Need Help with computer

[WyoJim]

Dam computer is in the safe mode and I don't know how to get it out. Windows '98 -- HELP!!!

 

[illflem]

Restart it, when the screen comes up giving you a choise of which mode key the number for normal then enter. Hard one for me was getting out of DOS mode.

 

[Doc Tinker]

illflem - I have the same problem with the DOS mode. I'd rather be in DOS



Type "win" if your in DOS from computer startup

Type "exit" if you're in a DOS window

If you type "win" in the DOS window you'll get a list of recommended commands



WyoJim- illflem's suggestion should do it.



Doc

 

[WyoJim]

Hey Illflem, When I do that (pick normal) it boots into the safe mode any way.

 

[Doc Tinker]

WyoJim - In that case you probably have a conflict with a couple of your peripherals (sound card, video card, etc). Have you replaced any of your cards recently?



I didn't know the modem would work when in safe mode.



Doc

 

[WyoJim]

Haven't done any of that stuff Doc. But my wife was using it last. That answeres the questions but it don't answer the problem.



The resolution in this condition sucks.

 

[illflem]

Jim, mine did that when I fooled around trying to change the user name page. The new user name has the properties of safe mode until you modify it. Make sure you are logging into Windows with your old user name.

 

[Doc Tinker]

Guess I'm out of ideas on this one. The conflict problem is the only time I've run into that problem. Maybe illflem or one of the others will be able to help.



One other thing... When you get into the Saf Mode, do you just turn off the computer, or do you close Windows before shutting down. Safe Mode often fixes the problem that caused it to start that way, but you have to do a normal shut down for the system to save the changes.



Doc

 

[The patriot]

Every few times my Wife uses the computer, the only way to fix it (for me) is to reinstall my software. What a PITA. Plus I usually lose something I didnt want to.

I told her I'd get her herown computer as long as she didnt play with mine!



Eric

 

[BigMike]

You might try going into System Tools and using System Restore. I know that works in Windows 2000. I assume it does in 98 as well. Otherwise, you may need to reinstall windows using your windows startup disk.

 

[Joe G.]

It seems to me that you have some sort of missing or conflicting driver or DLL. A missing DLL usually will generate a message complaining that it's missing. Maybe something is messed up in your register file. This can happen if you just punch the power off button while it's doing something. If you are unsure of what to do or are a relative rookie at this crazy stuff I would suggest you haul it into a shop and have them look at it. It might be real simple for them to fix without reinstalling. Reinstalling will probably blow away some of your files.

 

[WyoJim]

safe mode?

Apparently I am mistaken about the safe mode and it must be something else. Reason being that I am on it now and in the safe mode I can't get on the internet.

I fooled around with it yesterday until all I could use was the safe mode. I kept getting a fatal error message. Many, many hours were used to get it back to this condition again, where every thing seems to work except the screen resolution is terrible.

Now I see a message on my home page that my ISP is going to screw around with it today. I think they may be the problem. I will wait and see.

 

[Rambling]

Sorry this is a little lon.

Unless your browser is provided by your ISP, nothing they're doing on their server will cause a computer malfunction that you've described.



If you are in SAFE MODE, the driver for your video card is not loaded. This causes the low resolution (big icons) display.



If you've managed to boot into standard mode but have the same large ICON problem and can't change the resolution, you've lost the video driver for your card and will need to reload it. Just go into SYSTEM in the control panel. Delete your video card and reboot. The system will say it has found new hardware and may need your Win installation disk



Short of deleting critical files or shutting off the power without exiting windows first( could cause a problem)there isn't much you can do while using a computer to cause a malfunction.

 

[WyoJim]

Rattlin, You have described the problem, but being the computer illiterate that I am, I can't find the video card in the systems icon.



I have to go irrigate and I will work on it some more when I get back.

 

[WOWZY]

I'm sorry that I'm not knowledgable enough to help you, but my wife usually screws up something on my computer at least once or twice a week. My computer from Gateway came with a wonderful program called "GoBack" by Wildfile. The program takes up about 10% of your HD or how far back you want it to keep a record. It will save you alot of headaches.



The way it works is it keeps a compressed record of your Hard Drives and if you delete a file by mistake or delete some other important program files, monitor settings etc. You can go back to a time on the calendar and revert your system back to a time that you knew that everything was working correctly. Such as when you booted up last. It also works great for viral infections. I opened up an E-mail with the "I love you" virus. I wasn't having any problems right then but I was able to revert my HD back to before I got the virus and the E-Mail that contained the virus and it was like I never got it in the first place.



You can read more about it here:

http://www.tpcug.org/newsletter/nl_1999/december1999/goback.htm



http://members.tripod.com/~maizell/goback.html

 

[John_Barks]

Ok, I am assuming that you havent done anything drastic yet and that you are getting booted into regular mode and that your video is still screwed up. If you are reading this you are booted and have access to the internet. Right click on your wallpaper and choose properties, then click on the tab that says settings, you should then be able to see what kind of video adapter you have. Once you know the manufacturer and model find their website and go into support, get the latest driver for your adapter and operating system. After that go into start\settings\control panel and double click on the system icon. Ok, this is where it gets kinda fuzzy for me cuz I went from win95 to NT 4 workstation at home and am now on 2000 pro but here goes, in system properties you should see a device manager tab towards the top, click once on that. You should see an icon that says display adapters, click on the +, you should then see your video adapter. Now before you do anything else make sure that the driver you downloaded is uncompresed ( usually winzip ). After that is done left click once on the display adapter and choose remove, after it is gone restart. When your machine restarts it will find new hardware (your video adapter) and ask for the driver, point it to the folder that the uncompressed driver is in, it will load the driver and (maybe) prompt for restart, do it. You may have to adjust the settings after it boots. If you are still having problems I will email you my phone number and we can try something else. I do geek stuff for a living and may be able to help.





Shoot, to gung ho to help and didnt notice the dates, prolly done reinstalled everything by now, oh well, the offer to help is still open.

 

[WyoJim]

Rattle-Trap,

I havn't got it fixed yet. My next step was to take it to a shop in Cody which is 70 miles away.

The hold up is that my son has his horses up in the Bob Marshall Wilderness on a pack trip and I figured I better man the fort until he returned.

Since it is past my bed time I will work on your solution in the morning. And I thank you in advance.

Jim Mackey

 

[WyoJim]

Ya Hoo - Its fixed

I want to thank all you guys that tried to help me with my computer problem.

Being the computer illiterate that I am the solution had to be put into simple simple instructions.

I want to especially thank Rattle-Trap for putting them simple enough for even me to get them right. Thanks Rattle-Trap.



Jim Mackey

 

[Doc Tinker]

Thanks Rattle-Trap, for being a good guy



Doc