win 98 se can't load gui

[nh39]

Hi,

I have an old win 98 se pc. It can get to safe mode with no problem. when it tries to boot normally, I can see the win 98 logo at start up and commands in the autoexec.bat executed, and then, the screen stays black. If I cut it off and reboot, it'd tell me the system did not finish loading the previous attempt and automatically goes to safe mode. I've tried to fix the registry by running scanreg, and norton system. Both utilities say they can't find any error. Please help! Any info or suggestion is appreciated.

 

[edfair]

SE is the best at overlaying the installs. But if you have registry problems the same problems will be with you after the new install.

I would be curious what is in the autoexec.bat. Normally I delete the autoexec and config from the previous OS when I install SE. Causes it to generate AE and config of 0 length.

Had you considered your bootmenu options. One of them is bootlog. After the failure you can boot again and look in the bootlog and may be able to find the problem.

Ed Fair
Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[wolluf]

Another bootmenu options is step-by-step boot (you can say yes/no to loading items drivers and items from autoexec.bat/config.sys - so can be process of elimination to find what's causing the problem).

 

[TekTippy4U]

When you see the commands in Autoexec.bat going by....hit the "pause" key to hold......and "any"
key to release and continue.....
If it used to go by very fast......maybe by looking closely and examing the commands you can see what's causing or contributing to the problem.......

It might be a video diplay adapter/ video card problem also.....

 

[Nyg]

You know the problem is a GUI problem so although Scanreg is saying REG is OK you have a problem, so have you installed a started REG (normally best to install most recent from the 6 listed) from scanreg as you will know that Reg is perfect and then see if it starts OK.

 

[nh39]

I'm almost certain that it's the video card, but somehow, updating the driver doesn't help. I'm able to restore the registry and get in the normal mode. However, when I install the monitor (at prompt) and reboot, it goes back to the same problem. Basically, if every time it asks me to install the monitor and I click cancel, everything is fine. I can't disable the display adapter either; it also causes the same problem.

 

[wolluf]

Do you mean its trying to install drivers for a specific monitor - or just the 'plug and play' one? It sounds like its the monitor settings file which causes your problem. After you cancel the monitor install, if you go to display properties, what monitor does it think is installed? Have you got drivers for your monitor (that you could install manually)?

 

[TekTippy4U]

Even though I am much more sure of this, from running them on my own pc.....
PLEASE consider my posts carefully.......as I'm trying my best to be as close
to 99.9% positve as possible......

I am hurriedly going to and searching through any and all references I made concerning below commands in other posts....to hopefully help correct my mistakes by reposting this "Updated Version" below and salvage what's left of my integrity.......
--------------------------------------------------
Run Scandisk in safe mode from the command line...
CTRL+ALT+DEL...to restart
Press and hold down the left CTRL key when the BIOS POST is almost done...right before Starting Windows 98 message appears, and then select
Command Prompt Only option.
Type: win /d:m at the command prompt.......
The box should start in safe mode.....
If it worked....you're now in windows Safe-Mode
go to start>run>type SCANDSKW........Enter
this will check your FAT32 (if you have one)
Once in windows safe-mode you can do much more troubleshooting through System Configuration Utility.

If it "doesn't" boot;
CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart....
Press and hold down the left CTRL key like above....
then select
Safe Mode Command Prompt Only
Type;CD C:\Windows\Command hit Enter
Type in Scandisk C: hit Enter to inspect the C:\ drive.
This will only scan and repair FAT16......

ScanDisk detects lost allocation units and prompts you to recover them as files.
The files will have a .chk extension

CTRL+ALT+DEL to reboot........
Press and hold down the left CTRL key during startup, like above....to access the startup menu...and
then try and repeat the "first" step....as listed above from "command prompt only"
If you're successful
Hopefully your in Windows Safe-Mode now......
Once in windows safe-mode you can do much more troubleshooting through System Configuration Utility.

If you never get to Windows there are other command line switches that can be used from the command line, that accomplish the same actions as the advanced area of Sys Config Utility............

Note; Selecting Safe Mode Command Prompt Only from the startup menu will "not" load the extended memory driver Himem.sys.
Only FAT16 drives will be checked......
The MS-DOS version of ScanDisk requires Himem.sys be loaded to check FAT32 drives........

AGAIN MY APOLOGIES for my mistakes........
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ALL

TT4U