted your HD and are still having problems, I would look for more obvious reasons. Open up the case and see if the fan is still working on the CPU. If it is, does the machine get enough ventilation? Try removing some non crucial components like the modem and\or sound card to see if the problem happens again (you know about conflicts right?)If everything runs fine after these card are gone, you know you have a conflict. If you have a serial mouse, try a PS2 and vise versa. The main point is to try to narrow down where the problem is coming from.