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Some
DCI computers running Windows 98 have experienced shutdown problems.
This
is not a "Dell" problem or a "DCI" problem, but
a more general Windows 98 problem.
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Some DCI machines running Windows98 have experienced problems with shutdown. Symptoms may include the system "hanging" on the screen that says "Windows is shutting down" or repeated restarts when the user chooses "Shut down." The causes of this particular problem are varied and complex, and involve interactions among many hardware and software components. No single "fix" can be applied to every machine; in fact, this problem is particularly difficult to resolve because two originally identical Windows 98 machines, with exactly the same hardware and software configurations, can behave differently because of differences in the way they are used (especially if additional programs are installed).
Microsoft has acknowledged that this problem is related to Windows 98, not any specific hardware. Therefore the problem cannot be avoided by buying a different brand or model, because it affects all machines unpredictably. The fewest problems will be experienced by those who are able to take advantage of a standardized hardware/software configuration such as that provided at UVa through the Desktop Computing Initiative (DCI), but the shutdown problem cannot be eliminated even by the most rigorous quality control. Although the problem is most frequent in Windows98, it also occurs in Windows 95, Windows 98SE and Windows Me.
Since DCI computers are loaded with Windows 98 "Second Edition" we recommend that you begin with Microsoft's Windows 98 Second Edition Shutdown site. A more comprehensive approach to the problem is found on Microsoft's Windows 98 Shutdown site, which outlines some of the reasons for the shutdown problem and suggests about fifteen troubleshooting steps which might resolve it. Some machines can be fixed in a few minutes, while others may take hours of troubleshooting, but if the steps suggested by Microsoft are followed in detail, the problem can usually be resolved.
Many other sites on the Web provide summaries of steps which might be taken. One of the best is the one compiled by Jim Eshelman; it incorporates information from Microsoft and a number of other sources, and includes much more explanatory material than Microsoft's site. Mr. Eshelman's site also details a thorough and comprehensive troubleshooting process.
Because the troubleshooting process can be complex, you will probably want to turn to your department's LSP for assistance. However, a look at the two sites mentioned above will give you a fuller appreciation of the complexity of the process required to resolve the problem on any particular machine. You may find that the instructions on these sites are clear enough for you to follow on your own, and you may be able to resolve the difficulty in this way.
It is best to follow one of the above troubleshooting procedures in detail, but even when these suggestions are followed to the letter, some systems never do function properly; in those cases, perhaps the only recourse is to return the system to its original configuration or upgrade to Windows 2000. The ITC Help Desk (924-3731) can help you return a DCI system to its original state without losing your personal data, and they may also have new information about Windows 98 shutdown problems which has not yet been posted here.