[Janis]

I have been having some problems with a laptop and following the KB from Microsoft attempted to fix them. I was instructed to go into safe mode as a first step. The problem is safe mode is unavailable. Just a scrambled screen. it boots into windows easily using the installed driver but I suspect the basic Windows driver is missing. Is it retrievable. I had considered doing a repair install but that comes up against one of the problems I am trying to fix; no access to Windows updates. A repair install would require updates.

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If the basic Microsoft video driver was missing you wouldn't see anything at all in safe mode, the screen would be blank except for a "No video signal" message.

You don't need to download updates to do a repair install. The repair install gets Windows working normally by replacing any corrupted or missing system files from the XP CD. You should then have a working internet connection allowing you to install any updates but those updates have nothing to do with the repair process.

[phillipcorcoran]

If the basic Microsoft video driver was missing you wouldn't see anything at all in safe mode, the screen would be blank except for a "No video signal" message.

You don't need to download updates to do a repair install. The repair install gets Windows working normally by replacing any corrupted or missing system files from the XP CD. You should then have a working internet connection allowing you to install any updates but those updates have nothing to do with the repair process.

[Janis]

Since I get an assortment of stripes, waves, or mostly black screen with some strips of color, why can't I get into safe mode? Is it something in the boot process that only a windows repair or reinstall would cure?

Added question To prep for a repair reinstall I was checking the Key code that I would probably need. My problem is the number on the back the laptop does not match the number returned by Belarc or Keyfinder. If I proceed, which number should I use? (No longer have the original cd's)

Edited by Janis, 26 February 2011 - 03:17 PM.