Can't enter safe mode -- bizarre video problem

[Guest]

I am using Windows XP Home, sp2. When booting, I press F8 to enter safe
mode. The display on my LCD screen then starts to quiver and blink. Through
the quivering and blinking, I can see a black screen with some options to
select. This, too, is quivering and blinking. One of the options is to
enter safe mode. I select that option, using the up arrow key, and press
enter. Then, my screen goes completely blank. I have no video issues with
any of my applications when I start Win xp normally, nor do I have any
problem entering the setup program to change CMOS settings.

What should I do to troubleshoot this? I want to have safe mode as an
option in case something goes wrong.

 

[John Inzer]

I am using Windows XP Home, sp2. When booting, I press
F8 to enter safe mode. The display on my LCD screen then
starts to quiver and blink. Through the quivering and
blinking, I can see a black screen with some options to
select. This, too, is quivering and blinking. One of
the options is to enter safe mode. I select that option,
using the up arrow key, and press enter. Then, my screen
goes completely blank. I have no video issues with any
of my applications when I start Win xp normally, nor do I
have any problem entering the setup program to change
CMOS settings.

What should I do to troubleshoot this? I want to have
safe mode as an option in case something goes wrong.

===========================
I don't know the exact answer to your
question...but the following article
seems to be related:

(885626) Your computer stops responding
when you restart to complete the installation
of Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Windows
XP Tablet PC Edition 2005
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/885626/en-us

--

******John Inzer********
**MS Picture It! MVP**

*****Digital Image******
Highlights and FAQs
http://tinyurl.com/aczzp

*********Notice***********
This is not tech support
........I am a volunteer.......

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you.

Proceed at your own risk.

Need a Web Host?
*******Consider********
Annex Technologies
http://www.annex.com/
**************************

 

[Chuck]

Try turning the LCD display off, then after a few seconds, bacck on. This
may allow it to lock on the resolution set in safe mode.
A less desired alternative is to pause the computer, then play with the
display settings (if it has any that are appropriate.)
(Sweep rate, clock rate, size, etc.)

 

[Guest]

I'll give this a try and report back. Thanks for the quick response.

 

[Darkknight]

I am using Windows XP Home, sp2. When booting, I press F8 to enter safe
mode. The display on my LCD screen then starts to quiver and blink. Through
the quivering and blinking, I can see a black screen with some options to
select. This, too, is quivering and blinking. One of the options is to
enter safe mode. I select that option, using the up arrow key, and press
enter. Then, my screen goes completely blank. I have no video issues with
any of my applications when I start Win xp normally, nor do I have any
problem entering the setup program to change CMOS settings.

What should I do to troubleshoot this? I want to have safe mode as an
option in case something goes wrong.

try connecting a VGA CRT monitor to your PC instead of the LCD, sound
like your LCD monitor is unable to display the resolution used in safe mode

 

[Guest]

Turning the display off, and then back on again: that seems to have solved
that problem! thanks very much.