If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
start up problems
Hi all,
Please forgive me. I'm committing a terrible newsgroup sin. I have been searching the Microsoft website for so long, and I'm so burned out, that I haven't read the FAQs, if there are any, for this newsgroup. I'm a newcomer, and I'm just going to post this one quick problem and hope and pray I get a response. I have a sneaking feeling it's a fairly common problem. But, if you feel like you need to flame me, go for it. I'd rather be flamed than spend another minute searching for the right info on the Microsoft website. Here it is: Once in a while, not always, when I turn on my computer, it freezes at the Windows screen. The screen is distorted, like Bill Gates designed it while on acid and listening to Deep Purple. I have to turn my computer off at the power strip, then turn it back on. When it comes back on, it's in "safe mode." I then have to restart it, go to control panel and reset the display settings so it looks like it used to. Does anyone know what causes this and what I can do to stop it? And please forgive a woman who has been crawling through the Microsoft website wasteland for days and just needs a drink of water. Diane |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
It could be a problem with the computer's video card, in
which case, buying and installing a new video card that is compatible with the computer's motherboard and version of Windows would fix it. But it's most probably a problem with the video card's software device driver. If you can't identify the make and model of the video card from the Device Manager, try downloading and installing the free Everest Home Edition from http://www.lavalys.com/. If you don't know what the Device Manager is, see this page: http://www.pcbuyerbeware.co.uk/Image2.htm It might be worth your while to perform the Safe mode clean up that is described on that page. You should then find and download the latest driver file for the model from it's manufacturer's site. You double- click on the downloaded file to install it. If you have any problems, post the details to this computer forum that can be posted to by guests and members: http://pcbb.3.forumer.com/ Eric, http://www.pcbuyerbeware.co.uk/ http://www.sharedbirthday.co.uk/ -----Original Message----- Hi all, Please forgive me. I'm committing a terrible newsgroup sin. I have been searching the Microsoft website for so long, and I'm so burned out, that I haven't read the FAQs, if there are any, for this newsgroup. I'm a newcomer, and I'm just going to post this one quick problem and hope and pray I get a response. I have a sneaking feeling it's a fairly common problem. But, if you feel like you need to flame me, go for it. I'd rather be flamed than spend another minute searching for the right info on the Microsoft website. Here it is: Once in a while, not always, when I turn on my computer, it freezes at the Windows screen. The screen is distorted, like Bill Gates designed it while on acid and listening to Deep Purple. I have to turn my computer off at the power strip, then turn it back on. When it comes back on, it's in "safe mode." I then have to restart it, go to control panel and reset the display settings so it looks like it used to. Does anyone know what causes this and what I can do to stop it? And please forgive a woman who has been crawling through the Microsoft website wasteland for days and just needs a drink of water. Diane . |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Intermittent problems are the worst. Might be worthwhile, with the
computer off, to un/re-plug everything in sight. Open the box too, if you can. Well, here is a way to un/re-install the Monitor & Video Adapter... http://support.microsoft.com/default...39&Product=w98 Troubleshooting Video Problems in Windows "START, Run, MSConfig, Advanced button". If checked, then uncheck "VGA 640x480x16", & reboot. "Control Panel, Display, Settings tab". Select as you wish from the Colors dropdown menu & the Size slider. Really, you should need nothing higher than "High Color (16 bit)", for speed/resource considerations. If you move the Screen Area slider to 1024x768 there, be sure to click the Advanced button, & select Large fonts. Try to get your colors/size at least twice that way. If it continues to fail, you may need to reinstall your Monitor or Display Adapter... For the Monitor... (1) Boot to Safe Mode (Hold F5 as you boot or CTRL for the Startup Menu) (2) "START, Settings, Control Panel, System, Device Manager tab" (3) Open the Monitors branch, & Remove all entries. Perhaps, FIRST, even in Normal Mode, note what is installed similar to below for the Adapter. That is... (a) D-Clk the monitor there for Properties, Driver tab. (b) Click the Update Driver button, then "Next". (c) Bolt "Display a list...", & click "Next". (d) Bolt "Show all hardware". Examine the two panes to see what is currently installed. That is likely what you wish to end up with, after step (4). (4) Boot to Normal Mode. Hopefully, it will be rediscovered & installed. Then, if still necessary, here is the rigmarole of the Display Adapter... .......Quote.......... The first thing to do is to remove the video adapter you have installed. Right-click on the desktop; choose "Properties" from the drop-down menu; select "Settings;" click on the "Advanced" button; and click on "Adapter". An adapter is a program that tells Windows how to deal with a specific video card. Make note of the adapter that is currently installed. Then, change the adapter to "Standard Display Adapter (VGA)" and restart the system. [That is: Click "Change, Next, bolt 'Display a List...', Next, bolt 'Show all hardware', scroll left pane to top, select '(Standard display types)', select 'Standard Display Adapter (VGA)' in right pane, click 'Next'"... PCR] This will remove the current adapter and replace it with a generic VGA adapter that works with all video cards. You will not like VGA because it supports only 16 colors, but the purpose of installing it is to get rid of whatever was there before. Next, return to the adapter screen and install an adapter that matches your video card. This may or may not be the adapter that you are using now. Examine the materials you received with your computer to see if they include a CD-ROM or floppy disk that contains the correct video adapter. Or go to the Gateway website and see if they have an adapter for you to download. Or check the website of the company that made your video card. Bill Starbuck (MVP) .......End....of quote.... -- Thanks or Good Luck, There may be humor in this post, and, Naturally, you will not sue, should things get worse after this, PCR "Diane" wrote in message ... | Hi all, | | Please forgive me. I'm committing a terrible newsgroup | sin. I have been searching the Microsoft website for so | long, and I'm so burned out, that I haven't read the FAQs, | if there are any, for this newsgroup. I'm a newcomer, and | I'm just going to post this one quick problem and hope and | pray I get a response. I have a sneaking feeling it's a | fairly common problem. But, if you feel like you need to | flame me, go for it. I'd rather be flamed than spend | another minute searching for the right info on the | Microsoft website. Here it is: | | Once in a while, not always, when I turn on my computer, | it freezes at the Windows screen. The screen is distorted, | like Bill Gates designed it while on acid and listening to | Deep Purple. I have to turn my computer off at the power | strip, then turn it back on. When it comes back on, it's | in "safe mode." I then have to restart it, go to control | panel and reset the display settings so it looks like it | used to. | | Does anyone know what causes this and what I can do to | stop it? And please forgive a woman who has been crawling | through the Microsoft website wasteland for days and just | needs a drink of water. | | Diane | |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
For your thoughtful, detailed responses. I have printed
them out and I am going to research those websites. I'm a woman on a mission. thanks again! Diane |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
You are now an animal tranquilizer, PCP!
-- Brian A. Conflicts start where information lacks. http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm "PCR" wrote in message ... Intermittent problems are the worst. Might be worthwhile, with the computer off, to un/re-plug everything in sight. Open the box too, if you can. Well, here is a way to un/re-install the Monitor & Video Adapter... http://support.microsoft.com/default...39&Product=w98 Troubleshooting Video Problems in Windows "START, Run, MSConfig, Advanced button". If checked, then uncheck "VGA 640x480x16", & reboot. "Control Panel, Display, Settings tab". Select as you wish from the Colors dropdown menu & the Size slider. Really, you should need nothing higher than "High Color (16 bit)", for speed/resource considerations. If you move the Screen Area slider to 1024x768 there, be sure to click the Advanced button, & select Large fonts. Try to get your colors/size at least twice that way. If it continues to fail, you may need to reinstall your Monitor or Display Adapter... For the Monitor... (1) Boot to Safe Mode (Hold F5 as you boot or CTRL for the Startup Menu) (2) "START, Settings, Control Panel, System, Device Manager tab" (3) Open the Monitors branch, & Remove all entries. Perhaps, FIRST, even in Normal Mode, note what is installed similar to below for the Adapter. That is... (a) D-Clk the monitor there for Properties, Driver tab. (b) Click the Update Driver button, then "Next". (c) Bolt "Display a list...", & click "Next". (d) Bolt "Show all hardware". Examine the two panes to see what is currently installed. That is likely what you wish to end up with, after step (4). (4) Boot to Normal Mode. Hopefully, it will be rediscovered & installed. Then, if still necessary, here is the rigmarole of the Display Adapter... ......Quote.......... The first thing to do is to remove the video adapter you have installed. Right-click on the desktop; choose "Properties" from the drop-down menu; select "Settings;" click on the "Advanced" button; and click on "Adapter". An adapter is a program that tells Windows how to deal with a specific video card. Make note of the adapter that is currently installed. Then, change the adapter to "Standard Display Adapter (VGA)" and restart the system. [That is: Click "Change, Next, bolt 'Display a List...', Next, bolt 'Show all hardware', scroll left pane to top, select '(Standard display types)', select 'Standard Display Adapter (VGA)' in right pane, click 'Next'"... PCR] This will remove the current adapter and replace it with a generic VGA adapter that works with all video cards. You will not like VGA because it supports only 16 colors, but the purpose of installing it is to get rid of whatever was there before. Next, return to the adapter screen and install an adapter that matches your video card. This may or may not be the adapter that you are using now. Examine the materials you received with your computer to see if they include a CD-ROM or floppy disk that contains the correct video adapter. Or go to the Gateway website and see if they have an adapter for you to download. Or check the website of the company that made your video card. Bill Starbuck (MVP) ......End....of quote.... -- Thanks or Good Luck, There may be humor in this post, and, Naturally, you will not sue, should things get worse after this, PCR "Diane" wrote in message ... | Hi all, | | Please forgive me. I'm committing a terrible newsgroup | sin. I have been searching the Microsoft website for so | long, and I'm so burned out, that I haven't read the FAQs, | if there are any, for this newsgroup. I'm a newcomer, and | I'm just going to post this one quick problem and hope and | pray I get a response. I have a sneaking feeling it's a | fairly common problem. But, if you feel like you need to | flame me, go for it. I'd rather be flamed than spend | another minute searching for the right info on the | Microsoft website. Here it is: | | Once in a while, not always, when I turn on my computer, | it freezes at the Windows screen. The screen is distorted, | like Bill Gates designed it while on acid and listening to | Deep Purple. I have to turn my computer off at the power | strip, then turn it back on. When it comes back on, it's | in "safe mode." I then have to restart it, go to control | panel and reset the display settings so it looks like it | used to. | | Does anyone know what causes this and what I can do to | stop it? And please forgive a woman who has been crawling | through the Microsoft website wasteland for days and just | needs a drink of water. | | Diane | |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
I see that. But I don't have any more animals in here, since my
Chihuahua died & finally I have killed all his bugs! -- Thanks or Good Luck, There may be humor in this post, and, Naturally, you will not sue, should things get worse after this, PCR "Brian A." GoneFishn@aFarAwayLake wrote in message ... | You are now an animal tranquilizer, PCP! | | -- | Brian A. | | Conflicts start where information lacks. | http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm | | "PCR" wrote in message | ... | Intermittent problems are the worst. Might be worthwhile, with the | computer off, to un/re-plug everything in sight. Open the box too, if | you can. Well, here is a way to un/re-install the Monitor & Video | Adapter... | | http://support.microsoft.com/default...39&Product=w98 | Troubleshooting Video Problems in Windows | | "START, Run, MSConfig, Advanced button". If checked, then uncheck "VGA | 640x480x16", & reboot. | | "Control Panel, Display, Settings tab". Select as you wish from the | Colors dropdown menu & the Size slider. Really, you should need nothing | higher than "High Color (16 bit)", for speed/resource considerations. | | If you move the Screen Area slider to 1024x768 there, be sure to click | the Advanced button, & select Large fonts. | | Try to get your colors/size at least twice that way. If it continues to | fail, you may need to reinstall your Monitor or Display Adapter... | | For the Monitor... | (1) Boot to Safe Mode | (Hold F5 as you boot or CTRL for the Startup Menu) | (2) "START, Settings, Control Panel, System, Device Manager tab" | (3) Open the Monitors branch, & Remove all entries. | | Perhaps, FIRST, even in Normal Mode, note what is installed | similar to below for the Adapter. That is... | (a) D-Clk the monitor there for Properties, Driver tab. | (b) Click the Update Driver button, then "Next". | (c) Bolt "Display a list...", & click "Next". | (d) Bolt "Show all hardware". | Examine the two panes to see what is currently installed. | That is likely what you wish to end up with, after step (4). | | (4) Boot to Normal Mode. | | Hopefully, it will be rediscovered & installed. Then, if still | necessary, here is the rigmarole of the Display Adapter... | | ......Quote.......... | The first thing to do is to remove the video adapter you have | installed. Right-click on the desktop; choose "Properties" from the | drop-down menu; select "Settings;" click on the "Advanced" button; and | click on "Adapter". An adapter is a program that tells Windows how to | deal with a specific video card. Make note of the adapter that is | currently installed. Then, change the adapter to "Standard Display | Adapter (VGA)" and restart the system. | | [That is: Click "Change, Next, bolt 'Display a List...', Next, bolt | 'Show all hardware', scroll left pane to top, select '(Standard display | types)', select 'Standard Display Adapter (VGA)' in right pane, click | 'Next'"... PCR] | | This will remove the current adapter and replace it with a generic VGA | adapter that works with all video cards. You will not like VGA because | it supports only 16 colors, but the purpose of installing it is to get | rid of whatever was there before. | | Next, return to the adapter screen and install an adapter that matches | your video card. This may or may not be the adapter that you are | using now. Examine the materials you received with your computer to | see if they include a CD-ROM or floppy disk that contains the correct | video adapter. Or go to the Gateway website and see if they have an | adapter for you to download. Or check the website of the company that | made your video card. | | Bill Starbuck (MVP) | ......End....of quote.... | | | -- | Thanks or Good Luck, | There may be humor in this post, and, | Naturally, you will not sue, | should things get worse after this, | PCR | | "Diane" wrote in message | ... | | Hi all, | | | | Please forgive me. I'm committing a terrible newsgroup | | sin. I have been searching the Microsoft website for so | | long, and I'm so burned out, that I haven't read the FAQs, | | if there are any, for this newsgroup. I'm a newcomer, and | | I'm just going to post this one quick problem and hope and | | pray I get a response. I have a sneaking feeling it's a | | fairly common problem. But, if you feel like you need to | | flame me, go for it. I'd rather be flamed than spend | | another minute searching for the right info on the | | Microsoft website. Here it is: | | | | Once in a while, not always, when I turn on my computer, | | it freezes at the Windows screen. The screen is distorted, | | like Bill Gates designed it while on acid and listening to | | Deep Purple. I have to turn my computer off at the power | | strip, then turn it back on. When it comes back on, it's | | in "safe mode." I then have to restart it, go to control | | panel and reset the display settings so it looks like it | | used to. | | | | Does anyone know what causes this and what I can do to | | stop it? And please forgive a woman who has been crawling | | through the Microsoft website wasteland for days and just | | needs a drink of water. | | | | Diane | | | | | |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
You are welcome. I hope something comes of it.
-- Thanks or Good Luck, There may be humor in this post, and, Naturally, you will not sue, should things get worse after this, PCR "Diane" wrote in message ... | For your thoughtful, detailed responses. I have printed | them out and I am going to research those websites. I'm a | woman on a mission. | | thanks again! | Diane | |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
PCP?! I guess Diane knows you better than I thought! ;-)
-- Glen Ventura, MS MVP W95/98 Systems http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm "PCR" wrote in message ... You are welcome. I hope something comes of it. -- Thanks or Good Luck, There may be humor in this post, and, Naturally, you will not sue, should things get worse after this, PCR "Diane" wrote in message ... | For your thoughtful, detailed responses. I have printed | them out and I am going to research those websites. I'm a | woman on a mission. | | thanks again! | Diane | |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Perhaps she does! Anyway, all my bugs are gone, & I still have one lung
left! -- Thanks or Good Luck, There may be humor in this post, and, Naturally, you will not sue, should things get worse after this, PCR "glee" wrote in message ... | PCP?! I guess Diane knows you better than I thought! ;-) | -- | Glen Ventura, MS MVP W95/98 Systems | http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm | | "PCR" wrote in message | ... | You are welcome. I hope something comes of it. | | -- | Thanks or Good Luck, | There may be humor in this post, and, | Naturally, you will not sue, | should things get worse after this, | PCR | | "Diane" wrote in message | ... | | For your thoughtful, detailed responses. I have printed | | them out and I am going to research those websites. I'm a | | woman on a mission. | | | | thanks again! | | Diane | | | | | |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
PCP?????
ROFLMAO!! glee wrote: PCP?! I guess Diane knows you better than I thought! ;-) -- Glen Ventura, MS MVP W95/98 Systems http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm "PCR" wrote in message ... You are welcome. I hope something comes of it. -- Thanks or Good Luck, There may be humor in this post, and, Naturally, you will not sue, should things get worse after this, PCR "Diane" wrote in message ... For your thoughtful, detailed responses. I have printed them out and I am going to research those websites. I'm a woman on a mission. thanks again! Diane |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Start Up / Shut down problems | Michael Quinlan | General | 5 | September 11th 04 02:42 AM |
start up problems | kim | Setup & Installation | 1 | July 18th 04 10:08 PM |
start up problems | mike | General | 2 | July 6th 04 07:18 PM |
Start up problems | Herbert | Setup & Installation | 1 | June 25th 04 06:26 AM |
Windows won't start...disk problems | Steve Baron - KB3MM | Disk Drives | 6 | May 22nd 04 11:11 PM |