Changed UPS power settings and now can't get computer to stay on

[ggcs]

Feel really supid here.  I changed the powersetting on my display.  this is what i did:

opened display, clicked on screen saver then power
Clicked on UPS
chose APC then back-ups
then hit configure
and then when i saved it the computer started shuttiing down and I couldn't get it to stop.  Now the coputer will start then start shutting down.  I don't know what to do.  My start up disk doesn't work.  I get an error message when I try and use it. 

My computer is a Compaq presario with 60GB hardrive, CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drive.  The system is XP home.

Thanks for any help you can give me.  You know the old story, money is tight and I don't want to have to spend it in a shop if I don't have to.  Thanks again for reading this.

[2k_dummy]

Do you actually have an APC UPS?

[soybean]

What settings did you put in the Configuration screen?  Can you start in Safe mode?  To do that, As your computer restarts but before Windows launches, press F8. 

[ggcs]

2K_dummy:  Yes I have the battery backup device. 

Soybean,

I'm not sure of all the settings. I think that they were:

enable all notifications

Critical alarm
minutes on the battery before critical alarm 2  (this was already set)

Next instuct the computer to: shut down

 

 I'll try your suggestion and will report back once I've tried it.  thanks for your help.

Charli

[ggcs]

I tried the F8 and f10, neither work.  F1 does but it doesn't help me at all with this problem.  Thanks,  any other suggestions?

[patio]

Disable the screen saver...

[ggcs]

Can't get in to do so.  If I could get in I could change the display settings. 
as soon as the windows start up and I try and click on display it gives me an error message saying the system is shutting down.

Thanks anyway.  Any other ideas???

[soybean]

When you pressed F8 during startup, did you get an option to start in Safe Mode?  If not, try that again.

[ggcs]

I can't get into safe mode when I press F10 or F8.  Only F1 works.  I've tried several times several different ways (ie pressing when I turn it on, pressing and holding, etc).  Sorry but that just didn't work.  It's very strange.  Thanks again.

[ggcs]

Someone on another site suggested I unplug the UPS unit.  I disconnected the UPS and for some reason that allowed me to go into safe mode where I was able to change the display back to it's original settings. Thank you so much for all your help. Thanks everyone for all your help and suggestions.