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strange win98 lockup issue?

D

DarkwingDuck

n00b
Joined
Jan 15, 2004
Messages
47
I'm using an old P3 system that is still running 98se (not my choice), and i'm using utorrent to download a copy of Ubuntu, wanna fool around and learn Linux finally.

problem is, system randomly locks up on me. I know, a laundry list of potential issues, and a n equally long list of ways to diagnose the issue probably. The only thing I've noticed is, the system definitely locks up when it is using a ton of bandwidth (cable broadband). if I try to stream a really long video on places like Google Video, Hulu, etc it definitely locks up (requiring a hard reboot). So any time I launch utorrent and let Ubuntu download, at some point soon after when the speed picks up, system locks up.

sad part is, i used 98 for the longest time, didn't match the switch to XP till 2004, which is all i know how to really use anymore, where error logs are located, what system tools work or are there, hell i can't even install a current version of ad-aware or firefox cause 98 is so old ;o

any idea where i can start looking? only thing i can think of is either hunt down the NIC manufacturer and finding current drivers, or some error logs of some kind.

only processes i've got running when using utorrent for example, are explorer, systray, hidserv and utorrent itself.
 
Could you give us more information about the specs of your PC (specifically the RAM)? My first guess would be the RAM usage. Plus, Windows 98 isn't the best when it comes to memory management so go figure.

BTW, are you replacing Win98 with Ubuntu on this machine or are you going to run them both in a dual boot configuration? Do you have another computer that you can use to download Ubuntu?
 
yea it's

P3 600mhz
128 ram
some on board oldschool Nvidia graphics
98se, updated
etc

as for DUN, isn't that just for dial up? i'm using cable broadband.

might dual boot, got my 98 cd here so if i don't, i can always fall back on that if needed
 
DarkwingDuck said:
as for DUN, isn't that just for dial up? i'm using cable broadband.
Click to expand...

It's primary upgrade was a newer type of dial up adapter..primarily for PPTP VPN, but...it just happens that dial up also used TCP/IP and winsock. This includes the latest version of it...which includes changes and updates from the prior version 1.3, and if you have Win95...the default version would be 1.2 and I forget if/any earlier. So you're effectively upgrade your entire TCP/IP winsock library...some newer versions of files such as vtcp386.
 
If all else fails, limit the bandwidth used by uTorrent.
 
I wouldn't run win98 without defragging it daily before shutdown. (might help, cannot hurt).
 
DarkwingDuck said:
any idea where i can start looking? only thing i can think of is either hunt down the NIC manufacturer and finding current drivers, or some error logs of some kind.
Click to expand...

The other thing I can think of....
Guessing due to the age..it's a PCI NIC. If so, make sure it's not in the top or bottom PCI slots. The top PCI slot usually shares an IRQ with the video card. The bottom PCI slot usually shares an IRQ with an ISA slot, or other onboard devices, and/or sound. The standard developed by Intel and 3COM back then was PCI slot 2 for NIC.

Also ensure latest NIC drivers.

Ensure latest chipset drivers.

Disable any devices not in use, free up some IRQs. Using that old parallel printer port? If not...disable it in BIOS (frees up IRQ 7). Using those old serial COM ports? If not..disable them in BIOS...frees up IRQs 4 and 3 respectively.

Any modem cards in there? Uninstall them software wise (add remove programs if a full driver set, else just device manager)...power down, and remove the card...or disable in BIOS if onboard.
 
I think I've narrowed it down a little, I think it's whenever a large portion of data is being written to the HDD, it locks up (without bsod'ing). I say this because I know for a fact that downloading a large torrent or streaming a long video, causes it to do that. Not to mention, I tried to install java, so I could do speed/tweak tests at dslreports, but it doesn't matter if I use the online installer or the offline installer, both cause the same instant lockup.

I'll try defragging.
 
damn... 98 for torrenting? Not a good idea, because the default TCP connections are like 10.
Search online about the registry setting for changing the MAX connection limit. I think it is possible for 98se to have up to 150 with few tweaks. Make sure your uttorent isnt hitting above that. You won't able to run Ubuntu on that machine. Try Tinyflux. the min requirement is 96megs of ram for a gui fluxbox manager.
 
well i know it's not a torrent issue, i tried a direct download in firefox of an ubuntu install (just for checking's sake, i'll give that Tiny one a look too), and it also locks up the system. perplexing. just wish defrag in 9.x didn't take a better part of a week
 
if you defrag daily in windows 98, it should take less than 3 minutes. UNLESS you
have large files (say from a desktop indexing program) that have changed.
 
requiemnoise said:
damn... 98 for torrenting? Not a good idea, because the default TCP connections are like 10..
Click to expand...

Not a valid reason to pick on Win98. The answer is actually 100...10 times that of 2Kp or XPpSP2.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q158474/
"MaxConnections = 32-bit number
Data Type: String
Specifies the maximum number of concurrent connections. The default is 100."

Windows 2000 Pro..it's down to 10. Windows XP sp2..it's down to 10.

Darkwing..have you tried installing the latest DUN?
Also have you tried some of the Win98 tcp tweaks?
http://www.speedguide.net/downloads.php
 
it's defintely a lockup issue of some kind, and i can't quite narrow it down

i don't think it's a harddrive issue, totally. i managed to install Diablo 2 without locking up at all, launch the game and play with no hassle.

yet if i download a large file, through a browser, through a torrent, even through windows update, lockup.

updated NIC drivers, updated the DUN as a poster above suggested, i guess i could try the tcp tweak tool from dslreports
 
Maybe your NIC is dying. It is pretty old. Do you have a spare one around you can try?
 
PLEASE BACKUP your registry before you start!
Just go for the max connection number. Also, you don't have enough ram to run Firefox. Please use Opera.

MaxConnections can be raised to a max. value of 512
In your registry, look for:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\
Services\VxD\MSTCP [as one line]

Edit or add:
MaxConnections
Value Type: String
Value: 512

Edit or add:
TcpTimedWaitDelay
Value Type: String
Value: 60
 
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