Cant Log Into Windows After Updating Motherboard Driver
February 2nd, 2020
My computer was working perfectly, but thought Id be good and install the latest drivers, so I went to nvidia.com and downloaded the nforce drivers for my ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe motherboard.
Whilst installing it said something like “old ethernet drivers detected, click yes to uninstall previous drivers (requires restart)” which I did. On rebooting my PC blue screened after the Windows loading screen. After several more normal boot attempts, I tried booting in “Safe Mode with Networking” – again it blue screened. Then I tried booting normally again, it didnt blue screen but the monitor just goes completely blank after the loading screen! Next I just tried booting in “Safe Mode”. It made it to the windows log in screen, but the mouse and keyboard do not respond. I even tried using an old PS/2 keyboard. Consequently I cannot get into Windows. Strangely though the keyboard works in BIOS so is obviously being detected. Finally, I thought about doing a repair install or accessing the Recovery Console, but on selecting either option it says no hard drives detected (I have 2 HDD in RAID0 if that makes any difference)!
I have a CD for my motherboard which came with my PC. When I put it in, it says about making a boot disk – is this what I need to do?
I just need to get into Windows so I can reinstall the drivers or do a system restore.
Please, please, please help. I really cannot format my hard drives.
Many Thanks.
it seems like you removed some video drivers and somehow didn’t install the new video drivers fully but it’s ok if your using windows. windows has built in video drivers that it’s able to use. if it goes to a black screen, let it load for a couple mins. it might refresh it to a lower res and allow you to see windows. if that doesn’t work, still dont panic, turn off your monitor, then turn it back on, it might pick up the signal that way. some older monitors fail to refresh when new res’s are inputed from the video card. if that doesn’t work, try disconnecting video cable from video card (while the pc is still on w/ black screen) and plug it back in. if that doesn’t work, se if you have 2 ports on ur video card, if u do, try using the other port, windows should see that the monitor switched outputs and is now using the 2nd port and might show the screen. if that fails to work, you might just have to re-install the OS.
unplug the hdd from the pc, conect it through an external enclosure adaptor (usb/firewire/esata) and backup the contents you need to that pc, and install windows again as usual. sorry this happened, it’s always a stressful thing.
You can start System Restore in DOS, but you will need a DOS floppy or Hirens Boot CD to get you into DOS.
Then try one of these commands at the system prompt:
%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe
c:\windows\system\restore\rstrui.exe Incidentally, with any motherboard drivers, if you want a good install of updated ones then you must uninstall all the old ones first.
You will have to download separate drivers for your graphics card (or cards for SLI) since the link below is for mobo drivers only.
Here’s a link to the mobo for anyone else who wants to help.
http://uk.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=15&l3=148&l4=0&model=375&modelmenu=2
Here’s a link to the mobo drivers page for Windows XP 64bit for the Nvidia chipset with AMD processor.
http://www.nvidia.com/object/nforce_winxp64_15.23.html
it seems like you removed some video drivers and somehow didn't install the new video drivers fully but it's ok if your using windows. windows has built in video drivers that it's able to use. if it goes to a black screen, let it load for a couple mins. it might refresh it to a lower res and allow you to see windows. if that doesn't work, still dont panic, turn off your monitor, then turn it back on, it might pick up the signal that way. some older monitors fail to refresh when new res's are inputed from the video card. if that doesn't work, try disconnecting video cable from video card (while the pc is still on w/ black screen) and plug it back in. if that doesn't work, se if you have 2 ports on ur video card, if u do, try using the other port, windows should see that the monitor switched outputs and is now using the 2nd port and might show the screen. if that fails to work, you might just have to re-install the OS.
unplug the hdd from the pc, conect it through an external enclosure adaptor (usb/firewire/esata) and backup the contents you need to that pc, and install windows again as usual. sorry this happened, it's always a stressful thing.
Thanks for replying. I didnt remove any video drivers was only installing the motherboard ones. Which is probably why everything connected to it (mouse/keyboard/gfx card) dont work. I tried what you suggested. Still nothing. Even tried 2 different monitors. Also I probably cannot backup the contents as you describe since my HDD are RAIDed.
You can start System Restore in DOS, but you will need a DOS floppy or Hirens Boot CD to get you into DOS.Then try one of these commands at the system prompt:
%systemroot%system32restorerstrui.exe
c:windowssytemrestorerstrui.exe
Thanks also for replying. I have Hirens Boot CD and went into DOS and tried what you said, but just says “Bad command or file name”. Do you know for certain these commands work in DOS, as I thought they were just for the command prompt in Safe Mode (which I cant get into)? If so please can you explain in more detail how to get it to work?
This is what is on screen: C:\>%systemroot%system32restorerstrui.exe
But I dont think C actually refers to the hard drives (at the top it says “C: CDROM Drive, R: Ram Drive, B: Floopy Drive”).
Thanks also for replying. I have Hirens Boot CD and went into DOS and tried what you said, but just says "Bad command or file name". Do you know for certain these commands work in DOS, as I thought they were just for the command prompt in Safe Mode (which I cant get into)? If so please can you explain in more detail how to get it to work? This is what is on screen: C:\>%systemroot%system32restorerstrui.exe But I dont think C actually refers to the hard drives (at the top it says "C: CDROM Drive, R: Ram Drive, B: Floopy Drive").I think I put you on a bummer there mate ……… I’ve just been trying it myself with Hirens and I couldn’t get it to work either.
Sorry about that, I hope I didn’t waste too much of your time. You could try doing a repair using the OS CD (not recovery console)
No problem. Thanks for trying to help. Ive have already tried doing a repair and it says:
Setup did not find any hard disk drives installed on your computer.
Make sure any hard disk drives are powered on and properly connected to your computer, and any disk-related hardware configuration is correct. This may involve running a manufacturer-supplied diagnostic or setup program.
Setup cannot continue. To quit setup, press F3.
Cant understand why it is saying that. All this just from trying to install stupid motherboard drivers which I didnt even really need. More damaging than any virus Ive heard of.
No problem. Thanks for trying to help. Ive have already tried doing a repair and it says:
Setup did not find any hard disk drives installed on your computer.
Make sure any hard disk drives are powered on and properly connected to your computer, and any disk-related hardware configuration is correct. This may involve running a manufacturer-supplied diagnostic or setup program.
Setup cannot continue. To quit setup, press F3.
Cant understand why it is saying that. All this just from trying to install stupid motherboard drivers which I didnt even really need. More damaging than any virus Ive heard of.
, It’s telling you it cannot find any hard drives while doing a repair install of XP because windows does not support the Raid controller out of the box, you’ll need to find the raid drivers floppy disk so you can mash the F6 button in xp installation start up to install the drivers.
, It's telling you it cannot find any hard drives while doing a repair install of XP because windows does not support the Raid controller out of the box, you'll need to find the raid drivers floppy disk so you can mash the F6 button in xp installation start up to install the drivers.
Thanks very much! Ok I can now access the recovery console or repair windows. Which one would anybody recommend? Can I do a system restore from the recovery console?
Thanks.
EDIT: Ok I found out how to do a system restore in the recovery console, sounds a little complicated, and unfortunately requires the administrator password so Ill have to wait until tomorrow morning to phone my computer manufacturer (MESH Computers) – they better know it!…