WIN98 just shuts down without warning

Before you build a new system, try clean installing Win98SE again. If it's registry error let's hope so that it goes away. Another harmless thing you can do is to do a through scan disk for bad sector.

go to run type in " SFC " it will check all your system files and tell you if you have a corrupted or damaged file in the system and ask you to replace it from your win98 disk also remove IE temp files and all temp files in temp directory.then scandisk & defrag

Just as an additional couple of thoughts, it may be worth you powering off the computer, removing all your peripheral cards, giving the edge connector a gentle rub over with a pencil eraser and re installing them, do the same with your SIMMs /DIMMs,but please pay attention to antistatic precautions, the last thing you want is to damage any components. In system BIOS, make sure that a full memory test is carried out, just in case it's a memory thing. Another one is to chech that the power connector is firmly seated on your mother board (I found that one on a brand new out of the box machine, once). Is this a new loading of Windows? If so go to control panel/power options and check that you haven't got a power saving scheme running. (My preference is never, I find that if power saving is enabled, users think their machine is off and hit the power button, without thinking) This of course is assuming that this happens with your machine unattended, if that is the case, and you don't have Windows Power schemes enabled, just double check your BIOS power management. I hope this will give you some more options to the good answers you have already received.

The earlier three answers I heard were excellent suggestions. I had a problem like that a few months ago. It involved the ATX power setup. Luckily the board I was using was older and still had the AT (P8 P9) power connectors. I installed an AT power supply and no more shut down problems. If none of the other suggestions (and probably the other really good ones that follow) work you might want to check the warranty on your board and see if you can exchange it.

So far, all good suggestions. User went to Vegas so I don't have access to the PC until Thursday night. I am imaging a brand new HD so that when I get the PC back I can tell if it is the registry or hardware. BTY, all parts are brand new, out of the box and under warranty.

There are some hardware issues with some ASUS boards as well as other brands. The CUBX for instance has this same issue with the earlier Rev. ASUS will issue RMA's if the Rev. matches the hardware issue. This reboot issue did not arise until faster CPU's were installed in the boards. It has something to do with the MMX channel. Adobe has a tech document in regard to same. Also, as you know Windows Update has a new fix for IDE drives...I wonder about the effect of this bug when you do not have the fix.

All good answers. You might also check to see if your CPU cooling fans are running as well as your power supply cooling fan. If the CPU or power supply overheat, it can cause your symptoms.

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Just so you all know, the problem ended up being my stupidity. I inadvertantly substituted a PIII667 CPU with a Celeron 667 CPU. The motherboard does not support Celeron processors over 600. So, by putting in the correct PIII CPU, the problem is solved.