Optiplex GX150 + Win2K hangs up during splash screen

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@R.Olivaw2k wrote:

Hello,

I have a problem that has recently cropped up. My Optiplex GX150 with WIN2K OS hangs up during the start up. THe splash screen appears and the activity bar beneath the Windows 2000 logo progresses almost all the way to the end and then it hangs up indefinitely. I cannot even get it to start in safe mode.

This started about a week ago at which time I was able to go into Safe mode. Some internet help suggested a ATI Radeon 7000 video card conflict. So I remove the ATI software and then reloaded its drivers. All was well and then it happened again, This time my son fixed it using the same procedure as above. Again it work and then again it failed. It is this time that I have not even been able to get into safe mode.

I can run the Dell diagnostics and it suggests that I have a CDRW drive problem. Could it be that all I need to do is switch the CDRW out with a new one and I could be back in business?

Thanks much for any insight and help.

Paul W

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Additional information:

The computer stops while loading drivers. Specifically agp440.sys.

Paul W.

Paul W.,

You'll find lots of articles about this problem if you search Google for win2k agp440.sys. One of the threads suggests that the problem may be the driver that loads immediately after agp440.sys.  This thread at experts-exchange.com contains a post by Cory_Larson04 who solved the problem by removing USB devices. You'll need to scroll down past the advertising suggesting you need to sign up in order to see the post.

Jim

Jim,

Thanks for the suggestion; I will pursue it. However, I can't even get to a place that will let me remove USB devices. I can't even boot up in SAFE mode. ANy suggestions for this?

Thanks!
Paul W.

Paul W,

I think the idea was to power off or disconnect the USB devices.

Jim

Powering off and disconnecting the USB devices doesn't work. I am beginning to wonder if the only thing to do is an FDISK and reload everything. Not really looking forward to that prospect. Especially, since I haven't had a recent back up of the hard drive.
PW.

I am beginning to wonder if the only thing to do is an FDISK and reload everything.

Before you do that, click on this link, which will search Google for win2k agp440.sys. There are many other ideas and even some fixes that can be found.

Will the system start in VGA mode? That would give you a chance to back up files. If all else fails and you have to do a reinstall, try installing into a different directory, rather than reformatting. That requires more disk space, but it won't wipe out all your files.

Jim

Unplugging USB keychain allowed my Dimension 4600 w. Windows XP to finally boot. I had SanDisk Cruzer mini USB flash plugged in. I tried before disabling and re-enabling agp440.sys, and that would work for about a day, and then it would freeze on one of the following reboots.