internet explorer,outlook express, multiple screens, icons, etc.

[Guest]

I so called smart kid was hired to take three computers and turn them into
one. Now my internet explorer, outlook express and icons don't work. Also,
my screen resolution is low and there are no settings to set it higher
because it keeps showing multiple screens. I tried to follow the instructions
for fixing the multiple screens by going into Safe Mode but the screen is
soooo big I cannot click on anything. To clarify, I have only one screen and
need to set it back to one screen. I have tried uninstalling it but it keeps
coming back. I have tried disabling it but that doesn't fix the problem. I
have tried uninstalling and reinstalling internet explorer and doing a repair
on my windows and the problems get worse and worse. To say the least of is I
cannot set my homepage anymore. I have tried to install windows on another
drive but I don't even have the option during boot although my other hard
drives are listed in the Del upon reboot configuration setup. I have
downloaded and run every program and have followed every instruction I could
find from your website. I cannot check my online email or any other. Please
help me. I have tried everything I can think of including cwshedder,
deleting my cookies, temps, tmps, etc. However, I do not know how to empty my
cache.

 

[DL]

Personally I find your post/problems hard to follow.
Its not entirely clear what 'take three pc's........' means exactly nor what
was done after that.
Being unable to change screen resolution would tend to suggest that the
correct vid.drivers have not been installed.
Are you able to rt click, any where on the desktop, not an icon, select
properties and alter screen resolution there. Do this in safe mode.
You want to stop downloading and running apps to attempt a cure, your only
going to make matters worse.
If you have any data on the PC I would back it up, copy to removable media.
However your simplest option may be to clean install, by deleting all
partitions during the process
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html after which you would
need to install mobo chipset and other hw drivers, from manu.sites, NOT
winupdate.

 

[Guest]

Basically, he put all of my stuff, i.e. hard drive, CD writer and floppy in a
tower with a different motherboard and a much bigger processor, then added
more hard drives which were blank.

I can right click to desktop properties but my highest property option is 32
bit, 640 X pixels because it keeps saying I have another screen, but like I
said earlier there is no other screen attached. I know how to uninstall it
however I cannot sign on in safe mode because I cannot see my icons to click
on anything to sign on and it will not let me click administrator or anything
else. It is off the screen.

The thought of deleting my partitions is terrifying to me because I know
nothing about hardware. I would be afraid to attempt such a thing. That is
why I got someone else to do it that I was told was so smart hardware wise.

 

[DL]

Try rebooting, whilst it is doing so continually hit F8 key, you will be
presented with a boot up menu, select Safe Mode there

 

[Guest]

When I do that I have to click on either Administrator or Debra to sign in
to but I cannot see the icons to click on because it will not fit on the
screen.

 

[Gene K]

You may have a bigger problem than you realize IF your operating systems [XP
apparently] on those old computers were OEM [usually installed by the
computer manufacturer]. If OEM they are they locked to that original machine
and cannot be used on another. During boot, a hardware identification
process is conducted. The lock, as I understand it, is essentially based on
the original motherboard which you have upgraded {changed] plus I am
guessing partly on the original processor which has also been
upgraded[changed]. I hope you have at least one retail copy of XP available
to avoid added expense.
Gene K

 

[Guest]

This is a much newer system than my previous one and it worked fine on it. I
repartitioned my hard drive and reinstalled windows. Many of the features are
missing and I hope when I update everything I will get them back. I put all
my information on another hard drive but when I put it back it will not read
it. I copied everything.

What is strange is in safe mode I have only one monitor. In regular mode I
have three and have trouble with the BIG screen. I went to safe mode to
delete them but there were none there to delete. I did diagnosic boots and
nothing is casing the problem that I can change from msconfig. I have tried
changing drivers but I have the right one. Any ideas?

 

[DL]

If you see a log in screen you are not at the screen that gives you the Safe
Mode boot options,
Either you are not hitting the F8 key sufficiently early in the reboot
process or you have some other problem.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222/en-us
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/292460/en-us
I also have difficulty understanding your meaning re 'several screens', are
you able to post a link to a screenshot?

Did this sys ever work correctly after the rebuild, if so what caused it to
go wrong?

 

[Guest]

I have fixed the internet explorer and outlook express screens. I know how to
get into safe mode but when I do and I go to device manager it does not list
the monitors. It only lists them when I am not in safe mode. I looked and it
has only one plug for a monitor so I don't know what is up. It has done it
ever since it was built. BTW, any idea how to get my favicons to work in my
address bar and when I put an shortcut on my desktop.

 

[Guest]

If I have not misunderstood you you wanted a screen shot of me in safe mode
with device manager open. I have that but I don't know how to get it to you.

 

[DL]

Your other post states pc wont boot?

If I have not misunderstood you you wanted a screen shot of me in safe mode
with device manager open. I have that but I don't know how to get it to you.

 

[Guest]

Sorry it will not reboot by its self. I have to manually cut it off if I am
trying to do a reboot. It boots fine. It shuts down fine. It just will not
reboot.

 

[DL]

I understand your ref to multiple screens now, they show in device mngr, but
not in safe mode.
Your vid.graphics driver is not correctly installed.
Whilst in safe mode > Device Manager locate your graphics device and
remove/uninstall it. reboot the PC, it should reboot fine in safe mode, and
allow win to reinstall the grahpics device

 

[Guest]

After much research I found out two things. First that my vid. display
adapter is the correct one and second, that it is compatible with Windows XP.
I also have the latest adapter. I tried over 30 adapters made for a Savage
adapter. All but two made it one screen but it was so big I couldn't see
anything. The other two made it two monitors. I ran two different software
programs that tells you the type of hardware in your tower. Both agree that
it is Savage.IX which is the driver I have installed. With the Savage.IX
driver I can see everything but my resolution is very low and cannot be
increased (don't have that option) and my refresh rate cannot be increased
over 60 Hertz. This is my biggest problem. I am use to the highest resolution
available. Now all my windows are huge compared to what I am use to.

 

[DL]

What *exactly* is your video adapter and what *exact* driver are you
installing and where did you obtain it?

 

[Guest]

My video adapter is a S3 Savage/IX 986c274). I got the driver from the CD
that comes with the motherboard from the company First International
Computer, Inc. The driver is s3savmx (5.13.01.7056-7.50.16). I hope this is
the information that you are asking for.

 

[DL]

Are you sure thats a SavageIX according to my reading on S3 site this is a
mobile (Laptop) graphics chip discontinued, considered obsolete, some years
ago which doesnt support winxp
http://www.s3graphics.com/en/resources/drivers/legacy/index.jsp

If it really is the case that your vid.card is that old you might want to
consider replacing it.
What is the model # of your motherboard?

 

[Guest]

I guess I am going to need to take it apart. Evidently something is wrong so
I am going in. I will let you know what I find when I get in there.

 

[Guest]

For real, that is actually what is in it!

 

[DL]

That maybe what it is, I assume its a video card and not an onboard chipset,
but that doesnt detract from the S3 site which indicates that winxp is not
supported