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Right, pc problem, may have some nerdy folks here who can help
Right, i've got an install of windows that wont boot because
a)old graphics card is busted so when windows loads it jumps to some software vgasave device (which still lets output get sent through the card to monitor).
b)However, that device was disabled via the device manager so it just hangs at the point it gets beyond the windows loading screen.
also, because this is disabled if i put any other graphics card in there, it still wont load into windows because it wont allow basic graphics display until.the alt card's drivers get running.
What i need to know is there any way I can enable that 'device' again without having to go into that install of windows?
*awaits flood of unhelpful crap*
(I helped save b3ta! StickFigureNinja is worried he may be on the list, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:45, archived)
I find your assumption that there's a nerd here offensive

(PsychoChomp, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:46, archived)
i do prefix it with the "may"

(I helped save b3ta! StickFigureNinja is worried he may be on the list, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:47, archived)
so do I
I got so cross that every single pen in my top pocket fell out
(I helped save b3ta! vladimir, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:47, archived)
I bet you harumphed, pushed your glasses up your nose and winked at your seven of nine figurine after clicking post

(I helped save b3ta! glued eel /questions/questionsyoudliketoask/post1648081, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:48, archived)
I don't push my glasses up my nose
I have designed a robot hand to do it for me, it's a usb attachment and it uses visual recognition algorithims to determine the exact position that my glases have to be relative to my nose and makes corrections every 5 seconds.
I have a patent pending.
(PsychoChomp, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:51, archived)
virgin

(I helped save b3ta! moohalaa, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:52, archived)
You can talk
Edit: What level's your WoW character now?
(PsychoChomp, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:52, archived)
Good lord.
That old stereotype.
(I helped save b3ta! Wildheart Baby. Drunken Mess In A Good Way, Thu 17 Apr 2008, 0:00, archived)
ha ha
i like that t-shirt
(SquidHead, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:58, archived)
buttfucker

(I helped save b3ta! mr horrible up yours, dickface, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:59, archived)
Have you tried booting into safe mode?

(I helped save b3ta! Wildheart Baby. Drunken Mess In A Good Way, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:46, archived)
oh

(PsychoChomp, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:47, archived)
Same thing
i'm assuming the thing that's disabled is what is used for graphics outputting in safemode too
(I helped save b3ta! StickFigureNinja is worried he may be on the list, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:47, archived)
if its not working in
that. Hardware is fucked up.

/might be wrong
(I helped save b3ta! MrA, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:48, archived)
hardware is fucked
but i replace hardware with working graphics card, will still not load into this install of xp.
thing is reverting to last known good configuration is not switching it back on either
(I helped save b3ta! StickFigureNinja is worried he may be on the list, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:51, archived)
whip the hard drive out.
shuv it into another sytem.
recover the shit you need.

reinstall... start a fresh and work out whats fucked up.
(I helped save b3ta! MrA, Thu 17 Apr 2008, 0:03, archived)
This sounds like a good plan.

(I helped save b3ta! Wildheart Baby. Drunken Mess In A Good Way, Thu 17 Apr 2008, 0:05, archived)
if i had my xp product key
i'd likely have already gone with this
(I helped save b3ta! StickFigureNinja is worried he may be on the list, Thu 17 Apr 2008, 0:08, archived)
This may help
www.magicaljellybean.com/downloads/kf141.zip

I've no idea if, or how, it works as I've never used it but there you go ...

edit: although, since you can't get to Windows it probably won't ... bugger
(I helped save b3ta! Sheriff Fatman George is On, Thu 17 Apr 2008, 0:16, archived)
have you tried going into the bios after a reboot to sort out what is set as the default graphics source
i.e. switch it from your graphics card back tothe chip on the motherboard
(Mehitabel_Itrang, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:52, archived)
bwahahah
that assumes it has onboard graphics
(I helped save b3ta! StickFigureNinja is worried he may be on the list, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:53, archived)
unless we're talking about a mobo from aeons ago it probably does
just going into the bios should tell you and you could simply pull the busted card and see if it sorts itself out
(Mehitabel_Itrang, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:54, archived)
Actually, the newer MBs tend to be the ones without the onboard GFX.

(I helped save b3ta! Dave Trouser ; the people's choice - 75% agree, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:55, archived)
Loads of gaming mb come without onboard graphics

(PsychoChomp, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:56, archived)
i know my mobo
and no onboard graphics
(I helped save b3ta! StickFigureNinja is worried he may be on the list, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:57, archived)
what do you think busted your current board
if there's no noticeable damage you could try gently heating it with a hairdryer, that sometimes temporarily solves problems caused by cracked soldering
(Mehitabel_Itrang, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:59, archived)
its the current graphics card that's blown
and it's been on it's last legs for about a month.
(I helped save b3ta! StickFigureNinja is worried he may be on the list, Thu 17 Apr 2008, 0:01, archived)
the wikipedia entry for vgasave goes on about AGP aperture size
but would I be right in thinking you've got a pci-e graphics card?
(Mehitabel_Itrang, Thu 17 Apr 2008, 0:02, archived)
nope, agp
is from just before the introduction of pci-e
(I helped save b3ta! StickFigureNinja is worried he may be on the list, Thu 17 Apr 2008, 0:09, archived)
My brand new mb has no graphics card
It also came pre overclocked for my quad core, but I've reset that somehow and daren't overclock it again.
(I helped save b3ta! magnum, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:58, archived)
It is.
If you can get the hard drive into another PC, then you can load the registry into that PC's editor, and possibly enable it manually... but I suspect this may not be a route you would like to take.

Another option is to Google about for a Linux ISO that is built for Windows registry editing, and boot from that. There are a few about.

Or, restore the Last Known Good configuration.
(I helped save b3ta! Dave Trouser ; the people's choice - 75% agree, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:53, archived)
I have another install on that machine I can get into
on the same HD even, but i've never done any registry editing so I dont know how to find the registry file from a different install, or where to look within the registry
(I helped save b3ta! StickFigureNinja is worried he may be on the list, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:56, archived)
I wouldn't fuck around with it.
There are quite a few entries relating to each thing within a system.
(I helped save b3ta! Wildheart Baby. Drunken Mess In A Good Way, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:57, archived)
aye
which is why i've always tried to avoid messing with the reg as much as possible.
(I helped save b3ta! StickFigureNinja is worried he may be on the list, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:59, archived)
ok, use your XP CD to get to the recovery console
then type this at the prompt:

enable vgasave service_system_start

then reboot
(I helped save b3ta! Dave Trouser ; the people's choice - 75% agree, Thu 17 Apr 2008, 0:00, archived)
alrighty
will give that a go now
(I helped save b3ta! StickFigureNinja is worried he may be on the list, Thu 17 Apr 2008, 0:02, archived)
Did it work?

(I helped save b3ta! Dave Trouser ; the people's choice - 75% agree, Thu 17 Apr 2008, 0:09, archived)
just got into recovery console
"The registry entry for the vgaservice was found.
The service is already set to SERVICE_SYSTEM_START"

So, kinda close atleast.
gonna try a restart and see what happens
(I helped save b3ta! StickFigureNinja is worried he may be on the list, Thu 17 Apr 2008, 0:14, archived)
ok
if it fails, try again but just "enable vgasave" - which will give a list of options. Just change to something else, then type it again and change it back, which should make sure it gets written to all the right places.
(I helped save b3ta! Dave Trouser ; the people's choice - 75% agree, Thu 17 Apr 2008, 0:20, archived)
hung at the same place
*goes to try more shit*
(I helped save b3ta! StickFigureNinja is worried he may be on the list, Thu 17 Apr 2008, 0:23, archived)
Bummer dude.
I just did some Google work, and lots of people are describing the disabling of vgasave as "fatal". oops.
(I helped save b3ta! Dave Trouser ; the people's choice - 75% agree, Thu 17 Apr 2008, 0:26, archived)
well worse case scenario
i have to get me a copy of vista
(I helped save b3ta! StickFigureNinja is worried he may be on the list, Thu 17 Apr 2008, 0:32, archived)
Or, just ask me to send you a program that not only generates XP keys, but also verifies them as valid, so you don't waste any time on duff ones.

(I helped save b3ta! Dave Trouser ; the people's choice - 75% agree, Thu 17 Apr 2008, 0:36, archived)
that would be potentially grand
actually, I just had a thought that I can't believe I didnt think of before: The xp key form this laptop should work fine. Only thing though, I shouldn't have any problems with "activating" it online using the same key should I?
(I helped save b3ta! StickFigureNinja is worried he may be on the list, Thu 17 Apr 2008, 0:51, archived)
Does your computer have a recovery partition?
if so there might be a mode which reinstalls device drivers, thus removing the "disabled" status
(I helped save b3ta! h3donist tryin' to play me out as if my name is Sega.., Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:47, archived)
i can help

(I helped save b3ta! Mortal Wombatteries not included - Awesome Awesome Awesome, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:47, archived)
take it out for dinner, a nice walk then to a trendy bar where you can slip a little something into its drink
then stick a screwdriver up it and fiddle with the settings
(I helped save b3ta! glued eel /questions/questionsyoudliketoask/post1648081, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:47, archived)
I assume you tried frotting yourself vigorously against it?

(I helped save b3ta! Gilgamesh gazed in wonder as Frampton came alive, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:47, archived)
I did this against yours.
It improved my outlook no end.
(I helped save b3ta! Wildheart Baby. Drunken Mess In A Good Way, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:48, archived)
boot into windows safe mode ...........
should work. If not, something is truly fucked.

After this awesome Macbook has had an utter beating, im considering buying a macbook pro.
(I helped save b3ta! MrA, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:47, archived)
yeah, that's the biggest problem...
I know i may have to resort to a fresh install, but i'd rather not if i can help it, that's a whole other load of fucking around i'd rather avoid
(I helped save b3ta! StickFigureNinja is worried he may be on the list, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:50, archived)
Stick the disc in and install which will likely just put it all on top of the other install
and everything should still be there.
(I helped save b3ta! Wildheart Baby. Drunken Mess In A Good Way, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:56, archived)
yeah
that'd require me trying to find my old windows product key and i dont know where that is, this is one of the bigger factors in why i'm trying to avoid a reinstall
(I helped save b3ta! StickFigureNinja is worried he may be on the list, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:59, archived)
Ah, right.
It's a damned nightmare needing that thing when the cd is an original.
(I helped save b3ta! Wildheart Baby. Drunken Mess In A Good Way, Thu 17 Apr 2008, 0:04, archived)
My macbook really struggles with photoshop and Outlook
(ok I'm running vista on it, but I'm a business person not a designer or programmer so I have to)
(I helped save b3ta! magnum, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:57, archived)
I have that (microsoft gave me a copy)
have you wacked 2gbs of RAM in it? Vista, god knows why, needs it.
(I helped save b3ta! MrA, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:59, archived)
Yes, I just think Office 07 is shit
and obviously ps is fairly hefty
(I helped save b3ta! magnum, Thu 17 Apr 2008, 0:11, archived)
Take off and nuke the site from orbit
It's the only way to be sure
(Ronnie Spleen MMMMNEURRGH I AM A GAY SPAZ AND I LOVE IT UP MY BU, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:48, archived)
Put Linux on it.

(I helped save b3ta! Bob Todd whee, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:48, archived)
the answer to all Windows problems

(I helped save b3ta! h3donist tryin' to play me out as if my name is Sega.., Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:49, archived)

Linux shit
(Ronnie Spleen MMMMNEURRGH I AM A GAY SPAZ AND I LOVE IT UP MY BU, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:50, archived)
and all the other free CDs from magazines, and a cat, and mining gear
carry on until it bucks it all off
(I helped save b3ta! glued eel /questions/questionsyoudliketoask/post1648081, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:50, archived)
Look who's come crawling back...

(I helped save b3ta! mike woz ere 7442200 & 7696970 getter, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:49, archived)
i dont crawl baby
i strut
(I helped save b3ta! StickFigureNinja is worried he may be on the list, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:52, archived)
How well stocked are you for jam and spunk?

(I helped save b3ta! elusive I'm not really here. You're imagining me, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:50, archived)
press F8 at startup (around Loading windows.. time) and select Enable VGA mode
this will force it to 640x480
(GoldenFanjita whistle posse blow! horns crew i can't hear you!, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:51, archived)
Tried it
its the thing that causes the 640x480 mode that's disabled i believe
(I helped save b3ta! StickFigureNinja is worried he may be on the list, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:54, archived)
Sounds like you're wanting a Recovery Console command to enable a device.
You might need to know what that device is called though, for which you may need a screen.
(I helped save b3ta! Kamikaze Stoat £4.09, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:51, archived)
Is it disabled in bios, if so just reset the cmos?

(I helped save b3ta! magnum, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:52, archived)
I just fixed our broken work server
Thank god I remember /etc/init.d/postgres restart
(I helped save b3ta! magnum, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:53, archived)
Shit it up your cock

(I helped save b3ta! wotofco pissing in your swimming pool, Wed 16 Apr 2008, 23:54, archived)