Windows 95 OSR2.5 Freeze at splash screen, after 2 minutes restart

[DJ Raov]

Decided to install Windows 95 on my old IDE HDD, copied the OSR2.5 install files to my HDD, because neither the floppy drive or the CD drive worked for me.
After a successful install and configuration, it freezes at the driver loading stage.
PC Specs:
Mobo: ASUS P5KPL-AM
CPU:Intel Celeron E2160 (133MHz FSB, 6x multiplier for compatibility, stock freq 1.8GHz)
GPU:Integrated (that may be the problem)
PCI-E Devices installed: None
Peripherals:Keyboard

Any advice? Thanks.

 

[BFG-9000]

9x is normally pretty tolerant of running even without drivers loaded thanks to its 16-bit compatibility mode, so the most obvious issue may be:

Due to a timing loop issue, vanilla OSR2.5 doesn't work with a processor >350MHz without the patch Amdk6upd.exe.

While this patch usually changes 8 or 9 files, it replaces only one file for OSR2.5--Ntkern.vxd, so you may be able to simply extract that from the patch and replace the one in your install files.

Note there is another timing loop issue at 2.1GHz due to Ndis.vxd in case you later think about overclocking.

 

[DJ Raov]

Note there is another timing loop issue at 2.1GHz due to Ndis.vxd in case you later think about overclocking.

Speaking about overclocking, 2.1GHz is the bottleneck for the CPU (didnt test manual overclocking yet...)

 

[DJ Raov]

9x is normally pretty tolerant of running even without drivers loaded thanks to its 16-bit compatibility mode

With no drivers loaded or in safe mode, it refuses to load while thinking that it got insufficient RAM...
RAM: 1GB DDR2 for compatibility reasons

 

[BFG-9000]

While there are some workarounds for >512MB RAM installed, for best compatibility it is best to install only 512MB for 9x, especially as it can't really use >512MB anyway.

If you can't find such small DDR2 DIMMs, you can either use a modified VCACHE.VXD or edit SYSTEM.INI and SYSTEM.CB (for safe mode) under the [VCache] section to show "MaxFileCache=393216"

MaxFileCache=524288 is what you normally see recommended but that leaves no space for hardware addresses and may cause problems. If you want use of the full 512MB you really should install only 512MB, and that goes for 95, 98 or ME (my favorite is ME with the 95 shell).

 

[DJ Raov]

While there are some workarounds for >512MB RAM installed, for best compatibility it is best to install only 512MB for 9x, especially as it can't really use >512MB anyway.

Just bought a 512MB stick, applied the patch in Safe Mode and it still ain't working...

 

[DJ Raov]

If you can't find such small DDR2 DIMMs, you can either use a modified VCACHE.VXD or edit SYSTEM.INI and SYSTEM.CB (for safe mode) under the [VCache] section to show "MaxFileCache=393216"

Added the MaxFileCache values to both files for compatibility, still the same result.
Also tried to set the FSB to default 200MHz, resulting in 1.2GHz, clock speed. Same result...
Again, the patch WAS applied.

 

[ragnar-gd]

I'm no expert for w95, but rather for w98se, keep that in mind.
Try disabling all onboard-components you don't need for installation.
The onboard graphics should work, you will just not find a driver.
There are usual suspects, like i.e. the USB-ports, which i had to disable for w98se (using a compatible Add-in card instead) - this also means for installation to use PS/2 keyboard and mouse (later on with an add-in card i was able to use them again). Best cards come with VIA VT6212L, a very good example is this one:
https://www.startech.com/Cards-Adapters/USB-2/Card/7-Port-PCI-USB-Card-Adapter~PCIUSB7 (i own two of these)
(and even for PCIe: https://www.startech.com/Cards-Adapters/USB-2/Card/4-Port-PCI-Express-Low-Profile-High-Speed-USB-Card~PEXUSB4DP)

 

[DJ Raov]

Best cards come with VIA VT6212L,

[strike]
I have a card with the same VIA chip and idk if its even working tbh
btw that computer is dead, smth got shorted on the mobo...
so i may change the configuration soon...
(ofc i can try to emulate it by dumping the contents of the HDD)[/strike]
Scrape that, I've got a new PC.
tried win98 first, not working. Reboots/hangs the PC while installing drivers.