Vista - First (re)boot: Black screen & mouse

Hello,

I'm trying to install Vista Business on a new PC [see configuration below]...

** My problem: **

The installer copies/extracts the files, up to the message "Will reboot in X
seconds".
Then, it reboots, displays the green progress bar, and the message "Please
wait... first start..." - Alright.

After that, I just have a black screen with a mouse on it. Usually, I can
move the mouse for 0 to 30 seconds, and the PC freezes (no HDD activity, no
response on NUM LOCK press, mouse frozen). I waited a long time, but nothing
more appeared.

I read a lot of threads on this subject, and it "seems" to be due to the
video card..

** What I tried: **

- I'm able to restart the computer in SAFE MODE, popping up a message
"cannot install windows in Safe Mode". There, I can open a command line
(SHIFT+F10).
In devmgr.msc, I see a video card with the 'usual' yellow mark "/!\". I
tried to update it using the CD of my video card, or a CD with the newest
drivers, or even Windows' default VGA driver: Vista recognizes my drivers,
accepts to do the update, but fails with the message:
"Windows found driver software for your device but encountered an error [..]
the device is not configured correctly (Code 1)"
I tried to disable/delete it from devmgr. It appears again after a refresh
or a reboot.

In safe mode, I'm unable to run NVidia's SETUP.EXE (installer for its
drivers): it says that "another installer is already running" (probably
referring to Windows's popup message -- if I close it, Windows reboots). Same
result with Windows' "Add new hardware".

- I tried to run Vista in "Low Resolution" mode -- same result (with a
bigger mouse :P). I ran Vista's memcheck -- no problem detected.

- I created a vLite CD of Vista, and included NVidia's drivers in it.
I got the same black-screen-with-a-mouse but directly on Windows PE (= Vista
installer). It can perhaps help to conclude that this problem is due to my
video card.
I ran this vLite CD in "Low Resolution Mode" (yes, the installer in low
resolution!), and it worked. Same result: installation OK, same problem on
the first boot. But this time, Vista directly displayed my driver when I
tried to update it in Safe Mode.

- I tried to add NVidia's driver directly during Vista's installation. It is
recognized... but refused ("The [NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT
(F:\nvidia\nv_disp.inf)] device driver could not be installed. Contact your
vendor for an updated driver").

Some advices are to unplug/disconnect everything. I don't have everything
plugged in, just my video card, my HDD, my CD reader, and of course my
motherboard.

Do you have any idea of what I could do?
I saw posts on subjects 'near' this one, but no solution worked. Perhaps did
I miss one!

Thank you! (and sorry for the length of this post..)
Arnaud / Alvin

** PC CONFIGURATION: **

HDD : Samsung T166 SATA 500 Go
PROC : AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ Socket AM2
MB : Asus M2N4-SLI
MEM : Corsair Twin2X 2x1Go DDRII PC5400 CAS 4
VIDEO : XFX GeForce 8600 GT 256 Mo Edition XXX
OS : Windows Vista Business (official key - through MSDNAA) English-US (even
if I'm French..)

Why don't you take your Video card completely out of your computer?

And plug the monitor cable directly into the Graphics port that comes out
the back of your computer, which is your embedded grapics in your motherboard.

You can always install your super-beaut graphics card later on; if it works!

"Alvin" wrote:

Hello, and thanks for your answer.
Good idea - but sadly, my MB doesn't include a graphic card...

Thank you,
Arnaud / Alvin

Hello,

Update: An idea I got with Mick's post... I tried with another video card
(from an old computer), and... same result, my well-known black screen and
its mouse most of the time...

Should be another problem. But what?

Thank you,
Arnaud.

Hello again,

Sorry for all the posts I send...

Finally, it works! Here is what I did:
- I used an alternative graphic card*
- I reinstalled Vista
- Reboot - DEL - BIOS -> "reset to default parameters"
- Reboot - F8 - SAFE MODE** -> shift+f10 to open a console, "devmgr.msc", I
deleted ALL devices with "?" or "!"
- Reboot - F8 - Choice: "Don't reboot automatically when errors are detected"

I already tried all this before, but only one at a time. Can't explain
precisely where the problem was...

Hope all this can help someone else.

Thank you,
Arnaud / Alvin

* See above.
** See my first post to know more about how to use safe mode with Vista not
completely installed

Alvin, motherboards have embedded/ onboard Graphics; no visible card.
You still have a port for the monitor cable on the basic motherboard.
That is your port to graphics embedded in your motherboard.

Also, try going into bios, and changing what graphics are looked for.

You normally have a choice between: AGP, Onboard/embedded, PCI.
And the standard bios is embedded graphics.
I wonder if this is your problem.
When you installed the graphics card, did you notify bios about it?
And change the setting in bios?


"Alvin" wrote:

Glad you got it going!


"Alvin" wrote:

Mick..........not all mobo have embedded video.His mobo does not have this
feature.
peter
"Mick Murphy" <MickMurphy@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:73300C5A-CDC8-4D2B-AA7E-3036BBBBF55C@xxxxxx

Dude wake up !!

95% of todays motherboards DO NOT have onboard vga...for christs sake!!
Only a few ALL IN ONE have it as a cheap solution mostly found on small factor mobos.

Next time try looking at a few motheroards before you DECLARE A LAW THAT ALL mOTHER BOARDS HAVE VGA onboard...ffs...

What kind of mobo you have dude??...an asrock,intel......and since your talking AGP im guessing what...a 3 to 4 year old rig ??

Damn noobs shouldnt be allowed to have on opinion on a support board....

If i get banned i dont care...im fed up with ppl that think they know pcs because they looked inside one once...have the right to give advice to others.

And incase you ask??......yes im a friggin PC tech with over 500 built rigs a year ( BTO) aside from tech support...