First of all I have Windows XP, HP computer, and Samsung SyncMaster 931bw monitor.
Today I discovered I was infected with the MS Removal Tool virus. I researched how to remove it, and began the suggested route of restarting the computer in Safe Mode.
I turned my computer off, restarted, the HP screen came up with the below options of <esc = boot menu> <f1 = setup> <f10 = system recovery>
I pressed F8 continuously to load Safe Mode.
A black screen with a cursor appeared for a second or two, then my screen switched to a floating message that slowly bounces around the screen (like a screensaver, etc) that says:
"Not Optimum Mode
Recommended Mode :
1440 x 900 60Hz
[?]
____
Analog"
It appears to me that the virus has somehow affected the screen drivers or something like that (I don't really know, just guessing). However, during my search on MS virus, no-one seemed to have this screen issue.
I rebooted again, and tried to get into Safe Mode over and over, to no avail.
I am able to get into <esc = boot menu> by pressing esc... but I'm not sure what to do from there?
I can also get into BIOS (Phoenix - AwardBIOS CMOS Setup Utility)
and have selected the first Boot Device as CD-ROM Group.
So basically, my screen WORKS, in that it's not broken, BUT it's just when trying to get into Windows either in Safe Mode or normal mode, it doesn't work and switches to the floating error screen.
What I'd like to know if there's any way to get to a System Restore point via BIOS?
I am going to do your unbootable system tutorial now and will post my results....
Thanks for reading.