Tech help requested: Windows XP Looks Like It's Running In Safe Mode When It's In Normal Mode

Self | Jan. 27, 2008 | Self

[jdm]

I reinstalled XP on a person's computer. When it logged in (yes, logged in!) I noticed that the graphics looked horrible, like it was running in "Safe Mode." And I couldn't connect to the internet or print.

Do I just need to download drivers at Gateway.com (it's a Gateway 310) and burn them to a CDR for use on this person's PC?

Furthermore, just burn the drivers (all exe files) to a CDR (as a data disc, not ISO) and then boot up normally, install them one-by-one, reboot and voila, the screen will look normal, I'll be able to connect to the internet, print and so forth?

Thanks for your suggestions.

[cva66snipe]

Thats what I remember with my second Presario. They came with CD Burners and you made a back up of XP about 5 disk I think. That part I didn’t like a bit. I think they started this about the time Compaq and HP merged. I also got burnt on RAM Slots on my newer Presario 6400.. Salesmen swore it had 3 and I took him at his word. {Circuit City} When I did a RAM upgrade I found out different. Two slots.

[JoJo Gunn]

Well, I haven’t found out anything else that really matters concerning the HP, no more than what’s at the link. I suspect that your mE disc would install to it, but since it’s an “upgrade” disc, (it’s still the complete OS, though), you might have to jump a couple of hoops to get it installed. Change that. You did say you have ‘98? Just make sure you know the I.D. keys.

[jdm]

I don’t like working in 16 color 640X480 mode during setup.

Is 16-bit the reason why it looks like it's in safe mode, do you think? And installing the graphics driver should fix that? Thanks for your post - I am probably going to be out there later tonight working on the PC.

[Richard Kimball]

My information is a little dated, but last time I worked with Windows, if it wasn't sure which video driver to use, it would default back to the absolute basic driver that will display on anything. If, under display settings you can't select higher resolutions or number of colors, the first thing I'd do is install the correct video driver.

For some reason, I know that Windows ME would just lose the video driver every so often and I'd have to go back and reinstall it. No big deal, just annoying.

[jdm]

Cool. Thanks a lot for your, reply. I was just a little concerned because someone upthread said I might have to take the machine apart before I could get the screen looking normal, get online, and so forth.

That just seemed odd, since this machine has had XP reinstalled on it in the past (late 2004), and during THAT particular reinstall, it seemed to not default to 16 bit. So not sure why it’s doing it for this reinstall (this is only the second reinstall ever on the machine).

Thanks again for writing. I’ve got my fingers crossed that installing the drivers recommended for this particular machine (which I downloaded from gateway.com) will make everything “normal” again!