win98se windows protection error

[mundane]

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one fine day, i started my computer that has win98se on it, and it gave me a windows protection error. i tried safe mode. didn't work either. then, i formatted the partition which held the os. reinstalled it. and tried booting again. gave me windows protection error again. reformatted the partition. installed debian/gnu linux instead. wouldn't install because of some virtual memory address blah blah. so, decided to give win98se a final try. formatted the partition. reinstalled win9se. gave me windows protection error again. thought it was something to do with the hardware. ran diagnostics on my memory modules. burnt in almost 50 loops. no problems. gave up. now its with the technicians at some nearby computer store. they ran diagnostics too. no problem with the memory modules. couldn't install win98se either. they are on their way to change to entire motherboard. thought i should stop in and ask if anyone knows the solution or had the same issue.

remember, it is only a tool. maybe more powerful. but it is still just a tool, joannou.

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[howste]

It could be hardware, or drivers for hardware. I had a sound card that caused that every time I loaded the drivers for it. It worked for about a year, then decided it didn't want to play anymore. I would recommend stripping your system down to bare minimum hardware, then install one piece at a time until you find the culprit. Good luck!

[RaTzo]

When you formated your drive did you remember to go

format c: /s

If you didn't do the /s try it again.

RaT

[Chimera]

What does the /s part do?

[AndreRIO]

/s = copy command.com (+io.sys and msdos.sys) to root (c:\) directory (folder).

[sharder8]

I ran into a sporadic "Windows Protection Error" when I installed a USB/PCI card to add 2 temp. USB ports.

It was the Belkin card utilizing OPTi USB controller. Everything would check out fine, and then it would hit again. I finally found a ref. to this problem on the EZ Boards FAQ page. It seems that the OPTI Controller chip is not always compatible with machines running Win98SE.

I switched it out with another brand running a different Controller and haven't had a "Windows Protection Error" since.

Harder

[mundane]

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are we saying that any opti controller on the mobo would cause windows protection errors as well? that might be true as the mobo i have seems to have one or two opti controllers. the cpu is still with the technicians. as for the /s, i don't think it will make a difference. i think i did it for the first time i reformatted it. after that, i didn't bothered as i was booting from the cd-rom anyway. why do you think the /s would make a difference? i would love to know your reasoning though. as for drivers, i stripped out everything before i reformatted the cd-rom. all i had left was my video card, mobo, cpu, heat sink, cd-rw, two hds, one floppy, one memory module, and the fan. i suppose that is bare enough? thanks for the suggestions, guys. keep them coming in.

in between sleeping and eating, there is life (hacking), joannou.

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[sharder8]

I can only speak for the OPTi controller on the Belkin USB/PCI card. That's the only one I had and researched.

Harder