Updated graphics drivers - can't see screen or enter safe mode etc

Hi,

I'm just put windows 7 on my friends laptop, all went well until I tried to install the graphics drivers for card nvidia geforce 8600M......then it just boots up with a mostly blank screen with lines coming down, the sound is muted but i think it is booting up into windows as the screen goes lighter after a while.

I've tried everything to get into safe mode or repair but can't......once it did let me into repair (no idea how as have tried everything since and it won't again) so i know it is okay as the screen was fine whilst in repair mode - I used system restore but didn't go back far enough and have just got the same problem now.

I don't have a windows disk, have made a usb bootable repair disk but can't access bios to change the boot order.

I'm guessing the only option is to get hold of or make a windows 7 disk but I really need to get it working tonight if at all possible so would be really grateful if anyone knows of anything else I can try.

I don't understand how/why it let me get into repair mode once but not since.....am wondering if i pressed something different.......have tried f1, f2, f8, del, esc, tapping space bar........none of which give any visible change just the lines down the screen.

Many thanks!

Welcome to Windows Seven Forums.

You don't necessarily need to get into the BIOS to boot from your DVD drive.

Insert your repair disc then tap the one-time boot key for the computer, which should enable the boot menu.

Select the USB drive then press Enter and choose Last Known Good Configuration in the Windows Recovery Environment.

You haven't stated the computer manufacturer, but their support site should explain which key you need to tap to bring up the boot menu.

Thanks, and thanks for the reply

I haven't got a dvd just a bootable usb? I'll search for the one-time boot key now, its an acer laptop....

Thanks

Apparently the one time boot key is f12 but doesnt seem to be doing anything, or still cant see the screen at all!

still no joy.....it beeps when i press f2 so i assume that means its entering the bios, is there a way of knowing what to press blindly to change the boot order to boot from usb??

Sounds rather worse than bad drivers.

Drivers should not prevent you from seeing POST messages, entering the BIOS setup, or booting in safe mode. I'd bet a small sum that it's a hardware issue.

thanks for the reply, it was as it is now for about 2 hours yesterday then it somehow gave the repair mode option and let me do a system restore and during this it was all fine.....i assumed from this that it musn't be hardware and i hadn't gone back far enough with the system restore? I installed loads of drivers at the same time instead of rebooting after each one - probably a stupid mistake!

after the restore it just went back to the same....how it is now, no idea what i pressed to give the repair mode option, have tried everything since i think!