Monitor problem

Wow! I'd totally forgotten about that post. I never did get an answer
back then and never did change anything.

I started thinking about the BIOS at the present time because it is
referenced in Step 3 of the following document titled "HP and Compaq
Desktop PCs - Monitor is Blank after Starting the Computer":

<http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/fastFaqLiteDocument?lc=en&cc=uk&dlc=en&docname=bph04760>

I wouldn't be surprised if this week's BIOS problem resulted from my
stupidiy using the keyboard while my monitor was blank (because it was
not properly connected) when I rebooted to finish installing that new
RAM stick last Sunday night. Quoting myself from this past Thursday:

< quote >
After reconnecting all cables at the back of my computer, connecting the
electricity and powering up, my screen was blank. Thinking that ME had
fully booted but I just couldn't see it (dumb me!) and being pretty sure
my monitor cable wasn't completely plugged in (why didn't I double-check
it before powering up when I wasn't 100% sure?), I used Ctl-Alt-Del to
try to shutdown by moving my "invisible" cursor to the "Shutdown"
position and hitting Enter. (I know. Pretty stupid.) Nothing
happened. Then I used Ctl-Alt-Del again because I realized I had used
one of the arrow keys (to the left of the numeric keypad) instead of the
Tab key to move my "invisible" cursor. Again nothing happened -
surprise, surprise - so I shutdown using the power key (hard shutdown?).
< end quote >

Anyway, all's well that ends well? And I think I'll give things a rest
for awhile before adding that new RAM again. I'm tired!

Nevans

On Sun, 29 Jun 2008 22:38:00 +0100, Mart wrote in
microsoft.public.windowsme.hardware
<news:#LtIoBj2IHA.5472@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl>:

> Well, although I'm very pleased to hear that you've now fixed your PC, I did
> wonder why you mentioned the BIOS when discussing what appeared to be a
> straight forward Video driver issue. And then I found this post dated
> 09/12/2004 :-
> http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/11838-28-presario-5000-5wv254-chan...g-apert
>
> Hmm... poking about in the BIOS is not always a good idea without keeping
> copious detailed notes of every thing you do - so that you can undo them
> if/when things go pear-shaped.
>
> Mart
>
> "Nevans" <nevansc RemoveThis @gmail.com.invalid> wrote in message
> news:1n7k9cj9rwlxo.dlg@N152468.user.x-privat.org...
>> Hey Mart.
>>
>> After trying unsuccessfully many times to get this system to recognize
>> the video driver, I decided to accept the fact that either my video card
>> was bad or that something in the BIOS got changed last Sunday night when
>> I didn't connect my monitor correctly.
>>
>> This morning, I decided I'd better try Step 3 (the directions for
>> resetting the BIOS) that I had obtained on Tuesday from HP's site
>> regarding the monitor being blank on startup. First, I did a system
>> restore in Safe Mode to a point before all of this trouble started
>> (which I'd tried earlier and determined would not correct the problem
>> but would at least clean things up a bit). Then I entered the BIOs and
>> reset it to its default configuration by choosing "Load Setup Defaults
>> and Exit" or something to that effect . Once I did that, the system
>> came up properly in normal mode and everything in Device Manager is
>> correct.
>>
>> I guess I shouldn't have been so chicken about messing with the BIOS.
>> It's just not something I want to touch unless absolutely necessary -
>> and I guess this was one of those times! I was a mainframe applications
>> programmer for twenty years and was always used to the "systems guys"
>> having to deal with the equipment and OS side of things.
>>
>> Sorry to have taken up your time. I've definitely learned some things
>> from the information you gave me that helps me better understand how
>> this machine operates.
>>
>> Thanks so much for all of your help!
>> Nevans
>>
>> On Sun, 29 Jun 2008 04:46:27 +0100, Mart wrote in
>> microsoft.public.windowsme.hardware
>> <news:uN8I2qZ2IHA.5512@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl>:
>>
>>> Ah! ... So the 2001 driver was not even the original?
>>>
>>> Remove the 2001 & later from your machine and leave only the
>>> C:\cpqdrv\nvidia folder (and contents) in place.
>>>
>>> Repeat the 'Removal' of all Video Adapters and Monitors in Dev.Man in
>>> Safe
>>> Mode and re-boot.
>>>
>>> Hopefully, this time you will be asked for the video drivers. Just point
>>> (navigate) to C:\cpqdrv\nvidia and it should install the correct 2000
>>> driver.
>>>
>>> The Monitor files are probably there too and all being well, should
>>> correctly identify your monitor.
>>>
>>> Personally, I wouldn't bother trying to update your drivers once you get
>>> them working. Just leave well alone.
>>>
>>> Mart
>>>
>>> "Nevans" <nevansc RemoveThis @gmail.com.invalid> wrote in message
>>> news:13btj3roxscjf.dlg@N152468.user.x-privat.org...
>>>> Thanks Mart.
>>>>
>>>> There were two Display Adapters in Dev. Mon. when this saga started: a
>>>> nVidia one and a "generic" one (can't remember exactly what it was
>>>> called). Now there is only a "nVidia Vanta LT (Compaq)" entry. It has
>>>> a yellow exclamation point in Normal mode but looks "ok" in Safe Mode.
>>>> Also, the Monitor entry does not show up in Normal mode but is there and
>>>> fine in Safe Mode.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for the information about uninstalling the drivers in Safe Mode.
>>>>
>>>> I have actually found the original Compaq driver from 2000 that came
>>>> with this machine in the folder C:\cpqdrv\nvidia. I'll try to install
>>>> that when (and if) I'm given the opportunity to do so. Maybe later I'll
>>>> apply Compaq's nVidia driver Softpaq from 2001. If things get to the
>>>> point where I'm back to normal, I'll just leave the driver with a
>>>> Compaq-supplied one unless Mike M says otherwise.
>>>>
>>>> I'll report back as soon as I can get online after getting the job done.
>>>>
>>>> Nevans
>>>>
>>>> On Sun, 29 Jun 2008 00:58:13 +0100, Mart wrote in
>>>> microsoft.public.windowsme.hardware
>>>> <news:eLavTrX2IHA.5564@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl>:
>>>>
>>>>> Nevans,
>>>>>
>>>>> My guess is that your Video Adapter is trying to use a combination of
>>>>> old
>>>>> and new driver files - a sort of soup of residual files - some of which
>>>>> *may* have the same name but are the incorrect version. So you need to
>>>>> start
>>>>> over again.
>>>>>
>>>>> Under the circumstances, yes, uninstall any/all nVidia utilities (in
>>>>> Safe
>>>>> Mode) using add/remove programs first then open Dev Man and 'Remove'
>>>>> all
>>>>> Display Adapters (How many do you see? And are they all the same
>>>>> versions
>>>>> (according to their Properties)
>>>>>
>>>>> You might even have to search for and remove any stubborn nVidia files
>>>>> still
>>>>> floating around on your C: drive. You might even have to repeat the
>>>>> process
>>>>> a couple of times to ensure that you've got rid of them all.
>>>>>
>>>>> Eventually when you re-boot - with a bit of luck - it *should* ask you
>>>>> for
>>>>> drivers. Only install the original driver (supplied 2001?) Do not
>>>>> install
>>>>> (or over-install) the later one. IIRC, there were issues with
>>>>> 'upgrading'
>>>>> to
>>>>> so-called universal nVidia drivers. Never affected me as mine were
>>>>> Matrox
>>>>> (desktop) and Neo-Magic (laptop)
>>>>>
>>>>> Not sure if Mike M (if he is watching this thread) may be able to add
>>>>> any
>>>>> further info on nVidia drivers as I seem to recollect he had some
>>>>> experience
>>>>> with them some years back.
>>>>>
>>>>> Mart
>>>>>
>>>>> "Nevans" <nevansc RemoveThis @gmail.com.invalid> wrote in message
>>>>> news:oz67d7lkh6zw$.dlg@N152468.user.x-privat.org...
>>>>>> Mart,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Whenever I remove the Monitor and Video Display Adapters in the Device
>>>>>> Manager in Safe Mode, the subsequent reboot does not ask me what
>>>>>> driver
>>>>>> I want but just does its own thing and then says to reboot, which I
>>>>>> only
>>>>>> do when I do not need to get online.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I did not do the following but just want to be sure I'm doing things
>>>>>> right: When you say to remove the old driver(s) in Safe Mode first,
>>>>>> are
>>>>>> you talking about using Add/Remove Programs to uninstall the couple of
>>>>>> nVidia drivers that are present in that list? I have a Compaq Softpaq
>>>>>> with the latest nVidia driver they supplied in 2001 which I did
>>>>>> install
>>>>>> back then. I also have the installation program for nVidia's 71.84
>>>>>> driver which I installed a couple of years ago.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thanks for your assistance,
>>>>>> Nevans
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:39:09 +0100, Mart wrote in
>>>>>> microsoft.public.windowsme.hardware
>>>>>> <news:uDYqjjC2IHA.4572@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl>:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Your (current) problem appears to be due to the video adapter (card)
>>>>>>> no
>>>>>>> longer being offered the correct WinMe driver. Confirm that you have
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> correct driver (originally supplied with the pc - on a separate CD
>>>>>>> perhaps?)
>>>>>>> and re-do Mike's and my advice (at the bottom of your post) and
>>>>>>> reinstall
>>>>>>> your video driver.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> You MUST remove the old driver(s) in Safe Mode first.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> When your PC re-boots (into Normal Mode) it *should* ask you to
>>>>>>> direct
>>>>>>> it
>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>> the video driver. Be sure to point it to the correct driver - don't
>>>>>>> let
>>>>>>> it
>>>>>>> guess and find a default "PCI VGA compatible display adapter". You
>>>>>>> MUST
>>>>>>> direct it to the correct WinMe compatible one, specifically designed
>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>> your card/adapter.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Good luck
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Mart
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> "Nevans" <nevansc RemoveThis @gmail.com.invalid> wrote in message
>>>>>>> news:174z52fpcicqx$.dlg@N152468.user.x-privat.org...
>>>>>>>> Compaq Presario 5000 5WV254
>>>>>>>> 700mhz AMD Duron
>>>>>>>> 256MB Ram
>>>>>>>> Windows ME
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> This post is long. It begins.... I was adding one stick of RAM the
>>>>>>>> other night to increase from 256 to 512. I was not having any
>>>>>>>> problems.
>>>>>>>> I know! I know! "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> After reconnecting all cables at the back of my computer, connecting
>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>> electricity and powering up, my screen was blank. Thinking that ME
>>>>>>>> had
>>>>>>>> fully booted but I just couldn't see it (dumb me!) and being pretty
>>>>>>>> sure
>>>>>>>> my monitor cable wasn't completely plugged in (why didn't I
>>>>>>>> double-check
>>>>>>>> it before poweing up when I wasn't 100% sure?), I used Ctl-Alt-Del
>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>> try to shutdown by moving my "invisible" cursor to the "Shutdown"
>>>>>>>> position and hitting Enter. (I know. Pretty stupid.) Nothing
>>>>>>>> happened. Then I used Ctl-Alt-Del again because I realized I had
>>>>>>>> used
>>>>>>>> one of the arrow keys (to the left of the numeric keypad) instead of
>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>> Tab key to move my "invisible" cursor. Again nothing happened -
>>>>>>>> surprise, surprise - so I shutdown using the power key (hard
>>>>>>>> shutdown?).
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Powering back up resulted in the Windows ME screen followed by a
>>>>>>>> blank
>>>>>>>> screen with a blinking cursor briefly and then no cursor. Doing
>>>>>>>> another
>>>>>>>> hard shutdown/power on took me to the screen that lets you choose
>>>>>>>> how
>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>> bootup. It had Safe Mode selected and the machine booted up there
>>>>>>>> into
>>>>>>>> Windows Help and Support. (The new RAM was recognized in Safe Mode;
>>>>>>>> nevertheless I decided to remove it before proceeding further.)
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> After many frustrating hours, including using System Restore to go
>>>>>>>> back
>>>>>>>> to a restore point from earlier in the day and going through the
>>>>>>>> steps
>>>>>>>> in a printout I had of MS article 273738 "How to Troubleshoot
>>>>>>>> Windows
>>>>>>>> Millennium Edition Startup Problems", I eventually realized I could
>>>>>>>> access my newsreader program in Safe Mode. After looking through
>>>>>>>> lots
>>>>>>>> of posts in my archive of the MS Windows ME help newsgroups, I found
>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>> thread from April 2005 in which the recommendation to someone having
>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>> similar problem was to remove all Monitor entries in the Device
>>>>>>>> Manager
>>>>>>>> (which did not fix my problem) and then suggested removing all Video
>>>>>>>> Display Adapter entries (which also did not fix my problem).
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I got the "detecting new hardware" message the very first time I
>>>>>>>> rebooted (I'm not sure whether that was after removing the Monitor
>>>>>>>> entries or the Video Display Adapter entries) but I have not seen
>>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>>> message in many subsequent reboots.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> There are now no Monitor entries present in Device Manager.
>>>>>>>> Whenever
>>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>>> can do what I call a "semi-successful" boot, it starts with a
>>>>>>>> message
>>>>>>>> about "PCI VGA compatible display adapter" that goes by so fast I
>>>>>>>> can't
>>>>>>>> get the whole thing and then a message about nVidia. Then a box
>>>>>>>> appears
>>>>>>>> with "To finish setting up your new hardware, restart your
>>>>>>>> computer....
>>>>>>>> Do you wish to restart now?".
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> If I don't restart, I can get into Windows with 640x480 and 16
>>>>>>>> colors
>>>>>>>> (a "semi-successful" boot.) That's where I am now which,
>>>>>>>> fortunately,
>>>>>>>> allows me to get online to access email, do other work and, most
>>>>>>>> importantly, do more research on this problem I'm having.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> If I choose instead to restart, I get the blank screen scenario
>>>>>>>> again.
>>>>>>>> I then hard shutdown/power up and let my machine go into Safe Mode
>>>>>>>> where
>>>>>>>> I remove the nVidia Video Display Adapter entry so I can get another
>>>>>>>> semi-successful boot.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I've already checked that all cards and cables inside are secure.
>>>>>>>> I have a feeling I'm going to have to mess with the BIOS and guess I
>>>>>>>> just want some guidance (reassurance!) before proceeding.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> At http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winme/r1077150248 it says
>>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>>> clearing my board's BIOS Plug and Play configuration data (DMI) may
>>>>>>>> do
>>>>>>>> the trick. although I'm not quite sure how to do that.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Some reading I've done at HP's site indicates that resetting my BIOS
>>>>>>>> back to its default configuration might fix my problem. Their site
>>>>>>>> does
>>>>>>>> tell how to do that but I'm not sure I'm ready (call it "scared")
>>>>>>>> since
>>>>>>>> this is the most complicated problem I've encountered since buying
>>>>>>>> this
>>>>>>>> machine in Nov. 2000. If necessary, I have the last BIOS update
>>>>>>>> Compaq
>>>>>>>> provided in 2002 for this computer.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>>>> Nevans
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> P.S. Just for clarification, I did use the appropriate RAM for this
>>>>>>>> machine. Several years ago I increased my ram from 64 to 256 (by
>>>>>>>> replacing Compaq's 64MB stick with two 128MB sticks of Kingston
>>>>>>>> KVR133Q/128R) and this time added one 256MB stick of Kingston
>>>>>>>> KVR133Q/256R in the last available slot.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Here's the portion of the old thread I mentioned above (which, by
>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>> way, fixed the OP's problem back then although he didn't say which
>>>>>>>> action(s) actually resulted in success). I can provide more of the
>>>>>>>> thread if you need it.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Wed, 20 Apr 2005 00:36:08 +0100, Mike M wrote in
>>>>>>>> microsoft.public.windowsme.hardware
>>>>>>>> <news:OM1TRiTRFHA.2348@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl>:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Follow Mart's suggestion and remove all entries in Monitor in the
>>>>>>>>> Device
>>>>>>>>> Manager. If that doesn't fix it then boot back into Safe Mode and
>>>>>>>>> remove
>>>>>>>>> all Video Display Adapter entries.
>>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>> Mike Maltby MS-MVP
>>>>>>>>> mike.maltby RemoveThis @gmail.com
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> KenP <KenP RemoveThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> I forgot to include that if I boot up in the SAFE MODE, the PC
>>>>>>>>>> does
>>>>>>>>>> come up. Where do I change the monitor refresh mode, bios or ???