Thinkpads Forum

Running W2K on an A31p, working beautifully.

I decided to install Access IBM. Did so, then decided I didn't need it.
So I used the standard Windows Add/Remove program to remove it. Upon reboot, the display is black.

My video drivers were installed in C:\Drivers, the same folder in which I had placed the Access IBM drivers. Therefore it appears to be that it is not a display hardware problem based on the way it happened. It seems likely that somehow the video was wiped out when I did that uninstall.

So: In order to reinstall the video drivers I had to get my display visible first -- a Catch-22.

I tried using the 4 set W2K boot disks, but still no display.

I tried the W2K in the CD-ROM drive, but still no display.

I tried a Win98 Boot Disk, to see if I could reinstall drivers somehow from DOS, but still not display even that way.

So: Can anyone think of a way to reinstall those drivers (such as from a diskette) even without the display being visible?

Will be greatful for any suggestions.

Larry

I've had to work on a couple of older thinkpad like this, plug in your desktop monitor and boot the thinkpad, you can work with the external monitor to view.

Try pressing F8 when you reboot, and choose the option for "Enable VGA Mode". This will allow you to boot in a low resolution mode and then you will be able to change the settings.

Here is a link from Microsoft that briefly explains how to get to this option:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/202485