The first 2 things to try/check are:
1. Reduce your RAM to less than 511MB.
There is a W9X / Me bug that can cause numerous system problems with more than 511MB of installed RAM. (Microsoft Knowledge base articles Q184447, Q253912)
Basically, Windows doesn't deal with large amounts of RAM properly, and ignores a large portion of the installed RAM. (Some systems won't even boot with 512MB installed. Windows claims to be out of memory when installing device drivers!)
This is VERY configuration dependant.
To avoid this, I set up all my W9X/Me boxes with 384MB of RAM or less.
2. Double check the CPU clock as setup by the BIOS.
There is a bug in many of the BIOS CPU speed tables where the CPU clock is not set correctly for Athlon / Duron systems using SDRAM.
If your CPU is a 200MHz Front Side Bus version
set the speeds as follows:
FSB 100MHz
Multiplier 14X
RAM clock = CPU + PCI, or 133MHz
If your CPU is a 266MHZ FSB version, then set the clocks as follows:
FSB 133MHZ
Multiplier 10.5X
RAM clock = CPU clock
The CPU speed table is setup for the DDR ram motherboards that can run at the full FSB clock speeds.
The AMD CPUs do not work well at all if underclocked.
NOTE: The BIOS will detect the CPU speed correctly, it just doesn't account for the slower clock speed of the SDRAM when it sets the multiplier.
To freeup resources, disable any I/O devices (Serial ports, I/R port) that you are not using.
Changing the COMM port that the modem uses will not impact your other configuration problems.
I would also be sure to download and install the latest version of the drivers for the chipset on your motherboard direct from the chipset manufacture. (VIA, SiS, AMD)
Just be careful if the boarduses a mixed chipset. (different brand chips for the northbridge and southbridge)
Chas
