I am new here, I tried to search but no threads popped up, so forgive me if you've all heard this one before.

Found a very old computer, set it next to my HP Pavilion, which has been working great. I'd consider myself to have intermediate knowledge about PC's, and I know that system was fine. No virii, spyware, adware, etc.

I unplugged the VGA cable, inserted it into the VGA output on the old beast,, and connected power with a separate power cable. Started, and got some graphical message saying the systems basically very unhappy and to consult the manual. Cool, fun project. For now I'm thinking, "OK reconnect VGA cable to my working PC, and research the problem.

After connecting VGA, nothing happens. I realize I had unplugged the VGA cable, plugged it into the old computer, and back into my computer, all while the HP was still on. I know this is normally not smart...but I figured hey, its just a VGA cable. So i press restart... things go normally, Windows XP screen pops up, with the little progress bar.

Now here's where things go wrong. Windows won't start. Just a black screen. Nothing.

I've been trying to use the windows recovery CD, and now am in a loop because everytime I start again, it wants to continue installing windows XP.

When I try and do a "repair" it asks for the admin password. I don't know it? Blank doesn't work. This PC was just handed to me by my friend. I've been using it for about a year and a half with no problems.

HP support deduced it "must be a virus" since I had downloaded games and music recently. OK right.

I guess the question is...what next? I'd like to retain my files/data.
I don't have the windows XP product key. Nor do I know the admin password.

I ran this installation disk, and i heard to press shift-F10 during the installing devices part, to access a security hole...typed nusrmgr.cpl to get a GUI of all the user accounts. unfortunately i get a message saying this account cannot be found.

If anyone has any advice, please help. I simply do not understand how unplugging and plugging back in a VGA cable can prevent me from starting windows succesfully. Again, I am 99.9 percent positive my system has no virii or other PC "sicknesses"

was running extremely smooth for months prior to this....thanks, any help or suggestions, aside from slaving the hard drive to another PC and backing my files up, would be appreciated!!

PS: is there any chance the old old computer did something to the VGA cable? it just seems so unlikely...thanks...

EDIT: no succesful restart in safe mode. same thing with last known good configuration. repair wants the admin password, argh!! no reboot with unplugging all peripherals. my video card fan still spins nice. i really hope thats not fried for some reason...

:-) Hey Banananougat,

Welcome to PCHF. You have come to the right place, the guys here are brilliant.

If you can get back to the locale where the PC asks for the Administrator password, try admin, it's a pretty standard one.

Also, can you get into your BIOS on reboot? Perhaps you have a changed VGA setting from unplugging and replugging the VGA cable while the PC was running, BTW, not a great idea (I'm sure you have figured out) to unplug and replug anything that isn't USB into or out of a running PC.

I am sure that one of the PC gurus here will have some other ideas to help you resolve your problem.

TTFN

T

hey thanks, I'll try "admin", duh...

when i try and load with safe mode, i see a list of drivers and whatnot loading, and on one named "agpsys" or something to that effect, it stalls out on.

I've confused my AGP slot I think! Argh!

Though I'm not sure if I'll be able to get out of this windows installation loop. I can get a BIOS, but not the screen where you load safe, last known, etc etc.

You could also try "password" that is another default one people use....


Does your PC have an onboard video card? - if so remove the one you have plugged into the AGP or PCI slot and try to boot the machine.

Alternatively does the other PC have a video card you could try in this PC, just to see whether it gets past any of those screens.