Manually switch off PC instead of automatically (W98)

[joe_gan]

Anyone know why some PC can switch off completely (including monitor) after selecting "shut down" while some just stop at "It's now safe to turn off your computer." and user has to manually press and hold the power switch until the Power indicator light goes off?

This question may have been posted before, but I could not locate it in this forum. Would appreciate with your reply again, if any.

[BertImmenschuh]

There is a patch for the shutdown issue on Win98 at:
<a target="_blank" href=http://www.microsoft.com/windows98/downloads/contents/WURecommended/S_WUFeatured/Win98SE/Default.asp>http://www.microsoft.com/windows98/downloads/contents/WURecommended/S_WUFeatured/Win98SE/Default.asp</a>.

A hardware difference between an AT and an ATX type motherboard/case will also be involved. The AT isn't usually shutdown automatically.

[gangsta]

The main reason like Bert said is the AT vs ATX power supply specifications.
ATX shutdown is controlled by the mobo while the other is not.

Most mobos started adding ATX connectors ever since Pentium 200 machines hit the market.
And many on the market now have 2 connectors onboard (one for AT & one for ATX)
So if your mobo is newer than that chances are you can convert to ATX by removing the old AT PSU & installing an ATX in its place. However you should check if you have the proper connector; on your mobo see where the old PSU wire-strands connect, this is NOT the connector you want to use, there should be another different shape plastic ATX connector next to it -- now if you have that you can convert, otherwise not.

Probably you could find a good ATX PSU from 2nd hand shops or places that sell PC parts.
Just pay attention to match the power rating you currently have (i.e. 250 W or 300 W etc)

[jdharm]

I had a computer that had a ATX p.s. with a AT connector. (Acer, nonstandard punks. Wanted $80 for a new ps, couldn't find another one anywhere else. Ended up putting in a AT in and cutting my case up to make room for a manual switch.) The shutdown control was accomplished via a 3 wire connector from the power supply to a set of pins on the mobo. If this cable got disconnected the computer was no longer able to shut down on its own and I would have to do the press-and-hold.

I hate to contridict, but I'd advise against buying a power supply second hand. These things are bad enough about going out ( I consider them "consumables", kinda like floppies) that buying a used one would be asking for trouble. Go to <a target="_blank" href=http://www.pricewatch.com>www.pricewatch.com</a> and you can get one as low as $4 for a 300W.

Josh

"A paranoid is someone who knows a little of what's going on."

[joe_gan]

Thank with your reply.

I am having Pentium 3 (1GHz) and brand NEC Powermate VT. I remember that I don't have this problem before until last 2 months. My PC is running on Win98 (first edition) cause when I run Win98SE shut down supplement, the application report this software is not for this version.

May I know how to trace whether it is due to power wire is not properly connected. By the way, what is mobo?

[gangsta]

I think you have an ATX PSU already ; and windows just hanging on shutdown.

Try installing Windows 98 Service pack 1 (SP1)
This is the version I have and it shuts down the PC without hanging.
There are quite a few Microsoft Knowledge Base items relating to the subject , in fact too many to list here.
go to support.microsoft.com and search the KB for articles relating to "shutdown" and Win 98.

mobo = motherboard

[gangsta]

Josh
Another way is to use the "I-O"switch on the back of some AT PSU's as an alternative manual ON/OFF switch. Not very safe but a temporary solution.

You might find this hard to believe ; but it is true, I have an older PC with out the ON/OFF not even on the back. The Monitor turns the PC on & off. The PC itself didn't have any switches. A power cable goes out of the Monitor & connects to the AT PSU on the PC (with no switch).
I found it quite annoying when I tried to use that PC with a replacement monitor, and couldn't turn it on the normal way!. So I got a power cord and connected it straight to mains & turned on the juice. It worked just fine. I then replaced its dumb PSU with one ATX unit that has "I-O" flip switch as well. This back switch now serves as a manual ON/OFF when needed.

A makeshift power button for ATX could also be made out of the Reset button by re-inserting the wire-jumper coming from that button in the pins marked for the malfunctioning power button, as long as the mobo has this. Or one could refer to the mobo user manual to identify the proper ATX power button pins.

Pressing ALT CTRl DEL will do a rest job just as well .... now even cheaper keyboards have RESET buttons too. So it is not a must to have one on the front panel of your PC case.

I agree with you on the used PSU's . I've been bitten by bad ones twice. One never worked, another worked but the PSU fan didn't spin....

[reghakr]

In Win98 First Edition (4.10.1998), go to Start&gt;Run, type msconfig, click the Advanced button and check Disable Fast Shutdown.

Troubleshooting Windows 98 Shutdown Problems:
http://support.microsoft.com/support/search/canned.asp?R=d&H=Windows+98+Shutdown+Articles&LL=win98x+or+winmil&Sz=w98shutdown (http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q202/6/33.asp>http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q202/6/33.asp</a>

Knowledge)

reghakr

[joe_gan]

I don't have hang problem. And I can restart my PC with Alt+Ctrl+Del at "It's now safe to turn off your computer." screen. Tried with disable Fast Shut-Down, still the same where the PC require me to manually press and hold the power button to switch off the PC at "It's now safe to turn off your computer."

Also, where can I download Win98SP1?, I believe it is no longer available in Microsoft's website.

[gangsta]

Your PC is acting normally for an AT powered system; and no software fix, nor disabling Fast Shutdown, is going to make it into an ATX unless your motherboard has a proper connector for the ATX type (Which is different than the AT connector and doesn't fit it).
And in that case you still need a new PSU (around $24 or less new). And I don't suggest you pay even that for it.

SP1 I think was installed on mine from the Windows update site a long time ago but I am not sure, it could have been one of them magazine CDs ?? This was a long time ago & I don't remember..
Check the Windows update site. If you have it already it should show up in the Add/Remove program list. So see there you might already have that installed.

If not , go to support.microsoft.com and send a request using the question form they have there.

[Smitty]

joe_gan

<a target="_blank" href=http://it.wm.edu/software/public/win98sp1.exe>Windows98 Service Pack 1</a>

<a target="_blank" href=http://software.wm.edu/public/windows/win98sp1.txt>Install Notes</a>

I took a look and D/L is 60 MB. so be forewarned...

Good Luck

Smitty

[BertImmenschuh]

Please be careful, the link appears to go to the same William and Mary College site that Mocha and I had problems with in their IE Desktop Update.

[Smitty]

Good catch Bert...It might be "tampered with". Will look for another site in my travels...

Regards


Smitty