Using Safe Mode default monitor settings

[RobinGL]

Is there a way to force Windows to use the default monitor settings as used in Safe Mode, but when running in normal mode?
My Nvidia GE 6100 graphics began scrambling the screen. Safe mode works ok, but on normal startup, the screen is scrambled or goes fuzzy and everything freezes. I think it's a hardware problem (it started after I added memory) but I want to keep running until it can be fixed. I have updated the drivers but it did not change anything. I tried deleting the Nvidia driver, but Windows keeps finding more.

RobinGL

 

[ha1o2surfer]

When first boot up hit F8 right after the BIOS screen and choose "low resolution video mode" if it still scrambles the screen it may be a hardware issue with the RAM. I can't remember if it's a laptop card or a desktop card or both.. anyways, If you can get to the device manager quick enough uninstall the video card and choose "delete the driver software" when the dialog box pops up to prompt if you want to delete the driver. This should force windows to use the default VGA driver and then you can download the latest one, relatively speaking, from nVidias site. I would do this while the new RAM you added is out. Once you get the drivers updated plug in the new ram and see if the issues happens again. If it does, get different ram or get all new ram of equal types. I have seen Integrated GPUs freak out over different types(speeds)/sizes of ram..

 

[RobinGL]

Thanks Surfer. I already tried the Low Resolution test but it did not help. I'm fairly certain that it's a hardware problem with the on-board graphics. I tried to stop Windows installing Nvidia drivers at start-up but the screen is scrambled and locks up before I can do anything. I was hoping there might be a Registry setting that would do what Safe Mode does. I went shopping for a PCI or AGP graphics card, but I can't find one with Win 7 x64 support. I think this box is toast. I do have recent (24hrs old) backups, so I just have to deal with the aggravation and expense of migrating to a new one. - RobinGL

 

[ha1o2surfer]

well that or a RAM issue. Most recent PCI and AGP GPUS support windows. get a 7xxx card or a 6xxx series card. all those works with Windows 7 32 and 64 and support Aero since they are all direct x 9

 

[RobinGL]

It's hard to search for specific characteristics. The only graphics cards I have found that are supported by Win 7 x64 are PCI Express. Nothing for AGP or standard PCI. The RAM is working otherwise. The additional RAM strip was a match for the existing one - the two slots were previously unmatched. Thanks for your help - I need to get going on a replacement, so being conservation minded I'm going to look for new guts for the old box....

 

[ha1o2surfer]

The way the GPU is connected doesn't matter to Windows. as long as it has a driver. A quick search on newegg reveals lots of AGP and PCI GPUs that all work with windows 7 64 bit. if you want to double check go to nvidias site and pick a card on newegg and see if you can download a 64 bit version. if you can it'll work no matter if its PCI or AGP.. or find a new computer! either one works lol