I screwed up my computer!!!! HELP!!!

[Hogie1418]

I decided to try and give groovymame a shot and after I updated the ati drivers I decided I didn't want to bother with a system that was already running well. So I system restored (Not sure if this was a bad idea) and when it came back on I had a black screen that had "arcadevga bios" in the upper left hand corner.

I then proceeded to reset my computer by holding the power button and when I powered back on everything returned to normal. The system restore  screen showed up and I clicked out relieved that everything seemed ok.

I then decided that I would update my arcadevga drivers. This is when something happened.

As I restarted my computer the windows loading screen came up and then abruptly stopped. I tried to restart the system again and the same thing occurred.

I then decided to try my hand at safe mode to revert the avga card back to where it was but when I get to the menu to select safe mode, the screen only gives me 4 seconds to select anything and in that amount of time I cannot even get the cursor to move. The screen literally pops up and then trys to start normally, which then freezes at the loading screen.

I have no clue what to do, what happened to my safe mode select screen? I feel lost.

I am running Windows XP

[CoryBee]

Looks like you damaged windows loader files. You can halt the countdown of the recovery select screen by pressing any-key, to ensure it doesn't speed by just tap a key before this screen repeatedly. Hope that helps, as I am fairly intoxicated 

[Hogie1418]

Thanks for the response. I tried pressing keys during the recovery countdown but it continues and then boots normally. It starts at 4 seconds for some reason. I thought that this always was set to like 30 seconds. So confused.

I think I need to be intoxicated at this moment. I am going crazy!!!!

[CoryBee]

Thanks for the response. I tried pressing keys during the recovery countdown but it continues and then boots normally. It starts at 4 seconds for some reason. I thought that this always was set to like 30 seconds. So confused.

I think I need to be intoxicated at this moment. I am going crazy!!!!

  Well buddy, if that didn't help I would recommend a Recovery using your Install CD or a full re-installation. This shouldn't be too big of an issue if this computer is for a M.A.M.E. cab. Let us know how it goes.

[Drnick]

Chances are the machine is failing to load video drivers thus just hangs.  Normally caused when old drivers not uninstalled properly before new installs.

As for the default timeout this can be changed although its a bad idea to.  I am gonna guess the issue there is you have a machine with ps2 and usb and you are using a usb keyboard.  In some instances the USB does not enable at the safe mode selection screen. Check Bios for USB Legacy devices and make sure it is enabled.   When I have this problem I normally just throw in a ps2 keyboard and voila menu choices.  Oh and the key to press for the menu is F8.

If the machine doesn't have PS2 then I would have to say it looks like a restore will be needed.  If you get into safe mode you should be able to uninstall the current video card drivers and have the machine go back to standard vga adapter.

[Hogie1418]

Chances are the machine is failing to load video drivers thus just hangs.  Normally caused when old drivers not uninstalled properly before new installs.

As for the default timeout this can be changed although its a bad idea to.  I am gonna guess the issue there is you have a machine with ps2 and usb and you are using a usb keyboard.  In some instances the USB does not enable at the safe mode selection screen. Check Bios for USB Legacy devices and make sure it is enabled.   When I have this problem I normally just throw in a ps2 keyboard and voila menu choices.  Oh and the key to press for the menu is F8.

If the machine doesn't have PS2 then I would have to say it looks like a restore will be needed.  If you get into safe mode you should be able to uninstall the current video card drivers and have the machine go back to standard vga adapter.

That fixed it!! Used a ps2 keyboard and was able to get to the recovery menu where there is no time limit and entered safe mode and straightened everything out. The USB keyboard was never working at all. Thank you so much for the help guys!

[CoryBee]

Glad you got it fixed thanks to DrNick, after all he is a doctor. I had that same issue a while back but didn't remember how I fixed it, and I had to scrounge around for my old PS\2 keyboard.

[Drnick]

And that my friends is why I am known as Doctor no medical aptitude at all, but give me a sick PC