My computer gets a black display on boot - will only display in safe mode

Oh gosh, what a mess I've made here.

See
http://groups.google.com/groups?dq=&hl=en&lr=lang_en&ie=UTF-8&threadm=5oS
dnfhqUMhsmJfdRVn-ug%40adelphia.com&prev=/groups%3Fhl%3Den%26lr%3Dlang_en%
26ie%3DUTF-8%26group%3Dmicrosoft.public.games.discussion for a detailed
background thread about what led to my problem.

Right now, when I start my Windows 98 computer, it goes through the
normal bootup cycle - Dell screen/logo visible, then the "blue sky"
Windows 98 screen. After about 30 seconds of that screen, the display
goes black. When the bootup is complete, there is a loud "clank" noise
from the speakers, the kind of noise that comes up when Windows is
reporting an error.

I can easily start the computer in Safe Mode. But I've tried such
things as adjust the display properties (I really don't have a choice;
the one choice is 16-color 640x480) and restarting the machine, and I
still have the problem.

So...

1. How do I again be able to start my machine and view the display in
normal mode?

2. How do I ensure that ALL my video/display/graphics/etc. drivers are
correct once I get to that point? Bear in mind that in Safe mode, I
can't use the internet from that computer, and the computer I'm now
using to access the internet, via wireless connection, doesn't have a CD
burner drive. So I need internet access (non-safe mode) on my Windows
computer to download fixes. But I need a working display to do that!

HELP!

 

<Stupid cross-posting snipped>

1. "hyper-crossposting" (your words) == way to get ignored.

2. Keep repeating your question == way to get ignored.

3. Don't respond to people who reply to you == way to get ignored.

4. Start another thread about the same problem == way to get ignored.

5. Ignore advice given == way to get ignored.

6. Be impatient (this is not a chat room) == way to get ignored.

<snip>

 

Fixed via scanreg /restore from DOS prompt.

I still need to update my drivers, perhaps, but that's another post.

 

Please stop cross posting!

Eyal

 

Wow! Better make a full system backup now...

MSBackup is visually impressive & certainly has endless docs. But it is
a poor tool for a full system backup. It will not span media, and it has
a limit of 2 GB. You will not upgrade to a new OS with it, as it is
incompatible with other versions of itself. Also, you will go nuts
trying to do incrementals, archive bits, etc., I'm sure. To do a full
system restore from it, you need to fresh install Windows first. And
there is tweaking involved. It WON'T be pretty. Take a look at
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];Q166172
Duplicating Windows 95/98/98 Second Edition Installation to a New Hard
Disk

Once you have a functioning system, especially one close to a clean
install, do a full system backup. If you have multiple partitions, I
guess a backup is a bit more complex. It depends upon the ties between
the Registry & the other partitions, as to whether they must be backed
up concurrently. Also, if you've changed the hardware since the backup,
you may need to change it back before a restore.

http://home.satx.rr.com/badour/index.html Backup & partitioning strategy
http://home.wanadoo.nl/geurt/home.html Extended Operating System Loader
http://powerquest.com/driveimage/ Drive Image
http://www.acronis.com/products/trueimage/ TrueImage
http://www.betterbackup.com/ Retrospect CD Backup
http://www.bootitng.com/ 's BootIt NG, has a variety of backup
capabilities: Copy to HDD, or Image to HDD or to CD. (TBIView, freely
downloadable, can retrieve individual files from an Image.)
Shrink/expand your partitions without data loss. Multi-boot, if you
dare. Free, run from floppy, but pay up as I did if satisfied. To
install & use beyond 30 days, $34.95.
http://www.cdrfaq.org/ CD R/W Backup
http://www.cyberiapc.com/backup.htm MyOwnBackup (MOB) (Free)
http://www.han-soft.com/habt.php Auto Backup (30-day free trial)
http://www.hp.com/cgi-bin/cposupport/swdl.pl?c=co105&i=co105en&p=hpcdwriter2
Simple Backup
http://www.karenware.com/ PtReplicator (Free)
http://www.lifesaverbackup.com/
http://www.mvps.org/links.html Should have good info
http://www.pcmag.com/ Lots & lots of sturdy downloads. There is a $20
yearly charge now.
http://www.powerquest.com/partitionmagic Partition Magic
http://www.ranish.com/part/ Ranish Partition Manager
http://www.rescue-me.net/gold.html
http://www.simtel.net/pub/dl/58307.shtml Backups
http://www.thirdstar.net/thirdstar_datarecovery.htm Data recovery
http://www.tomsterdam.com/ BU process, performance, etc.
http://www.v-com.com/product/pc_ind.html Partition Commander
http://www.veritas.com Backup apps
http://www.xxcopy.com/ Detailed Procedure Copy (Free)
http://www.zeleps.com/ Partition re-sizer (Free)

All gathered at this site. Whichever you choose, approach it carefully
and verify all is well. After making a copy, run Scandisk/Defrag on it.
If it's an Image, use it's verify option; perhaps, restore it and do a
Scandisk/Defrag.

http://www.pchelpandconsulting.com/links/windows.html WinDrvExpert
http://www.jermar.com/wdrvbck.htm WinDrvBckup free version

Those last two supposedly back up all currently installed drivers, such
that they can be reinstalled. I never tried 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

| Fixed via scanreg /restore from DOS prompt.
|
| I still need to update my drivers, perhaps, but that's another post.
|
|
| >Oh gosh, what a mess I've made here.
| >
| >See
|

n%
| >26ie%3DUTF-8%26group%3Dmicrosoft.public.games.discussion for a
detailed
| >background thread about what led to my problem.
| >
| >Right now, when I start my Windows 98 computer, it goes through the
| >normal bootup cycle - Dell screen/logo visible, then the "blue sky"
| >Windows 98 screen. After about 30 seconds of that screen, the
display
| >goes black. When the bootup is complete, there is a loud "clank"
noise
| >from the speakers, the kind of noise that comes up when Windows is
| >reporting an error.
| >
| >I can easily start the computer in Safe Mode. But I've tried such
| >things as adjust the display properties (I really don't have a
choice;
| >the one choice is 16-color 640x480) and restarting the machine, and I
| >still have the problem.
| >
| >So...
| >
| >1. How do I again be able to start my machine and view the display in
| >normal mode?
| >
| >2. How do I ensure that ALL my video/display/graphics/etc. drivers
are
| >correct once I get to that point? Bear in mind that in Safe mode, I
| >can't use the internet from that computer, and the computer I'm now
| >using to access the internet, via wireless connection, doesn't have a
CD
| >burner drive. So I need internet access (non-safe mode) on my
Windows
| >computer to download fixes. But I need a working display to do that!
| >
| >HELP!
|