DanielAc
11-01-2001, 10:35 PM
I had an issue today with a computer which began completely locking up after my customer moved his computer. It was not long before I got it booted into WIN98 "SAFE MODE" and unchecked the "Load Startup Group Items" from msconfig to see if a startup program was causing a conflict.
Again I rebooted, no change, so I went through the process again, and this time unchecked the "Process System.ini File" checkbox. Got the computer to boot into NORMAL MODE.
Bad graphics adapter it seemed because the graphics were at 16 colors and would not allow me to set higher. So I set about reinstalling the video card driver. When I finished the install, the computer immediately shut down without a restart prompt.
This started the trouble all over again. So not realizing it was a possible bad video card, I tried all I could to get the system to work correctly using a backup copy of System.ini (renaming it), and also running Norton System Works. Nothing worked. So I reinstalled Windows 98 after doing some quick and dirty backup. Guess what? Same video card problem on a fresh drive--fresh operating system.
What caused this video card to go bad? DID IT go bad? How could I have prevented a OS reinstall? What tools could I have used to diagnose a bad video card? What should I do better next time?
Thanks!
Again I rebooted, no change, so I went through the process again, and this time unchecked the "Process System.ini File" checkbox. Got the computer to boot into NORMAL MODE.
Bad graphics adapter it seemed because the graphics were at 16 colors and would not allow me to set higher. So I set about reinstalling the video card driver. When I finished the install, the computer immediately shut down without a restart prompt.
This started the trouble all over again. So not realizing it was a possible bad video card, I tried all I could to get the system to work correctly using a backup copy of System.ini (renaming it), and also running Norton System Works. Nothing worked. So I reinstalled Windows 98 after doing some quick and dirty backup. Guess what? Same video card problem on a fresh drive--fresh operating system.
What caused this video card to go bad? DID IT go bad? How could I have prevented a OS reinstall? What tools could I have used to diagnose a bad video card? What should I do better next time?
Thanks!