Can't boot to Window ME

Bought a used Compaq with Windows ME. Trying to boot with
my monitor, I get the message "If you can read this
message, Windows has successfully initialized this display
adapter. To use this adapter as part of your Windows
desktop, open the Display option in the control panel and
adjust the settings on the Settings tab." The problem is,
ME doesn't come up for me to access the Settings to remove
all display adapters and monitors and reboot to pick up
the new one. The message remains on a blank screen. I've
tried using the recovery disk and rebooting in Safe Mode--
I get the same message with each and can go no further.
Any suggestions on how I can clear/acknowledge the message
so ME can continue to come up? Regular keyboard keys don't
work but ctrl/alt/del does reboot.

I've never seen such a message from Windows (any version) - I suspect that
perhaps you've been got by a virus (although it may be a BIOS/Compaq
message?)

I'd recommend downloading on a known-clean machine a DOS virus scanner -
F-Prot for DOS is well-regarded (www.f-prot.com) creating the boot disks,
and running them.
See what it reports.


--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2004, Win9x)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's
or
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/f.../Mar27pmvp.asp
"Mary Ellen" wrote in message
...
Bought a used Compaq with Windows ME. Trying to boot with
my monitor, I get the message "If you can read this
message, Windows has successfully initialized this display
adapter. To use this adapter as part of your Windows
desktop, open the Display option in the control panel and
adjust the settings on the Settings tab." The problem is,
ME doesn't come up for me to access the Settings to remove
all display adapters and monitors and reboot to pick up
the new one. The message remains on a blank screen. I've
tried using the recovery disk and rebooting in Safe Mode--
I get the same message with each and can go no further.
Any suggestions on how I can clear/acknowledge the message
so ME can continue to come up? Regular keyboard keys don't
work but ctrl/alt/del does reboot.

Sounds like you have either a video card with dual-output, or two display
adapters present (perhaps one on the motherboard and one add-in card).

If you have one card with two outputs, you have the monitor attached to the
wrong output. Connect it to the other one.

If you have two display adapters you need to go into the BIOS (hardware
configuration) and either disable the one you're not using or set the order
of the cards to initialize the one you're using first. Check your system or
motherboard manual for details.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x]
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Mary Ellen" wrote in message
...
Bought a used Compaq with Windows ME. Trying to boot with
my monitor, I get the message "If you can read this
message, Windows has successfully initialized this display
adapter. To use this adapter as part of your Windows
desktop, open the Display option in the control panel and
adjust the settings on the Settings tab." The problem is,
ME doesn't come up for me to access the Settings to remove
all display adapters and monitors and reboot to pick up
the new one. The message remains on a blank screen. I've
tried using the recovery disk and rebooting in Safe Mode--
I get the same message with each and can go no further.
Any suggestions on how I can clear/acknowledge the message
so ME can continue to come up? Regular keyboard keys don't
work but ctrl/alt/del does reboot.

Laptop??

--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2004, Win9x)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's
or
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/f.../Mar27pmvp.asp
"Richard G. Harper" wrote in message
...
Sounds like you have either a video card with dual-output, or two display
adapters present (perhaps one on the motherboard and one add-in card).

If you have one card with two outputs, you have the monitor attached to
the
wrong output. Connect it to the other one.

If you have two display adapters you need to go into the BIOS (hardware
configuration) and either disable the one you're not using or set the
order
of the cards to initialize the one you're using first. Check your system
or
motherboard manual for details.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x]
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Mary Ellen" wrote in message
...
Bought a used Compaq with Windows ME. Trying to boot with
my monitor, I get the message "If you can read this
message, Windows has successfully initialized this display
adapter. To use this adapter as part of your Windows
desktop, open the Display option in the control panel and
adjust the settings on the Settings tab." The problem is,
ME doesn't come up for me to access the Settings to remove
all display adapters and monitors and reboot to pick up
the new one. The message remains on a blank screen. I've
tried using the recovery disk and rebooting in Safe Mode--
I get the same message with each and can go no further.
Any suggestions on how I can clear/acknowledge the message
so ME can continue to come up? Regular keyboard keys don't
work but ctrl/alt/del does reboot.

I did have 2 video cards. After switching to the 2nd card
and reinstalling it's driver, things are working OK. Thx
for the assist.....

Nice catch, Richard (never had a dual-card machine, which would explain why
I've never seen the message!)

--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2004, Win9x)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's
or
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/f.../Mar27pmvp.asp
"Richard G. Harper" wrote in message
...
Sounds like you have either a video card with dual-output, or two display
adapters present (perhaps one on the motherboard and one add-in card).

If you have one card with two outputs, you have the monitor attached to
the
wrong output. Connect it to the other one.

If you have two display adapters you need to go into the BIOS (hardware
configuration) and either disable the one you're not using or set the
order
of the cards to initialize the one you're using first. Check your system
or
motherboard manual for details.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x]
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Mary Ellen" wrote in message
...
Bought a used Compaq with Windows ME. Trying to boot with
my monitor, I get the message "If you can read this
message, Windows has successfully initialized this display
adapter. To use this adapter as part of your Windows
desktop, open the Display option in the control panel and
adjust the settings on the Settings tab." The problem is,
ME doesn't come up for me to access the Settings to remove
all display adapters and monitors and reboot to pick up
the new one. The message remains on a blank screen. I've
tried using the recovery disk and rebooting in Safe Mode--
I get the same message with each and can go no further.
Any suggestions on how I can clear/acknowledge the message
so ME can continue to come up? Regular keyboard keys don't
work but ctrl/alt/del does reboot.

Happy to have been able to help you out.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x]
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Mary Ellen" wrote in message
...
I did have 2 video cards. After switching to the 2nd card
and reinstalling it's driver, things are working OK. Thx
for the assist.....

For me this message is usually a cause for celebration, as our finance
department loves dual-monitor setups. When I see this message I know that I
got all the parts right. :-)

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x]
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Noel Paton" wrote in message
...
Nice catch, Richard (never had a dual-card machine, which would explain
why
I've never seen the message!)

--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2004, Win9x)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's
or
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/f.../Mar27pmvp.asp
"Richard G. Harper" wrote in message
...
Sounds like you have either a video card with dual-output, or two
display
adapters present (perhaps one on the motherboard and one add-in card).

If you have one card with two outputs, you have the monitor attached to
the
wrong output. Connect it to the other one.

If you have two display adapters you need to go into the BIOS (hardware
configuration) and either disable the one you're not using or set the
order
of the cards to initialize the one you're using first. Check your
system
or
motherboard manual for details.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x]
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Mary Ellen" wrote in message
...
Bought a used Compaq with Windows ME. Trying to boot with
my monitor, I get the message "If you can read this
message, Windows has successfully initialized this display
adapter. To use this adapter as part of your Windows
desktop, open the Display option in the control panel and
adjust the settings on the Settings tab." The problem is,
ME doesn't come up for me to access the Settings to remove
all display adapters and monitors and reboot to pick up
the new one. The message remains on a blank screen. I've
tried using the recovery disk and rebooting in Safe Mode--
I get the same message with each and can go no further.
Any suggestions on how I can clear/acknowledge the message
so ME can continue to come up? Regular keyboard keys don't
work but ctrl/alt/del does reboot.

Mary Ellen wrote:
I did have 2 video cards. After switching to the 2nd card
and reinstalling it's driver, things are working OK. Thx
for the assist.....


Of course if you had planned on using the card that you were plugged
into in the first place, that would've been a matter of changing the
"Default VGA Adapter" in the BIOS from AGP to PCI or the other way around.



Rick