Older computer won't boot into windows

CDsDontBurn · Mar 7, 2006, 07:41 AM

That's right. exactly what the title says. Here's the low-down.

I had reformatted the machine from win2k to win98se due to hardware requirements not met under win2k with some of the software this machine runs. That, and the audio drivers for the sound card only support win98se and older. After the re-install, everything worked fine, i installed all the system drivers just fine and what not. Though, when i went to install the drivers for my Kingston Data Travler 1, upon reboot, the machine would not go into windows. The last thing that i can see is the win98 splash screen, and then the monitor shuts off as if it is sleeping, but the machine keeps working as if it's working fine. It can boot into safe mode all the way, so i don't know what the deal is here.

So far i've tried:
1. removing drivers for my flash drive - in safe mode
2. changing resolution settings in BIOS (wouldn't allow me to anyways)

System specs:
500Mhz Celeron
64Mb RAM
Intel i810 chipset MoBo

i could do a windows install again, but i don't really feel like going through that hassle again.

Dyre Straits · Mar 7, 2006, 10:57 AM

Have you tried doing a Step by Step Confirmation boot? It's item #4 in the Safemode boot sequence.

CDsDontBurn · Mar 7, 2006, 02:28 PM

nope. will try that now.

was thinking though. could it be a resolution issue that the monitor i'm using right now does not support?

**Vikingod** · Mar 7, 2006, 02:42 PM

Could be, but I figure you would get a message about it being "out of range" or something. It seems more like a driver problem than something like that.

CDsDontBurn · Mar 7, 2006, 02:48 PM

@ dyre: i just did the step by step confirmation boot. got into safe mode just fine again, but upon reboot for windows normally, the same thing happened.

@ vikingod: i don't get the message, but this particular monitor i have doesn't give the "out of range" message when it is.

EDIT:
just fixed the damn thing. it was a resolution issue like i had thought. i had to freakin' move a monitor from my sister's computer to fix this thing

Dyre Straits · Mar 7, 2006, 03:15 PM

I was just going to say that I, too, thought it might be a monitor issue. I just went through this very thing with my daughter-in-law's computer and had to change monitors for it to get into Windows. I couldn't even make the resolution/refresh change in Safemode that would allow it to boot.

She was using a 14" DiGiView monitor at the time. I put a 15 inch IBM on her computer and it booted up without any further problem.

Glad to know you got it sorted out.

CDsDontBurn · Mar 7, 2006, 03:20 PM

yea, thanks guys

.

you know, why is it that you cannot make a resolution change in safemode that will allow the computer to boot normally if this happens? it blows that you can't do that IMO.

Dyre Straits · Mar 7, 2006, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CDsDontBurn

yea, thanks guys

.

you know, why is it that you cannot make a resolution change in safemode that will allow the computer to boot normally if this happens? it blows that you can't do that IMO.

Hear! Hear!

I tried and tried to make that change before switching monitors. What's even really STUPID is that Safemode doesn't even list the monitor under Device Manager so that you can 'remove' it. Really, really stupid.

CDsDontBurn · Mar 7, 2006, 04:50 PM

yea, that is a bit of a bummer. kinda sux when you don't want to move a monitor from another computer just to make a simple resolution change

Dyre Straits · Mar 7, 2006, 06:30 PM

One thing I did do once that worked -- but not consistently -- was to remove the Graphics Display Adapter from Device Manager in Safemode. However, even that didn't work on this 14 inch monitor that was initially connected.

Judas · Mar 7, 2006, 06:43 PM

load windows XP Pro on it... it'll work and run faster then any other version of windows... (and XP Pro supports more old lagacy drivers then any other version of windows, even 2000)

If i can run xp pro better then anything else on a 90mhz 486 with 64mb of ram and 1.6gb hardrive..... you can run windows xp pro on that 500mhz machine FAR better....

minimum requirements for XP Pro to even load is 64mb of ram and i even managed to get it to install on a 75mhz pentium class cpu (no MMX)....

And exactly 1038mb of hardrive space or else XP Pro will say NO (i had a drive after being partitioned, has 1036mb..... anyone have any idea how much i cried? )