Windows XP SP2
Nvidia GeForceMX 440 AGP8X
Monitor Samsung SyncMaster 940b

- The problem: Everytime I boot the computer and it loads windows xp,
there's a yellow mark in my Hardware/Device Manager/Display Adapter. No
Monitor icon also.

The temporary solution takes a few steps:
- to disable de display adapter.
- enable the display adapter, and after that the monitor icon magically
shows up.
- click on Control Panel/Display/Settings and it shows 640x480. Adjust it to
1280x1024.
- click on Advanced tab and change the Refresh Rate from 60Hz to 72Hz.

The system works fine until next boot.

I've tried to uninstall the video drivers, install it again, even in safe
mode.
I've tried to uninstall de monitor drivers.
Exchange the video card with other from another computer.
Clean the registry with a video cleaner drivers, and make a new clean
install.
Use the software Registry Mechanic to fix any possible flaw in the windows
registry.
Run sfc /scannow to replace any possible corrupted system dll file.

No success at all, I lost my video configuration every boot, and have the
yellow marked video adapter.

I have to clue how to fix the problem.
I would appreciate any help.

Thanks.

PRB wrote:
> Windows XP SP2
> Nvidia GeForceMX 440 AGP8X
> Monitor Samsung SyncMaster 940b
>
> - The problem: Everytime I boot the computer and it loads windows xp,
> there's a yellow mark in my Hardware/Device Manager/Display Adapter. No
> Monitor icon also.
>
> The temporary solution takes a few steps:
> - to disable de display adapter.
> - enable the display adapter, and after that the monitor icon magically
> shows up.
> - click on Control Panel/Display/Settings and it shows 640x480. Adjust it to
> 1280x1024.
> - click on Advanced tab and change the Refresh Rate from 60Hz to 72Hz.
>
> The system works fine until next boot.
>
> I've tried to uninstall the video drivers, install it again, even in safe
> mode.
> I've tried to uninstall de monitor drivers.
> Exchange the video card with other from another computer.
> Clean the registry with a video cleaner drivers, and make a new clean
> install.
> Use the software Registry Mechanic to fix any possible flaw in the windows
> registry.
> Run sfc /scannow to replace any possible corrupted system dll file.
>
> No success at all, I lost my video configuration every boot, and have the
> yellow marked video adapter.

Uninstall the video card and swap it out for a known-working one. If
this solves the problem, replace the original video card.

Standard caveat: Testing hardware failures often involves swapping out
suspected parts with known-good parts. If you can't do the testing
yourself and/or are uncomfortable opening your computer, take the
machine to a professional computer repair shop (not your local
equivalent of BigStoreUSA). Have all your data backed up before you take
the machine into a shop.


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

As I related before, I've already tested another video card and the problem
is still the same.

It's a hardware failure only when I boot the machine.
The temporary solution fix it until next boot.

I guess it's a corrupted windows system file.

Thanks anyway.

"Malke" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...

> Uninstall the video card and swap it out for a known-working one. If this
> solves the problem, replace the original video card.
>
> Standard caveat: Testing hardware failures often involves swapping out
> suspected parts with known-good parts. If you can't do the testing
> yourself and/or are uncomfortable opening your computer, take the machine
> to a professional computer repair shop (not your local equivalent of
> BigStoreUSA). Have all your data backed up before you take the machine
> into a shop.
>
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Is it possible your BIOS battery is getting weak?

--
A Professional Amateur...If anyone knew it all, none of would be here!
(E-Mail Removed)
Change Alpha to Numeric to reply
"PRB" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> As I related before, I've already tested another video card and the
> problem is still the same.
>
> It's a hardware failure only when I boot the machine.
> The temporary solution fix it until next boot.
>
> I guess it's a corrupted windows system file.
>
> Thanks anyway.
>
> "Malke" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>> Uninstall the video card and swap it out for a known-working one. If this
>> solves the problem, replace the original video card.
>>
>> Standard caveat: Testing hardware failures often involves swapping out
>> suspected parts with known-good parts. If you can't do the testing
>> yourself and/or are uncomfortable opening your computer, take the machine
>> to a professional computer repair shop (not your local equivalent of
>> BigStoreUSA). Have all your data backed up before you take the machine
>> into a shop.
>>
>>
>> Malke
>> --
>> Elephant Boy Computers
>> www.elephantboycomputers.com
>> "Don't Panic!"
>> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
>
>

PRB wrote:
> As I related before, I've already tested another video card and the problem
> is still the same.

Quite right, I missed that. My apologies. Perhaps there is a problem
with your motherboard then. If you want to determine conclusively that
it is Windows, you could 1) boot with a rescue system such as Knoppix to
see if the behavior persists in Linux; 2) do a clean install of Windows.

If the behavior disappears with Knoppix or a clean install of Windows,
you know that it was your old Windows installation. If the behavior
persists with Knoppix, etc. then you know the fault probably lies in
your motherboard since you've already swapped out video cards.


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

The motherboard battery has been tested, and it's ok.
The computer doesn't lose the BIOS configuration, but the problem is only
when loading windows.

Thanks.


"NotMe" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Is it possible your BIOS battery is getting weak?
>
> --
> A Professional Amateur...If anyone knew it all, none of would be here!

That's ok, no problem.

Is it possible the problem be with motherboard, but it seems that is a
corrupted file of windows, or maybe some kind of hardware conflict, because
it only occurs when it's loading windows. After that, I do the temporary
fix, and the computer works fine until next boot.

I wish I know all the windows files related with the display driver and
monitor, to replace it with fresh ones.
I even tried to run sfc /scannow, but it hasn't corrected the flaw.

I think that a clean install of windows would fix the problem, but it would
take a lot of hard work to get back my software configuration. I'd better
live with it.

Thanks.

"Malke" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> PRB wrote:
>> As I related before, I've already tested another video card and the
>> problem is still the same.
>
> Quite right, I missed that. My apologies. Perhaps there is a problem with
> your motherboard then. If you want to determine conclusively that it is
> Windows, you could 1) boot with a rescue system such as Knoppix to see if
> the behavior persists in Linux; 2) do a clean install of Windows.
>
> If the behavior disappears with Knoppix or a clean install of Windows, you
> know that it was your old Windows installation. If the behavior persists
> with Knoppix, etc. then you know the fault probably lies in your
> motherboard since you've already swapped out video cards.
>
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

PRB wrote:
> That's ok, no problem.
>
> Is it possible the problem be with motherboard, but it seems that is a
> corrupted file of windows, or maybe some kind of hardware conflict, because
> it only occurs when it's loading windows. After that, I do the temporary
> fix, and the computer works fine until next boot.
>
> I wish I know all the windows files related with the display driver and
> monitor, to replace it with fresh ones.
> I even tried to run sfc /scannow, but it hasn't corrected the flaw.
>
> I think that a clean install of windows would fix the problem, but it would
> take a lot of hard work to get back my software configuration. I'd better
> live with it.

Actually your conclusion that the problem stems from Windows because the
fix works temporarily is erroneous. Mind you, I'm not saying that
Windows *isn't* at fault because I can't see your computer, but it is
very common for a failing video card to have those symptoms. That's why
I first suggested trying a new card, having missed that you already had.

And that is why I am suggesting you test whether it is the motherboard's
video interface itself (AGP or PCIe) by trying a different operating
system like Linux (Knoppix) or a clean install of Windows.


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

OK, Malke, let's work on the possible scenario where there's no problem with
the hardware, and a new clean install of Windows isn't attractive. Do you
have any clue to correct the flaw? I understand I'm looking for a deep
solution for an unusual problem, but even pro advice sometimes doesn't
guarantee the best way to fix a computer problem. I remember the time when
it was very common to hear the veredict: "You must format your hard drive.".
It's not the case, and I know from a long time experience to fix software
related problems isn't an easy task to do. But sometimes it's very helpful
to hear another oppinion to point you to another path.

Thank you for your time.


"Malke" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> And that is why I am suggesting you test whether it is the motherboard's
> video interface itself (AGP or PCIe) by trying a different operating
> system like Linux (Knoppix) or a clean install of Windows.
>
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

PRB wrote:
> OK, Malke, let's work on the possible scenario where there's no problem with
> the hardware, and a new clean install of Windows isn't attractive. Do you
> have any clue to correct the flaw? I understand I'm looking for a deep
> solution for an unusual problem, but even pro advice sometimes doesn't
> guarantee the best way to fix a computer problem. I remember the time when
> it was very common to hear the veredict: "You must format your hard drive.".
> It's not the case, and I know from a long time experience to fix software
> related problems isn't an easy task to do. But sometimes it's very helpful
> to hear another oppinion to point you to another path.

Sorry, not without seeing your computer. You said you've already
uninstalled and reinstalled the drivers (presumably you are using the
correct ones that you got from either the device mftr.'s website or the
OEM's site if you have that sort of machine) and you've already swapped
out the video card for a known-working one. The only thing I don't see
in this long thread (and admittedly I may have missed it) is where you
answered The First Question Of Troubleshooting: what changed between the
time things worked and the time they didn't? If you can figure out the
answer to that, you might try a System Restore to when things worked.

Otherwise I don't have any other suggestions for you since you seem to
be resistant to at least testing with another operating system (ex.
Knoppix). I'm sorry that I was unable to solve your issue.


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User