1.
Windows Advanced Options Menu. It's time to explore new frontiers. Tap the F8 key about once per second or faster as you power up the system. I'm expecting the following menu to appear:
o Safe Mode
o Safe Mode with Networking
o Safe Mode with Command Prompt
o Enable VGA Mode
o Last Known Good Configuration
o Debugging Mode
o Enable Boot Logging
o Starts Windows Normally
o Reboot
o Return to OS Choices Menu
If you get a boot device menu instead see:
what genius decided F8 should be device boot menu 2.
Last Known Good Configuration. Selecting this item will load the registry settings for your last successful login. Hopefully that registry contains the previous display settings. Not sure if your previous login attempts counted as success. Give it a try. You can use your normal user account with this option.
3.
Enable VGA Mode. Selecting this option starts computer in standard VGA mode by using the current video driver. If it gives you a screen you can read, use display properties to restore the proper resolution (1440x900?) and color depth, then reboot to normal mode. You can use your normal user account with this option.
4.
Safe Mode. Loads the minimum set of device drivers and system services required to start Windows XP. If it gives you a screen you can read, use display properties to restore the proper resolution and color depth, then reboot to normal mode. You may need the Administrator password to enter this mode. Password is usually set for Windows XP Pro, blank for Windows XP Home.
4. Reference:
What are the Safe Mode options? When should I use them?
