black screen resarting Windows after installing display adapter drivers

[Duriel]

Restoring a computer which had a bad hard drive.
replaced existing 20GB drive with new 40GB drive.
no other hardware changes
System:
Gigabyte GA-8IDML-C motherboard.
256MB RAM
Retail P4 1.4GHZ Proc.
DLink DFE530TX NIC
Powercolor Rage128Pro 32MB AGP board.
Steps:
Format Harddrive and install Win98SE
system runs fine in VGA
install chipset drivers and onboard audio drivers from CD provided with motherboard
system still runs fine in VGA
install drivers for Powercolr card and restart Windows as prompted
black screen and system is locked

tried referecne drive from ATI's website - no change.

Any suggestions?

[Tweaker]

Hey Duriel :cool:

Go into safe mode and remove the video card drivers. Then when it boots into normal mode, it will automatically detect and install the video card drivers you are currently using. Do not restart the computer.

Go to your display properties and then change the display to Standard PCI VGA driver. Restart the computer. Then go and download the newest drivers for your video card and install them.

You should be good to go. Make sure you get the right drivers for your cared. :)

[Duriel]

Thanks Tweaker,
I followed your suggestion but there was no change.
I set to VGA in safe mode.
Downloaded the latest ATI driver.
Installed it
The drivers install and then the system restarts in 16 colours.
Change the colour depth to 256 or higher and there is a prompt to restart before the change will take effect.
Click OK and the system restarts.
As soon as the system passes the Windows 98 logo screen the monitor goes black and the computer is locked up hard.
Even the keyboard LEDs stop responding.

On a hunch I ran MSCONFIG and disabled all the startup items.
The system restarted perfectly!
Now it works!
The system runs fine at all colour depths and all resolutsions supported by the monitor being used.

Then I attempted to isolate the offending startup item by enabling them in stages assuming the system would lock once the offending item was switched back on.
There aren't many.

Here is the list:
ScanRegistry
TaskMonitor
SystemTray
LoadPowerProfile
AtiPTA
SchedulingAgent
ATIPOLAB
LoadPowerProfile

Well I do not know what the deal is but all the items are re-enabled and the system is still working fine. I can still manipulte the settings to my hearts content and there is no problem.

Weird.

[Tweaker]

Hmm... that is weird. :confused:

Well glad things are working, post back if you have any more issues. From the list there's nothing I see that could of caused this. Only ones I see that might have something to do with this is,

ATIPOLAB (ati2evxx.exe) &

AtiPTA or AtiPTAAA or atiptaxx (Ati2ptxx.exe or Atiptaxx.exe)

Oh well, keep an eye on it. :)