My Computer has taken a life of its own!!!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sheila Dickie
  • Start date Start date
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Sheila Dickie

Hi There!
I've been running XP Home for about 1-1/2 years with no
problems. My automatic update seems to be working all the
time as regularly there are updates ready to install.
However, yesterday, I received a message that sent me to
the Windows Download area. It scanned my system and told
me that I was missing 1 critical 9 optional and 1 driver
that needed to be installed. So I went about doing that.
The download time was EXTREMELY lengthy and took three
tries. Finally all was installed. Still my system
appeared to be fine. However last night when I came back
to computer, which is normally black screen until I touch
it with my mouse and then desktop appears immeditely (as I
am on cable). Anyway, instead, my whole screen was a back
and white of the "new" welcome screen I'd never seen
before. There were vertical lines though the entire
thing. As soon as it opened Windows, the desktop was the
same as the welcome screen so I rebooted and when the
desktop came up, it looked the way I expected it to except
that I got a notice that my COLOR SETTING and SCREEN
RESOLUTION were not at optimum and did I want Windows to
fix it. Of course I said Yes. However, nothing was
done. I've just spent hours trying to find a way to reset
my COLOR but there are NO OPTIONS. It is set on 4bit and
that's it! I've tried System Restore and even though 10
different patches were installed yesterday, when I tried
to go back to Monday and Tuesday, it said there had been
no changes. This is just not so. Please help me if you
know of anything I can do short of reinstalling Windows.
Thanks VERY MUCH!!!
Sheila Dickie
 
Hi Joe
Yes that was the driver it said I needed so I installed it
bbut now it's taken over as the default Monitor for Plug
aand Play and I can't find my NEC Monitor anywhere. I
assume that has nVidia thing has something to do with my
problem so I tried uninstalling it. I got a message
saying it was gone but it's still there.
Sheila
 
Hi Joe!
I don't know what happened to my other response so I'll try
again. Yes nVidea is the driver I installed yesterday and
i it has taken over. It shows as the Monitor for my
system rather than it being my NEC one. I have no idea
why or how this happened... I assume it's part of the
install. Anyway, YES. Is there something I can do? I
have already tried uninstalling it and computer says it's
gone but it's still there. I've tried the "roll back to
previous driver" ... nothing changed.
Sheila Dickie
 
Hi Harry...
Thanks for the good advice. I'll try updating the video
drivers. Thanks!
Sheila
-----Original Message-----
It sounds like your video drivers are corrupt. Reinstall them.

BTW while it is prudent to install Critical Updates you should never install
the Recommended Updates or the Drive Updates unless you have a specific need
for them.

--

Harry Ohrn - MS MVP [Shell/User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp


Sheila Dickie said:
Hi There!
I've been running XP Home for about 1-1/2 years with no
problems. My automatic update seems to be working all the
time as regularly there are updates ready to install.
However, yesterday, I received a message that sent me to
the Windows Download area. It scanned my system and told
me that I was missing 1 critical 9 optional and 1 driver
that needed to be installed. So I went about doing that.
The download time was EXTREMELY lengthy and took three
tries. Finally all was installed. Still my system
appeared to be fine. However last night when I came back
to computer, which is normally black screen until I touch
it with my mouse and then desktop appears immeditely (as I
am on cable). Anyway, instead, my whole screen was a back
and white of the "new" welcome screen I'd never seen
before. There were vertical lines though the entire
thing. As soon as it opened Windows, the desktop was the
same as the welcome screen so I rebooted and when the
desktop came up, it looked the way I expected it to except
that I got a notice that my COLOR SETTING and SCREEN
RESOLUTION were not at optimum and did I want Windows to
fix it. Of course I said Yes. However, nothing was
done. I've just spent hours trying to find a way to reset
my COLOR but there are NO OPTIONS. It is set on 4bit and
that's it! I've tried System Restore and even though 10
different patches were installed yesterday, when I tried
to go back to Monday and Tuesday, it said there had been
no changes. This is just not so. Please help me if you
know of anything I can do short of reinstalling Windows.
Thanks VERY MUCH!!!
Sheila Dickie
Click to expand...


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Click to expand...
 
I saw that nVidia update on Windows Update which lists it as a critical
update. *Never* install video or sound drivers from Windows Update. In my
experience, they cause nothing but problems.

Download and install the Version: 45.23 Release Date: August 13, 2003 WHQL
Certified drivers directly from nVidia.

http://www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.asp

Uninstall the drivers you got from Windows Update first.

Joe
 
Hi Joe!
Somehow after my 4th reboot, after trying the "roll over
to previous driver" button, it actually rolled it over.
I'm not 100% sure but I think I'm now running the version
you suggest here. Anyway, things appear to be back to
normal now but I just realized I haven't rebooted since
discovering that I could finally choose a different color
setting. Anyway, I'll do it right now and will come right
back and tell you if I'm not okay. THANKS A MILLION!!!
I really appreciate your help and I'll take your good
advice. No more Windows updates unless my system just
brings them to me on the automatic update thing.
Sheila
 
Hi Sheila - glad to hear the info helped. Please note: I said never to
download *video and sound drivers* from Windows Update. You need to
download the other updates because they often patch serious holes in the
Operating System that could leave your PC vunerable to hackers.

Get the video and audio drivers from the manufacturer's website. As you
found out, they are the experts in those fields, not Microsoft.

Joe
 
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