When I turn on my Dell Dimension 4100 it does a scandisk, then tells me that windows has detected hardware. If I continue in the hardware installation wizard, it asks me to select the drivers to install this unknown hardware. No drivers that I select get me anywhere. And honestly, I think this is a symptom of something much bigger. I haven't connected any new hardware. None. Oh, and plus it doesn't even say what hardware needs installing. It seems that the drivers are gone or something. I don't know. Anyhow, it takes me to a gray screen. No desktop, no icons, nothing.
Anyhow. If I control/alt/delete it shows that no programs are even running yet. None. But it doesn't go forward. The cursor is there and moves but there are no other options. Start menu won't come up. Nothing. Just this grey screen. Started it in safe mode and same thing except with the safe mode words in the corners.
At this point I would be willing to just load a new OS on the thing and move on. But I don't even seem to be able to do that. How can I just start over? If ANYONE has seen this or can just tell me how to get out of this and just start over, I have XP to load on the system. But how do I even get to that point?
Dazed and Confused in Atlanta
atlien
Anyhow. If I control/alt/delete it shows that no programs are even running yet. None. But it doesn't go forward. The cursor is there and moves but there are no other options. Start menu won't come up. Nothing. Just this grey screen. Started it in safe mode and same thing except with the safe mode words in the corners.
At this point I would be willing to just load a new OS on the thing and move on. But I don't even seem to be able to do that. How can I just start over? If ANYONE has seen this or can just tell me how to get out of this and just start over, I have XP to load on the system. But how do I even get to that point?
Dazed and Confused in Atlanta
atlien