My turn computer problem

[wildmaninal]

Well the only way I can use my computer and get on the internet is to use Safe mode with networking.

If I try to start my computer in normal mode it will load up then show the desk top theme for about 1 or 2 seconds then go blank. I have had this happen in the past a few different times. I don't have a "anti virus" installed at the moment but I have had AVG in the past and it still did the same thing.

The only way I have corrected this is to restore my computer and then maybe get to use it for a while (a few months or less) then this might happen again. I have installed my father's windows xp disc on my computer in the past before I ordered my own restore disc for my computer and the computer seemed to work well. I decided to restore the computer, I can't remember the reason but I restored it with the disc I purchased and now maybe a 2 months later I am having this problem.

Now sense I am trying to advertise on Ebay I have a bunch of info that I don't want to lose.

My computer is a Compaq presario x6000 laptop. Have any of you all had this same problem? I might be making my way to hp's website also to see if they can diagnose the computer through their system check over the internet.

 

[tommays]

Re: My turn computer problem

Do you connect to the internet through a router OR just through a modem


As and unprotected XP computer on the internet will last about 5 minutes without a worm or virus taking hold and mucking things UP

 

[jameskb2]

Re: My turn computer problem

Sounds to me like a video or power management problem. Screen is going into power saving mode, when it shouldn't. Safe mode won't load the power saving or screen saving features.

I'd investigate the video drivers, and the power management theme. Try changing one or both of them to always on, no power management, no screen saver, and see what happens. If you have hibernation set, turn it off. These settings may also be in the BIOS, but XP will override that. I'd still check there too.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: My turn computer problem

Do you connect to the internet through a router OR just through a modem

As and unprotected XP computer on the internet will last about 5 minutes without a worm or virus taking hold and mucking things UP

Well I connect through both at times but mainly a router so all computer can get on the slow dial up at the same time . Don't have DSL in our area .

Sounds to me like a video or power management problem. Screen is going into power saving mode, when it shouldn't. Safe mode won't load the power saving or screen saving features.

I'd investigate the video drivers, and the power management theme. Try changing one or both of them to always on, no power management, no screen saver, and see what happens. If you have hibernation set, turn it off. These settings may also be in the BIOS, but XP will override that. I'd still check there too.

I'll skim through those settings and see what happens. This isn't the only time this has happened to me. As I may have mentioned I have never really done any troubleshooting when this happens I just normally restore the computer but I am getting tired of losing my programs and other info. I'll check this out now.

 

[i386]

Re: My turn computer problem

As previously said, video drivers could be it. I believe windows switches video modes from 640x480 to the one set in your preferences somewhere late in the boot cycle. I've seen video drivers crap out like that a lot. Booting with diagnostic startup (msconfig) will make windows not load your video drivers. You can try that and see if it still craps out.

My troubleshooting skills are getting sloppy. Now that I have to keep 50 or so systems running I have learned to set them up and then save disk images. If I can't fix it easily I restore the disk image and it's working again in a few minutes.

But anyway, try that and we can go from there.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: My turn computer problem

Alright I386 I'll try booting it that way.

I tried the power settings and from what little bit I can change the settings on it didn't work.

I'm going to try the diagnostic start up right now.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: My turn computer problem

Well I started the computer and hit the F8 key, and clicked the "enable VGA mode" on the list and I'm back up but of coarse with the old VGA style screen (I remember those days).

What now? Go into control panel to systems then go into drivers and update or remove the video driver then reinstall?

 

[jameskb2]

Re: My turn computer problem

Yep, think so. If you're able to run the machine in VGA, with no problems, then it's driver related, not hardware.

I'd check the troubleshooting FAQ for your particular machine at it's maker's website, then download the latest drivers and install them according to instructions. If the machine is more than six months old, there's a high probability that they've been updated. While you're at it, download the whole lot of updated drivers that apply to your machine and save them to a CD, flash drive, or backup means of your choice.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: My turn computer problem

My computer is around a 2005 model or so 3.2 GHZ Pentium 4, so I'm thinking there might be an upgrade video driver available.. I'll find out. I just ordered the restore disk a month or 2 months back, but I know that doesn't mean anything the drivers are most likely way out of date.

Thanks for the help guys I'll update the drivers, I'm back in business on Ebay as of right now thanks again.

Wildmaninal

 

[ThumbPkr]

Re: My turn computer problem

Bear in mind that every time you reinstall the operating system or use the restore disk to get it working again that you very likely end up with an outdated video driver among other things so until you download the latest drivers you might expect some problems.Video drivers do have a lot of influence in how a system loads and the fact that you get booted up in safe mode points to a problem in your video hardware.
I would use the hardware firewall provided by your router whenever possible when going online but the windows firewall is better than nothing.
I use the AVG free version of virus protection,version 8 is the current offering and once you get it installed the updates can be done on dialup without much problem.
I have found that the new version is quite a bit slower for whatever reason but aside from that I am confidant in its ability to provide good protection.
Going online without a firewall of any kind or virus protection is asking for it in my opinion.Ron G

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: My turn computer problem

I got it fixed, but the driver was last updated in 2006.

 

[Coors]

Re: My turn computer problem

As previously said, video drivers could be it. I believe windows switches video modes from 640x480 to the one set in your preferences somewhere late in the boot cycle. I've seen video drivers crap out like that a lot. Booting with diagnostic startup (msconfig) will make windows not load your video drivers. You can try that and see if it still craps out.

My troubleshooting skills are getting sloppy. Now that I have to keep 50 or so systems running I have learned to set them up and then save disk images. If I can't fix it easily I restore the disk image and it's working again in a few minutes.

But anyway, try that and we can go from there.

Which one? Acronis Work? I have it, but never have opened it.

 

[dolluper]

Re: My turn computer problem

Humm restore disc eh....full version installs have an option to install a recovery console ......Ms secret ,,,,but the instructions are on their site for your OS how to install and use

 

[Coors]

Re: My turn computer problem

I gave up on recovery console with 2000; to technical, and it never installs.
Kick Bill Gates' *** again. Other os look better each day, just too old to deal with it, unless I get really mad at this windows bs.