BleepingComputer.com: Win 98 Boot Up Problem

I'd hate to do all that just to use the printer. I guess i can live without it as long as the machine works.
Doesn't 98 have some kind of file repair function or did we already try that?

That was SFC (System File Checker). We've run that and replaced spool32, checked the hard drive and ram, reloaded the chipset drivers, checked the capacitors so I can only surmise that its a motherboard issue.

If you go into the Bios and enable S.M.A.R.T. for Hard Drives (see page 52 in the motherboard manual I linked to earlier) and there is a problem with the drive you will see an error message when you boot. This won't stop you from booting but could be useful info. To access the Bios "press Del to enter setup" when you see that message at boot.

If you want to try a workaround, go to page 67 in the motherboard manual. You will see 4 sections titled "Parallel Port". Notice the Default Values. You can try changing "OnBoard Parallel port" to one of the first three as shown below. This will force the printer to use a different memory address and may cure the problem. If not, reset the default value.

378 Enable onboard LPT port and address to 378.
278 Enable onboard LPT port and address to 278.
3BC Enable onboard LPT port and address to 3BC.
Auto Set onboard LPT port to Auto. (Default Value)
Disabled Disable onboard LPT port.

When making changes in the bios, when the change is made, press ESC to return to the main bios page then press F10 to save your changes and exit and press Y then enter to reboot with the change applied.

I booted with the S.M.A.R.T. enabled and no errors were found.

I'll give the workaround a try tonight.

You seem to have more than one computer. Is the 98 machine on the same internet connection as the one you are using? Do you have a router?

i only have one, the one i'm on during the day is at work.

I changed the onboard parallel port to 378 and rebooted.
I then restored the spool32.exe file but did not reboot. Instead i opened the printer folder
and the printer was listed in the folder. I did not print because my usb cable was still disconnected.
So i restarted the machine and it came up ok, no issues with the file being restored which is good.

Then i went to open the printer folder from the start menu and nothing,
i opened up the control panel and tried to open the folder from there and still nothing.

So about after a good minute the folder opens; the printer is listed but this time
the printer icon next to the printer name is shadowed.
And under status it says: user intervention required-use printer offline.
(the usb cable was connected before reboot too.)

I think i spoke too soon because i started the computer up this morning and it wouldn't boot,
so i deleted the spool32 file again.

I know i ran all kinds of scans and tests and everything was clean,
but could there be something on the machine that can't be picked up by a virus program?
It's seems that when i opened that print folder, or restored the spool32 file
it's triggering something.

If it is a motherboard issue wouldn't that affect anything else?

Is there anyway to possiby rename this file to get it to work?

Renaming the file won't do anything. It needs to have that name so it can be found by the OS when booting.

If this is a motherboard issue it won't neccessarily affect anything else at this time but will most likely get worse over time.

Download HijackThis 1.99.1 and post a log in the HijackThis Logs and Analysis forum and I'll have someone take a look at it. Post back here when you have done that.

ok it's up under corrupt spool32.exe?

thanx again

I'm no HJT expert but I see a couple of iffy entries there. Lets wait and see what the HJT Team has to say before we try anything else. Unfortunately that may take as much as a week as we are swamped right now.