WinXP not loading

I just lost half a page of describing this problem and got no time to fully rewrite it. So quick summary:

WinXP Pro stopped booting (black screen when it should show login page)
Works in Safe mode (with net too)
Last known good config - doesnt work

Last thing i did before it failed - install sid meier's railroads! and play it for an evening

Saw errors in event log regarding something failing to finish a registry operation due to windows closing it (details to follow tonight)

PC worked 3.5 years so dont fancy a reinstall if i can delay it a few months till new pc.

HELP

:)

P.S. Will reinstall if all else fails.

Try a repair from the install disc.

system restore from Safe Mode?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cotswoldcs

system restore from Safe Mode?

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My comp did something similar to what you're describing and what cotswoldcs suggested worked for me.

Do you have a TV plugged into the gfx cards second port?

If so, turn it on and see if the screen is displaying on that.

No luck so far. It doesn't seem to use my graphics card properly. However in add new hardware bit its seen as working correctly. Dxdiag complains about it and also about music and sound. I am unable to install directx again as its seen to be there and working by the installer. When i try installing video drivers they cannot complete and complain about "Inf error. Video driver not found". Then it tells me to install the default video driver before continuing with setup.

I tried troubleshooting in dxdiag and untick something or other in display settings but it did bugger all good :( Any more suggestions?

Here's some system info about graphics:

Quote:

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Name RADEON 9800 PRO
PNP Device ID PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4E48&SUBSYS_00021002&REV_00\4&102AC5BC&0&00F0
Adapter Type Not Available
Adapter Description ATI Technologies Inc.
Adapter RAM Not Available
Installed Drivers Not Available
Driver Version vga.sys,framebuf.dll,vga256.dll,vga64k.dll
INF File 6.14.10.6614 (oem33.inf section)
Color Planes ati2mtag_R350
Color Table Entries 1
Resolution 4294967296 x 1280 x 1024 hertz
Bits/Pixel 1
Memory Address 0xD8000000-0xE7FFFFFF
I/O Port 0x0000C000-0x0000CFFF
Memory Address 0xEB000000-0xEB00FFFF
IRQ Channel IRQ 5
Driver c:\windows\system32\drivers\ati2mtag.sys (6.14.10.6614, 1.47 MB (1,540,608 bytes), 24/02/2004 21:47)

Name RADEON 9800 PRO - Secondary
PNP Device ID PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4E68&SUBSYS_00031002&REV_00\4&102AC5BC&0&01F0
Adapter Type Not Available
Adapter Description ATI Technologies Inc.
Adapter RAM Not Available
Installed Drivers Not Available
Driver Version Not Available
INF File 6.14.10.6614 (oem33.inf section)
Color Planes ati2mtag_R350
Color Table Entries Not Available
Resolution Not Available
Bits/Pixel Not Available
Driver c:\windows\system32\drivers\ati2mtag.sys (6.14.10.6614, 1.47 MB (1,540,608 bytes), 24/02/2004 21:47)

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As for recovery cd - i get that dos prompt... then what? No idea how to use it. System restore didnt seem to work although i can try an older date...

Oh and i got no tv attached. Maybe i should try plugging monitor through dsub rather than dvi, but i doubt that will help.

Also it seems to stop connecting to the net after a few mins. It also complains about directplay, some music and sound issues.

Tried swapping the g-card for an 9700pro i have lying around but no change there. Maybe i should pull out an old geforce out of old pc to prod it into updating drivers...

when you go into the windows install section there should be an option to do a repair install. also before you try that try reinstalling the graphics card and network drivers from the net this should fix your problems as it seams it could be corrupted drivers

Graphics drivers wont install

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dkmech

When i try installing video drivers they cannot complete and complain about "Inf error. Video driver not found". Then it tells me to install the default video driver before continuing with setup.

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when in safe mode uninstall all drivers so it is like when windows was first installed then try reinstalling