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[SolarShado]

I've got an old computer (Compaq, Pentium 3, 128MB RAM, Win98) that hasn't
worked for years. It runs fine for a while, then suddenly locks up: no
response to any input, keyboard or mouse. NONE, Windows cursor doesn't move,
Ctrl-Atl-Del does nothing.

The other day, I thought "RAM! A bad RAM module! That could be it!" so I dug it
out of the closet and started looking over the BIOS settings. Changed
"QuickBoot" to "FullBoot". Now it does a RAM test as part of the POST (power-on
system-test).

The first time, it hung at 43MB. "A-ha! Got it!" I thought I'd find some way to
limit it to using 42MB, but now it hangs much more quickly, but not at any
specific place. 1, 8, 7, 14, 10. And I can't get into the BIOS setup again,
either.

I'm starting to doubt that the RAM is the problem (or at least the only
problem)... The 128MB is all on one stick and I don't have another one to swap
it with.

I'd be willing to buy a new RAM module, but only if I can be reasonably certain
that that'll fix it.

What d'y'all think? Probably RAM? Something else?

[Mr Tk]

I'm 90% certain it will be ram.

However 10% of me goes it could be mainboard.

No scrap that, 70/30.

[Geargrinder]

I would check for any leaking or bulging capacitors on the motherboard. Maybe test the memory on another system with memtest86.

[Heron TSG]

did you try blowing on the keyboard and mouse plugins?

[Dr. Melon]

I've had similar problems with older computers myself.
As a retro fanatic, I've had many of the problems you have here.
It's nearly always bad/damaged RAM.

Also, open up the case and get the dust out. Use a small, low power handheld vacuum cleaner, that should do the trick.

[Peewee]

To test your ram stick:

http://www.memtest86.com/

You'll need to click "free download" on the left, then select the top file (ISO image for creating bootable CD (Windows - zip)) and save it.

Extract the zip file, then find some image burner (the free version of nero works fine) and burn the iso to disc.

Stick the disc in the old computer's drive, then turn it on and make it boot to the CD drive. You'll have to change the BIOS setting back to quickboot, if you can.

I don't see why a new memory stick is a problem, since 256 meg chips are considered disposable where I work... If we notice a desktop that came in with 256 MB, it usually leaves with an extra slot filled.

[SolarShado]

Thanks for the suggestions, unfortunately, the only one i could try is barbosa's. I don't have another computer that uses the same type of ram, and I can't get back into the bios config... it seems to refuse to go there until it finishes the POST, which includes the ram check it's hanging on...

I'll have to head by that computer place downtown. I got an ISA network card there a couple years ago (not for this computer, but an older one which hasn't given me any trouble since its original modem died) *nerd grin*