Problem with Older Computer

An older computer of mine started having a strange problem a couple of days ago: The computer will NOT enter Windows in regular mode at all. Once it gets to the point where it would normally start loading the desktop, it freezes up completely. It enters safe mode just fine, except that there is a very obvious video issue: there are lines of various colors all over the screen.

However, I don't believe it to be a video card problem. You see, the problems start as soon as the computer goes on. Right from the point where it says testing primary slave, secondary slave, etc, the words are all ******* up. About half of the letters show up as the letter that comes before them in the alphabet. So "secondary slave" shows up as "rdcnndary sk've," or something to that effect. At this point, there are no video errors (those don't start until the Windows start screen), just spelling errors!

The computer is completely unusable. I re-installed the video card drivers just in case, but nothing changed.

The computer is a 6.5 y/o Pentium 200MMX with 64mb ram and a Voodoo Banshee 3d card, and running Windows 98SE. If anybody could offer any insight into how to fix this, it would be much appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

 

Toasted Onions--From an MS-DOS prompt type scanreg /restore|Enter. You should be offered five dates from which you can restore earlier Registry settings. Chose one that predates the problem|Enter|Wait|Reboot.
(The above assumes you have ScanReg in your startup routine. (See MSCONFIG|Startup). If you did not, you will not have the Registry backups.)

 

In a very strange turn of events, the computer just started working again. We'll see how long this will last...

Thanks for your help!

 

I had a similar issue a ways back, I ended up having to format the C: drive and reinstall. Try using your startup disk too and you may be able to get in to do maintenence.

-Shelga

 

I found out what the problem was. It turns out the video card was shot. I've replaced it and everything's working great.

I did format the hard drive before I figured that out though (darn).

Thanks for replying, guys.