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

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

.

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
|

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

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
|

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
| |
|
|
|

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
|

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
|

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
| |
|
|
|

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