ANOTHER problem!

[Anime Kidd]

It seems computers hate me. I have another problem. You see I was on the computer one night, works fine, then I shut it off. No problems yet. Next day, before anyone else, I turn it on and the computer boots up in 640x480 in 16-bit. I can't change the resolution and colors and I have no idea what happened to make it so. Now, everytime I use it, it says something abous being in selective startup/system manager/configurator/whatever or some such thing, to troubleshoot the problem. I thought it was something about the startup, but that wasn't it. One time, and only once, I did turn it off and a message appear, but the computer turned off to quick as I had no time to read it. Everything seems to work fine, but the resolutuion. The computer is a Gateway and has a funky startup process and uses Windows Millenium Edition. I tried to boot it in Safe Mode, which it looks like it exactly, and still no-go.

Brief Problem Overview
O - Computer just starts up in 640x480 in 16-bit colors and can't change resolution.
O - It says something about "selective startup/system manager/configurator/whatever", but I have no idea what to do.
O - The computer seems to work fine and all, but the resolution is screwed up and can't be changed.

 

[ergeheilalt]

When you were last on the computer (when it was workin fine) did you a) install/remove any hardware, b) install/remove any new software, c) change any default systems settings? If so, restore the settings as they were and the reboot.

You could also run a virus scan and see if anything has infected the computer too.

Erge

 

[Zenon]

For some reason, it sounds like you're stuck in Safe Mode.

Safe Mode doesn't load your normal video drivers, it uses Microsoft's default VGA driver (which is why you cannot change screen resolution, colors, etc).

Try going to the Start button, then to Run and click on it. In the white command line box type 'msconfig' (without the quotes). This should bring up a system configuration screen. Flip through the tabs untill you find one that lists the Startup mode - make sure you are selected to use Normal startup, not Diagnostic or Selective.

You may have had a system driver corrupt on you, you could try re-installing you video drivers.

 

[Anime Kidd]

I didnt install/remove any hardware or software or change any settings.
I thought it might be with the video, but the computer has integrated video so I dont know where the drivers would be? On the windows disk or online somewhere? Its the some Nvidia Vanta integrated video.
I also tried the normal Startup, but that didnt help either. It just loads every signle thing program in start, which lengthens the computer's boot time too much.

I just don't get why it would work one day and the next, without any indication of any problem, it starts to screw up.

 

[LightPhoenix]

Well, something as sudden like that is only one of a few things. Viruses and spyware could have corrupted drivers, and viruses or spyware removal tools could have deleted essential files which were duped by a program. I would run a virus scan first, and then try reinstalling the video drivers. I would then make sure you're not running in one of the special modes, as Zenon described.

If those doesn't work, it's possible that it's a hardware problem, and not a software one. If nothing you try works, rather than screwing with all sorts of stuff and messing it up, I would have it looked at professionally.

 

[Anime Kidd]

Well I did install a program, but I don't think that has anything to do with it...I'm unistalling it now as well as anything else I've recently installed.

 

[Anime Kidd]

Well I used a virus checker and got JS/Loop. What is it? I don't know, the problem doesn't have any info on it. Anyone know what it is and what it does?

 

[Greyhawk_DM]

Well I used a virus checker and got JS/Loop. What is it? I don't know, the problem doesn't have any info on it. Anyone know what it is and what it does?

You will find the info you need at the following link.

http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/js.trojan.windowbomb.html

 

[Anime Kidd]

Ok, the virus didn't seem to do anything apparently. At least not what I got from the site.

Anyone else have suggestions for my problem? Or a computer site/board specifically for such things?

 

[Anime Kidd]

Well it seems I fixed it, 800x600 in 32-bit color resolution! Woohoo!

I went through msconfig and changed the display driver under boot.ini in system.ini to the driver for the nvidia vanta. It seems work.

I guess someone went through msconfig and played around. I don't understand how they changed it because noone else, besides my brother, really knows anything about computers. I'm still not sure it that actually was the cause and thinking that it still is going to revert back. Guess I can't really do anything about that. Oh well.