Help! Format+reinstall?

spud17

I recently had a small problem with a Virgin Media install disk http://
forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=447294 , but I don't think it has caused my current problem.

I thought it was time to run an error check ( c: props/tools) on my hard drive, everything was OK but when it went to boot into XP I got the message "error loading operating system", and everything stalled.

I turned off, waited, turned on and everything booted up as it should.

I thought I should check things because I've not had a single problem in 11 months of XP.
Using the XP setup instructions and in their suggested order I tried "revert to last known good configuration"

The display adapter and monitor then switched to default and I cannot get back the settings, they are all greyed out.The ability to hibernate has also disappeared, and the scrolling is now in waves and making me seasick.

I then tried to use Recovery console but came up against a known problem with the password, I tried the MS fix involving d:\I386\winnt32.exe/cmdcons, all I got was cannot find file on disc.

I then tried System restore and found all the restore points had disappeared except for the boot I was using.

Is it possible to sort this out? or do I format and reinstall?

NOTE : I tried to solve the problem in the order suggested by MS, it might have been better to go straight to System Restore.

Time for bed, I have to be up at 5.30.

Jzpop

If the main problem is the display, try booting to safe mode (press F8 repeatedly at boot up), then reinstalling the drivers for your graphics card.

Once that is done, you should be able to set the correct resolution and colour depth for your monitor.

After that, it sounds as if you need to reinstall the drivers for your motherboard - although if you have an onboard graphics chip, just reinstalling your motherboard drivers should sort out both the display and hibernation problems.

spud17

Big thanks to Jzpop.

This pc is 4/5yrs old and came from my brother in law, who used this spec pc for training people learning new skills eg long term unemployed so it's basic.
It initially had Win98se.
The graphics and networking are all on the motherboard, so when I decided to install XP, we downloaded all the motherboard drivers from the Gigabyte site and put them on CD.
Clicked on the video driver (S3 proSavage), installed, rebooted and all graphics back as they should be.
Clicked on chipset, installed, rebooted, found hibernation had returned.

Once again a big thank you Jzpop.

A few things are now making me think,
1.Why did this happen?
2.Is there anything further I should do to straighten things out?
3.Why have all the XP updates disappeared? I have a large list to reinstall.
4.Defender is installed, is it any good?