ljkd13

I have an IBM t41 laptop running XP pro. I reinstalled windows recently and had a bear of a time getting everything running properly. After much time, I fixed most everything except the video controller/adapter. I started messing with it today- installing the correct ATI radeon 7500 driver, their catalyst 6.6, yada yada. Since there was "no VGA driver installed" the ATI software wouldnt let me install the driver, saying the INF files were missing. I tried deselecting, uninstalling the "driver" that wasn't really there running windows, all to no avail.

Then, the real problem struck. After I tried some things (namely in properties>settings>advanced>adapter> I turned the device off maybe??? I can't remember exactly, but when I reboot, the computer shows the starting XP screen, but as soon as it goes to the regular boot screen, the monitor loses its picture. The computer boots up as normal, as I can hear the microsoft jingle, but I cant see anything. I've tried safe mode, but it loads all the drivers in the DOS (whatever) screen, but never actually loads in safe mode. I've also tried the VGA mode, but that wont allow me to see anything either.

So now Im stuck with not only a monitor that wont accept an appropriate driver, but also a monitor that wont work as soon as windows starts up.

please HELP!!!

(I tried to use keyboard shortcuts: tabs, space, etc, and use another computer as a reference to get to display properties>settings>properties>adapter>..., but that didn't work either.)

thanks,

Luke

dai

go to the ibm site and download the video chipset driver and the video driver listed on their site for your model laptop and install them

ljkd13

I tried to download both the chipset and the video drivers from Lenovo and neither of them work. this is a pre-lenovo laptop and the driver's havent been working when I re-installed windows.


But its really hard to install anything when you dont have a monitor.

(external monitor does not work)

dai

lenovo have taken over ibm so look for your model number
check vga is enabled in the bios

ljkd13

I cant SEE the monitor.

I cant check anything!

dai

i have asked someone else with a better knowledge of laptops to come and have a look

TheMatt

Try the Catalyst 6.11's.
http://ati.amd.com/support/drivers/x...rer300-xp.html

Do you have a zip utility like Winzip or winRAR installed? Not the standard Compressed Folder thing in windows, a third party program.

ljkd13

Um, guys:

I dont want to be rude, but I think you're missing the point. I cant do ANY of this if I cant see the monitor. Is there a way to SEE THE SCREEN first?

my driver problem I will tackle second, first I need to deal with the fact that I cant do ANYTHING until I get my screen working again.

dai

reset the cmos you will need to refer to the manual as the method varies from brand to brand
with the lenovo you remove the main battery remove the ram and touch 2 solder points hidden beneath the ram

TheMatt

Boot into safe mode and it will use a generic VGA driver. You will be able to see the screen.

ljkd13

safe mode doesnt work. it loads in dos thru some of the drivers then it quits. It gets stuck loading the drivers and never gets into windows at all. I left it overnight to see if I wasnt being patient, nothing happened.

TheMatt

Try using VGA mode instead of safe mode.

ljkd13

VGA mode wont turn the screen back on, I tried, and safe mode freezes every time.

dai

find out how to and do the cmos reset

TheMatt

What you need to do is look all along the bottom of the motherboard and under the keyboard for the small round CMOS battery. Once you find it, remove it for 15mins and put it back in. That will clear the CMOS.