Problem booting computer with windows 2000

  • Thread starter Thread starter Epetruk
  • Start date Start date
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Epetruk

Hello,

I have a computer which has windows 2000 installed. When I boot it up, the
normal screens appear up to the point where the Windows 2000 banner appears.
Then the screen goes blank, the monitor light starts to blink, and nothing I
do can cause it to come back on.

The computer does work - I find that I can go into Safe Mode and see
everything on the screen. I searched online for a solution to my problem -
one post seemed to suggest that perhaps the monitor couldn't handle the
refresh rate that Windows 2000 chooses for it on start up. However, I can't
find where I might adjust this value to a mor e suitable value for the
monitor.

Any help will be gratefully received.
 
start -> settings -> control panel -> display properties -> settings
could be the refresh rate or the resolution is too high
 
And if that doesn't work, boot into Safe Mode and uninstall any
existing video drivers via Add/Remove Programs (most video
drivers will have an entry here).
 
Seth,

Thank you for your answer. Unfortunately, I cannot do this.

If I try booting in regular mode, the monitor blanks out, so I cannot see
the screen to change the settings.

If I try booting in safe mode, I only see a 'default refresh rate' setting
which cannot be changed.

Any further ideas?

Akin
 
try this...
boot in safe mode, open explorer and open the c:\boot.ini file
it's possible the file is read-only; right click the file and go to
properties. uncheck the read-only box if it is checked
open the file, and you'll see a line that starts with multi(0) etc.
select that line and copy it. (edit -> copy)
at the end of the line, press enter and paste (edit -> paste) what you just
copied. you should have 2 identical lines
on the line you just pasted, make 2 changes. where it says in quotes
"windows 2000 professional" insert -VGA so it reads "windows 2000
professional -VGA"
then at the end of the line add (this time without the quotes) /basevideo
/sos
at the very top where it says timeout, make sure the value is at least 30,
that way you have a chance to make a selection
reboot normally, and you should receive a startup menu. select the second
option which says "windows 2000 professional -VGA"
the /basevideo switch tells windows to use the standard vga driver. when you
select it, you will also see the list of drivers being loaded (from the /sos
switch)
this is different from safe mode, so you should have a better chance of
changing your video driver

more information about the /basevideo switch can be found here:

Available switch options for the Windows 2000 Boot.ini file
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/833722/en-us
 
When Win2K starts to load, press F8 to bring up the boot menu and select
"Start in VGA Mode". After booting, you should be able to set the video to a
reasonable setting and then reboot into the normal video mode.
 
Thanks Gary - that fixed it.

Gary Chanson said:
When Win2K starts to load, press F8 to bring up the boot menu and select
"Start in VGA Mode". After booting, you should be able to set the video to a
reasonable setting and then reboot into the normal video mode.
Click to expand...
 
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