W98 SE doesn't boot after running Hardware Wizard

[jsuebersax]

In Windows 98 SE, after using the Add New Hardware wizard, my system no longer boots properly. I'm guessing it's some hardware and/or driver conflict.

One thing I added, under the category, System Devices, was:

Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) BIOS

Now I'd like to remove that and see if that helps. In Device Manager (Control Panel / System / Devices tab / System Devices) I see two plausible candidates:

Intel 82371AB PCI to ISA bridge (EIO Mode)
Intel 82371AB PCI to USB Universal Host Controller

Can I try removing either/both of these without risking making things worse?

If anyone has Windows 98 SE, could they possibly check their device manager and see if they have these listed under System Devices? If your system is working without these, I'd feel safer trying to remove them.

Thanks in advance.

[pkiff]

One thing I added, under the category, System Devices, was:
Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) BIOS

Woah there. In some circumstances, attempts to change a computer (ThinkPad or otherwise) from APM mode to ACPI mode can cause irreversible problems for the OS. The standard recommendation for those who want to do this is to perform a full re-install of the OS. You may be lucky, or may find a way to get your system back to the way it was, but I'm just putting that out there so you know before additional problems arise.

Now I'd like to remove that and see if that helps. In Device Manager (Control Panel / System / Devices tab / System Devices) I see two plausible candidates:
Intel 82371AB PCI to ISA bridge (EIO Mode)
Intel 82371AB PCI to USB Universal Host Controller
Can I try removing either/both of these without risking making things worse?

Neither of these are related to the ACPI mode driver(s) you installed. I wouldn't try to remove either of them as you might cause additional problems. Unfortunately, I also do not have experience or recommendations for how to return your system to APM mode after installing a new set of ACPI drivers via the Device Manager.

If anyone has Windows 98 SE, could they possibly check their device manager and see if they have these listed under System Devices?

Both the items you identified are normal under a standard (APM) install of Win 98SE. IBM/Lenovo supply an image of what your ThinkPad 600 Device Manager should look like under a default Win98 install (in APM mode):
Default Device Manager listing - ThinkPad 600

IBM recommends that Windows 98SE be installed using APM mode (scroll down to "Power management setup") and the internally reported BIOS dates of the ThinkPad 600/770 series are all artificially set specifically to keep 98SE from accidentally installing ACPI mode on those machines. I personally also would recommend that 98SE be installed under APM mode on ThinkPads of that era. That is the power management system that 98SE was designed for, and I have run both my 600X and 770Z on Win 98SE under APM with good results.

Phil.

[jsuebersax]

One thing I added, under the category, System Devices, was:
Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) BIOS

Woah there. In some circumstances, attempts to change a computer (ThinkPad or otherwise) from APM mode to ACPI mode can cause irreversible problems for the OS. The standard recommendation for those who want to do this is to perform a full re-install of the OS. You may be lucky, or may find a way to get your system back to the way it was, but I'm just putting that out there so you know before additional problems arise.

Okay, thanks for letting me know. Before I try a re-install, I might as well at least try to remove the ACPI or reactivate the APM.

Is APM something (re)installable) or otherwise modifiable from the Device Manager?

Is the ACPI something loaded at startup? Is there some associated driver that I can disable in my System.ini file?