Shutdown Issue with Windows '98.

there is a patch available from Ms Windows
http://www.microsoft.com/windows98/downloads/corporate.asp under recommended updates.
hope this helps

See Microsoft article Q238096 titled, "Problems Shutting Down Windows 98 Second Edition"

This article describes how to troubleshoot shutdown and restart problems in Windows 98 Second Edition specifically, not Microsoft Windows 98. For additional information about troubleshooting Windows 98 shutdown problems, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

The following topics are discussed in this article:

Windows 98 Second Edition Shutdown Supplement
Troubleshooting

Common Causes of Shutdown Problems

Known Issues

IRQ Steering

Resume on Ring and LAN

Plug & Play BIOS

NVRAM/ESCD

Fast Shutdown Registry Key Is Enabled

Antivirus Program

Replacing the Configmg.vxd File

Functions Performed During the Shutdown Process

See this link:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q238096

(REMOVE SPACES from the pasted URL)

Most times, I've seen that disabling the fast shutdown will solve the problem. However, you should review the entire article.

Good luck,

Maxwell

Before you get to into the shutdown suplement, make sure you have the latest drivers for both the motherboard and the video card.

Most of the shutdown issues that I have had with W98 on new installs are from video driver issues.

You might evencheck with the video card mfg for a video bios upgrade.

If you are still having problems, there is a good step by step troubleshooting guide at www.aumha.org

Further, all of your system specs are on the low end for W98.
You didn't mention your graphics card. Based on the system specs, you may need to reduce graphics acceleration in order for W98 to function.

For W98, I prefer to have these minimum system specs.
300MHz CPU;
128MB of RAM;
8MB video;
2GB free hard drive space.

There is just such an improvement in performance if your system meets or exceeds those specs with W98.

When I upgrade to W98 on a 233MMX system, I experianced around a 15% reduction in performance.

Windows does have a patch available as the earlier posters mentioned however, if you are running an AntiVirus program such as Norton, and when you shut down the PC searches to see if there is a floppy disk in the drive before it shuts down - this 'feature' can cause lockups too. Disabling this feature will help shutdowns too.

For symantec (Norton) go to:
http://service2.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ent-security.nsf/3d2a1f71c5a003348525680f006426be/0c84cdebe6e88a4f88256a220027a9a0?OpenDocument
man.. what ever happened to friendly URLS -

First i will ask to you why you change it to Windows 98? Windows 95 is still the best when it comes to your system (you mentioned)."THE THING IS NEW HARDWARE IS FOR NEW SOFTWARE, AND OLD HARDWARE IS FOR THE OLD SOFTWARE......" (think about) so back again to Win95.

Second, of you're not willing to back to Win95 I have some steps here:

Run the MSCONFIG buy pressing start then run and type msconfig.
At the general tab click Advance
and Advance Troubleshooting will open..
Search the Disable fast shutdown and check it!
press ok, then ok...And you will reboot, i think this will.....

Go onto Microsofts website and go into support and type Windows 98 shutdown supplement. If this doesn't work go on to your computers website and see if you can down load a bios upgrade.
GOOD Luck