My computer with windows 98 can only start up in safe mode.

[mustangraul 0]

Can anyone please help me or direct me where can I find a solution to my problem? When I first start the computer it goes through what sounds like a normal start up. But then it goes to a blank black screen. I press ctrl alt delete, then it goes to the safe mode option and only works in that mode. Any suggestions? I am a newbie and would like to learn how to fix the problem Please Help

 

[dllfile 0]

I would start by booting into safe mode, since your able to,

 

Goto the Control Panel, and user accounts then create a new User, such as Test or any name you like, Now, browse the HDD to the desktop and my documents of the "old" username (whatever your old profile was)

 

Copy everything in My Documents, Favorites, and Desktop to a folder somewhere else in order to keep a backup if you have any files in those locations you want to keep.

 

Now, in the Users screen, delete the "Old Profile" and then reboot. It should boot normally, and boot into the new account you created.

 

I have seen this same problem on machines of my own as well as others I have worked on, seems to be a problem with the account profile becoming corrupt, usually can happen when the PC was not properly shutdown, or even events where the data for the account dyring shutdown were not written to the hard disk completely before the system powered off or restarted.

 

As stated, it may mostly likely be the problem here and making a new user account on the system and deleting the old should resolve it.

 

If that does not work, then reboot into safe mode again, and uninstall and remove and drivers that you have installed (Such as modem, video card ,sound drivers,

 

Next, after you uninstall the drivers, Go into My Computer > System and look at the hardware tab, check for any items that are being shown "duplicate", some of which may be shown with a yellow exclamation point.

 

Any items shown 2 times or more, remove them all even ones that are not having the yellow exclamation, Windows can redect them upon a successful boot.

 

If all goes well, you should boot back into windows properly, note, you will have to reinstall all drivers for any hardware, chipsets ect.. that windows does not setup automatically, and some of course such as video you may want to install manufactueres drivers anyhow to get optimal performace, such as Sound and Video.

 

// Regards,

dllfile

[Sampson 0]

There is a hidden file in your root directory called bootlog.txt . You will have change the attributes to see it. You can use a Dos window and issue the command attrib bootlog.txt -h . Then you can use any text editor to bring it up. Look through the file and find where each driver is called and which one "fails". That's the driver that needs to be replaced or updated.

[mustangraul 0]

I was able to get the computer working right by phyisically removing the vidio card, dusting it of with a brush and reinstalling it. The computer works great now. Thanks for the input dllfile, and Sampson.