Hi all,
since im not perfect with computers i desperatly need help to fix my big problem. i have windows 98 2nd ed. i recently had been getting a 'registry editor' error problem in which a computer expert suggested that i delete the line containing this error. so i did...but things got worse! my computer looks like its always in "safe mode" now, which means the colors are all wrong on the screen. It won't let me use my printer or scanner. just keeps saying that it may not be connected when it is. Please help me get things back to normal! what do i do! thanks to all that try and help...

Did you make a backup of your Regedit files before it?

actually no i didnt make any back up files...does that mean my problem is unfixable? uh ohh

Hi so_sarahb4u, welcome to SAF

Restart in DOS mode and at prompt type scanreg /restore
Select a previous date. If the problem is 4~5 days old, this will do the trick.

Post back with results.

Chris

If not, you may just need to reinstall your video drivers.

thanks sooo much for all your replies...but...errrm what is a video driver? is it a disk? because i don't seem to have a "disk" that says video driver. thanks

The drivers are what allows the device to work, with all its features, within windows. If the drivers have been corrupted or removed, it will default to the standard windows video drivers like it does in safemode.

Do you know what kind of video card you have? You make be able to check the documentation. Let us know. There may be other things we can do if you cant find it.

How did the scanreg /restore go?

well whenever i typed in scanreg/restore...it just kept sayin bad command. unless i was doing something wrong, it doesn't seem to be working.
so where do i check for this Video card thing? which documentations? thanks a bunch for trying to help me

It is not scanreg/restore, but rather scanreg /restore. Tap f8 during the startup process and select boot to a command prompt (or some such thing). At the command prompt, type scanreg /restore. Note the space between scanreg and the /.

I have a question for you.
Do you have a floppy diskette drive, and do you have a floppy diskette?

Another question for you.
Do you have a Windows 98se startup diskette?

It is very important that you first try to get the scanreg /restore working before doing anything with the video. Use scanreg /restore to restore the registry to a good state. The restoration date you are looking for is the date prior to and as close as you can get to the day you edited the registry. How many days have you rebooted the computer since you initially edited the registry?

Motherboard and chipset drivers are on the CD shipped with your system. Video drivers comes with your monitor or graphic card. We can not provide you help unless you post detailed system specs.

Download and run Everest Home from http://www.snapfiles.com/get/everest.html and post the motherboard/graphics specs here.

ok here's what i do with the scanreg /restore....
when i start up my computer i press F8 and a list comes up. i choose "prompt command" from the list. then c:\> comes up and i type next to scanreg /restore. the message "bad command" comes up...so i tried scanreg /restore and i type a date next to it...but the same message comes up. Am i doing something wrong?

Also, with this video driver thing...am i meant to be checking the UserGuide booklet that came with the computer to find out this driver. The only floppy disk that came with the computer says "packard bell recovery disk" on it.

Instead of starting in safe mode prompt, try reboot in DOS mode option. At prompt C:\ type scanreg /restore and hit Enter.

Or, from within Windows 98, <Click Start/Run>.
The Run dialog box appears.
In the Open box, type scanregw.exe and click OK.

Chris

hi chris,
i've tried the run button and typed in what you said, but the message that comes up is scanning system registry...then it mentions that no errors were found, "the system registry has been backed up already today, would you like to back up again?"...i'm unfortunately still having this "safe mode" problem....if anyones got any other suggestions i'd be very grateful. thanks!

What is your computer? Is it a "frankenstein" or is it a manfacturered system (like Dell, Gateway, HP, Compaq, etc)? If it's a premade system, provide the manufacturer name, model number. Does it have a separatre video card or is it integrated (onboard video has the monitor port included in the same panel as everything else, a separate card connects the monitor at one of the extra slots (like where your modem is).

LOL well my computer definately seems wierd...it was a "so called" expert who told me to delete the error to get of this registry editor problem before i got this problem which is even worse! ...well my computer is a packard bell celeron, i don't know the model number yet..i think it has a separate card which connects the monitor at one of the extra slots in the tower. any other suggestion that may help?cheers

QUOTE

Download and run Everest Home from http://www.snapfiles.com/get/everest.html and post the motherboard/graphics specs here.

Without this information, we can not provide the help you need.

I've downloaded the everest program. this is what comes up when i click on the motherboard section. just let me know if you need me to type more info.

Motherboard Properties:
Motherboard ID 63-0316-119900-00101111-071595-WHITNEY$1AACC054_6WMM7 V2.0C
Motherboard Name Gigabyte GA-6WMM7

Front Side Bus Properties:
Bus Type Intel GTL+
Bus Width 64-bit
Real Clock 67 MHz
Effective Clock 67 MHz
Bandwidth 533 MB/s

Chipset Bus Properties:
Bus Type Intel Hub Interface
Bus Width 8-bit

Motherboard Physical Info:
CPU Sockets/Slots 1
Expansion Slots 1 ISA, 3 PCI, 1 AMR
RAM Slots 2 DIMM
Integrated Devices Audio, Video
Form Factor Micro ATX
Motherboard Size 230 mm x 240 mm
Motherboard Chipset i810

Motherboard Manufacturer:
Company Name Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
Product Information http://tw.giga-byte.com/MotherBoard/Produc...roduct_List.htm
BIOS Download http://tw.giga-byte.com/Motherboard/Suppor...S/BIOS_List.htm

I'm not sure where to go for the graphics specs... just let me know if theres anything else i need to post. thank you!

The drivers for this motherboard and chipset are here: http://www.gigabyte-usa.com/Motherboard/Su...er_GA-6WMM7.htm

Select your OS and download/install the proper drivers.

QUOTE

I'm not sure where to go for the graphics specs

Click on <Monitor/Windows video> just to see if you are using some graphic cards instead of the VGA one...

Post back with results.

Chris

hello chris,
here is the graphics specs i got


Windows Video

[ Intel® 810 Chipset Graphics Driver ]

Video Adapter Properties:
Device Description Intel® 810 Chipset Graphics Driver
Installed Drivers i81xdw9x.drv

Video Adapter Manufacturer:
Company Name Intel Corporation
Product Information http://www.intel.com/products/browse/chipsets.htm
Driver Download http://support.intel.com/support/graphics

Am i still to go to the website you suggested and download something from there? let me know if there is anything else you need me to post. thanks a bunch

Yep
Download and install the chipset and vga drivers, as if some is corrupted, this may solve the issue...

After installed, reboot your system and right click on the desktop, select properties and try to use 32 bit colors.

If you still have problems after that, maybe we'll need to find a monitor driver that fits on your monitor make/model.

hi chris!

i've just been on the website...and "what a suprise" i'm stuck again ..LOL .... for the chipset driver do i choose Intel IAA or Intel INF installation? thanks so much for all your suggestions...i sure hope this works. let me know which one and i'll get started on downloading...thanks again!
oh and also i don't have 32 bit on my computer...only 16 color, 256 color and high color(16 bit)....i'm guessin its 16 bit i should use.

I think you may download both... you have Hi-color working ? Have you tried to set it (and does it stays when set) ?

32 bit is called true-color, but you can work normally on high-color
Working wit 256 or 16 colors will cause the problem you are having. The problem is that without the proper drivers, it will revert to 16 or 256 colors.

hi! me again. well, i've done everything that has been suggested to me. all the great suggestions i'm so grateful for. Unfortunately nothing has worked yet. I have d/l the drivers suggested and changed my color to high color. but im still having the same prob. although something happened after i d/l the drivers.
i got a pop up saying that there were problems with my registry and i should download winfixer 2005. so i did, but then this came up "another copy of the application is running now. you cannot use more than one copy at one time. most of the fixing services are not accessible at the moment"....i'm reeeeally lost right now! what do i do next? help!

OK Sarah,

It's a malware issue. Winfixer2005 is a spyware. If you can, remove it from <My computer> add/remove programs.

Next, download Ewido security suite from http://www.ewido.net/en/download/

Install it but uncheck "Install background guard" and "Install scan via context menu". Run and and update it (do not scan with it yet).

Download and run updated versions of AdAware SE and Spybot S&D (one at a time, cleaning all that appears. Links are listed below:

Spybot - http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html
AdAware - http://www.download.com/3000-2144-10045910.html

Reboot in safe mode by tapping F8 on startup.

Call Ewido Security suite and be sure (third tab/button, -Check- and last button -definitions) that "check any files" is checked.

Perform a full system scan, hit enter <OK> if prompted to delete files.

Reboot in normal mode and post results.

hi chris,
i can'te believe i fell for that winfixer05 ...i left my computer on all night not thinking it was doing it more harm than good. the ewido security wouldn't install. it said that ineeded at least windows 2000. i'm using S&D though.
any other wonderful suggestions you might be able to give me for my "safe-mode looking" computer? thanks for your help.

Sorry, I forgot you were using Win98

Use AdAware and Spybot to pre-clean all they can.

Run a Bitdefender online virus scan from http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html

After that, take a look at this pinned topic and post a HJT log here.
http://www.suggestafix.com/index.php?act=S...ST&f=15&t=16053