Issue with Pentium system freezing during startup
Issue with Pentium system freezing during startup
Hello there.
I own an older Siemens XPERT system equipped with a Pentium 3 processor running at 500Mhz and a GeForce2 graphics card. The previous owner reported difficulties installing Windows 98, mentioning the system would simply bluescreen during installation.
I've attempted various troubleshooting steps, but the main issue appears to be random freezing of the screen and cursor after POST, lasting only a few seconds to minutes.
During this time, the keyboard stops responding—specifically, the NUM LOCK light on the keyboard no longer toggles. I also noticed a slight variation in CPU fan speed when this occurs.
This behavior seems to occur during memory tests, while the system is idle in BIOS, or when attempting to load from a floppy disk.
My attempts so far include: resetting CMOS, installing an additional cooling fan for the graphics card, adding extra cooling within the case, disabling the external cache in BIOS, disconnecting all storage devices, and using an ISA diagnostic tool. The latest error code I see is "FF 63," which appears before the freeze starts.
It seems the CPU halts unexpectedly.
Are there any further actions you could take to investigate this problem?
I've attached two system information images for reference.
Back then I recall.
A bad or dirty drive could really make a difference.
Memory sometimes required a cleaning with a pencil eraser.
An unstable power supply would stop the installation, but once the windows were in place and that same faulty power supply was reinstalled, things continued smoothly. I was just the installer facing problems.