Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Windows not start and can't re-install windows because langu

Jan 16, 2014 10:46AM PST

When windows start it goes to a black screen and after a few minutes re-starts. When I go to f8 the language is unreadable as well as when I try to format with the CD the letters are all mixed up and cannot read. I can start in safe mode and tried system restore but did not work.
Anyone have any suggestions? Is this some kind of virus and what can I do?

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Clarification Request
Please explain "go to the CD"
Jan 16, 2014 11:25AM PST

Did you BOOT from the XP install CD? If you just inserted the CD and let the autorun start, you should try booting from the CD. If you're booting from the CD and still have this problem, you likely have a hardware problem. Do you have the scrambled letters when you boot to Safe Mode?

- Collapse -
reply
Jan 16, 2014 3:30PM PST

When I boot with the CD it boots and what should say press any key is scrambled. I pressed it and the menu is scrambled and unreadable. I do not have the scrambled letters when I boot to Safe Mode. I ran the checkdisk from safe mode and now can get the welcome screen then hangs and re-starts.

- Collapse -
Re: scrambled
Jan 16, 2014 4:27PM PST

- So your CD is scrambled. I'd find another one that is OK.
- Can you tell more about that CD? Did it come with your PC? What is printed on it?

Kees

- Collapse -
reply
Jan 16, 2014 7:00PM PST

It's not only the CD that is scrambled. When I press f8 to go to safe mode it is also srambled but I know the location of safe mode but can not read it at all. Does this sound like a virus or something else? Once in safe mode it is normal but go out of safe mode and all letters are scrambled.

- Collapse -
Re: scrambled
Jan 16, 2014 7:18PM PST

It's not really clear what happens. You talk about 'language', that's Spanish or French or Swahili or English or Chinese. And you say 'scrambled' and 'mixed up'. That's quite something else.

It doesn't sound like a virus at all. So I tend to agree with wpgwpg that it's some strange hardware issue.

Kees

- Collapse -
this sounds like bad RAM
Jan 16, 2014 8:22PM PST

Good bits go in, bad bits come out. Have you entered BIOS and had it do a "checksum" on the RAM yet? If you get a checksum error, or the BIOS data seems scrambled also, and a reset of the BIOS won't solve the problem, I'd suspect RAM for sure. If you have more than one stick of RAM, pull it down to just one stick and try it, then try only the next one, and so forth to check each stick against the other. It is possible for more than one stick to be bad at the same time.

- Collapse -
Clarification Request
What languages
Jan 16, 2014 10:09PM PST

What languages are we talking about here? Maybe I'm wrong, but based on your post it doesn't seem like English is your primary language. So maybe you have an XP install disc in some other language and you're expecting English or some other language from what you're getting. Probably plenty of people haven't paid close enough attention to what they were buying off eBay, or the seller just flat out lied, and they wind up with something quite different from what they expected. Such as an XP install disc in say Traditional Chinese when you were looking for French or something.

I'm not sold on the bad RAM idea yet. It's a possibility, but for the bad RAM to be so specific in its effects and presumably across multiple attempts, makes me think that Kees is probably on the right track by asking for some clarification on the language.

So let's start over from the beginning. You put the disc into the drive with the intention of reinstalling Windows then shut the unit off. Upon pressing the power button to start the unit back up... What happens? Give us step by step accounts of what you see and what you do.

- Collapse -
Answer
Confusing
Jan 17, 2014 12:29AM PST

This CD must be in some other language. Both the CD and system language could not go bizarre like at that at once. At least, no virus can infect the CD, as far as I know. Try downloading the English language pack from Microsoft XP support site and install it on your computer. If that does not sort out, I don't know what will?!

- Collapse -
reply
Jan 17, 2014 10:23AM PST

This issue is not with the CD but the system. The problem started when I was using the computer I stayed away for a bit and went into screensaver mode and when I tried to go back it was stuck at this mode until I turned it off. When I restarted, it went to a black screen and after a few minutes would re-start.
I pressed f8 and was not able to read anything as the letters ( in English as English is the language for the operating system) were all mixed up and did not make any sense. I thought it must be a virus so tried to re-install with the CD (English) and the same mixed up letters appeared with what should have said press any key. The letters were all jumbled and unreadable when I pressed f8. I managed to get into safe mode by finding a screenshot of the page in a book and figured out where safe mode should be as it was unreadable . In safe mode everything was normal.When re-starting normal the same black screen appeared. When I go to BIOS the language is normal.
Thanks for all your help and kindness

- Collapse -
reply
Jan 17, 2014 3:03PM PST

This is what I see when I pres f8

wij'ows adranca' oppiojs majo
plaase selact aj oppioj:
saba mk'e This is safe mode command
saba'e sith jetskrk jg

- Collapse -
Answer
It's time to try some parts.
Jan 18, 2014 12:06AM PST

I can't tell what PC this is but if I saw this and the story so far I'd be trying another video card.
Bob

- Collapse -
reply
Jan 19, 2014 10:53AM PST

The computer is Asus laptop Model A8Jn16DSM100td
Could you please explain the steps to uninstall the video driver, and reinstall. I can access everything through safe mode so is this done from device manager and could you please explain the steps from the device manager.
After running check disk a few times It attempts to load to desktop and goes in and out of a black screen but not fully loads and after a few minutes re-starts again.Thanks again for your help

- Collapse -
Sorry no.
Jan 19, 2014 2:11PM PST

I have never been required to perform such steps. It's good practice but in this case there is something else going on. This machine needs repairs and it appears there is enough evidence to try another video card.

Stay inside your comfort zone and if not, get help or take it in for repair.
Bob