can't boot Win98

My father runs an old Compaq Presario with Win98se. This last week his system stopped booting up. It would get to the Windows splash screen and lock up. I can start it up in Safe Mode but I can't find out what's wrong with it. Device Manager shows no hardware problems. I started the computer using the confirm every action function and it locked up after "Device=C:\ESSOLO.SYS" but I don't know if that has anything to do with it.

Any suggestions?
JTN

 

To check and see, try this.

Boot up in safe mode.

Then right-click My Computer on the desktop, click Properties, and then click the Device Manager tab.

Double-click the [+] by the Sound, Video, or Game Controllers. (Note: There may be a (!) by the sound card).

Click on the listed device that is to the ES Solo sound card , and then click Properties.

Click to select the Disable In This Hardware Profile check box.

Reboot and see if it will boot up in normal mode.

If so, the file ESSOLO.SYS is associated with a ES Solo sound card I believe.

Identify the ESS Audio Device

Try reinstalling the drivers to the sound card. http://www.esstech.com/techsupp/drivers.shtm

If that don't work you may need a new sound card.