I just recovered from accidentally disabling my display adapter (idiot). I logged into linux to get on the net and found the thread solved by Spike and also by glowingnissan07 on this issue and found that neither of these threads solved the problem exactly. Spikes solution finally ended up working with one change and I thought I would post it here in case anyone else had the same gut wrenching experience (thanks Microsoft).

Phenomena: accidentally disabled the display adapter and after the XP loading screen you get nothing. Dead monitor. Safe mode hangs each time and "VGA Mode" does nothing different.

Solution: Here is Spikes original solution (thanks Spike) with a note for step 5. Also beware of "found new hardware" wizard etc popping up at system startup interfereing with these instructions. I recommend pressing alt-f4 a few times after startup to make sure any startup programs get closed and then doing these instructions. Good Luck.

Log in. If you log in automatically, all well and good. if not...

1, use the up and down arrow keys to go to your user, and hit enter to select. if you normally have to enter a password, then do it now, and hit enter again.

2, press and hold the windows key, and tap 'R' (this is the keyboard shortcut to the run box)

3, type "devmgmt.msc" (without the quotes) and hit Enter (this opens device manager)

4, wait a few moments to make sure device manager is open, and then hit the TAB key once. this brings the selection onto the device list.

5, (cancel this step and jump to step 6 with SP2 as you start in device view by type as default and pressing alt-v will pop you into the view menu[new]) hit ALT+V together, which switches to viewing devices by type

6, hit 'D' TWICE, which should bring you to Display Adapters

7, hit the RIGHT cursor key to open the dropdown selection, and right again to go to the first device in that selection.

8, hit Alt+A together to open the context menu for your adaptor (assuming it's the first in the list)

9, hit the Down cursor key which selects Enable (note, if you've got the wrong device, this will select disable for that device). then, hit Enter to enable it

10, If you get a number of dialogues, as I just did for a seperate device (I'm not about to disable my own display!!!!), just use a combination of enter/Y (for yes) until they are finished. [I found that pressing Y, Y, enabled the adapter and then proceeded to reboot your system]

Having speakers on may help for this process, so giving you a few audio cues for what you're doing.

I just went through this entire process on my machin as I typed it, so I know it works. (of course, I know this because I was looking at it. be carefull you don't mistype, or hit the wrong keys!)

The shortcut keys in Device Manager apply only to English OS, of course.

This works! Thank you so much 79bomb! I made this same mistake, followed your instructions, and I'm back up and running again. You've helped save me some anguish and some dollars as well. Thanks for the helpful tip!

Sweet happy ending to this debacle. It's ok everyone does stupid things on their PC, Im glad we saved you. good to hear!!!

I also disabled my display adapter (can't believe I did that!) Just wanted to thank the79bomb for the steps to correct the problem!! I'm sure I would have spent lots for someone to fix. Can't thank you enough!

Ouch you put yourself in a nice hole by doing that LOL ,

np we can fix it.

We need to try booting into VGA mode ,,, not safe or normal ,,, I believe once you get in there you can uninstall drivers which are probbaly not there. Or you can just install the video drivers from there and come back up,,,, gl,

Just some thoughts for other opinion:

- onboard video would be default 'enabled' so if you disabled it in control panel somehow then resetting cmos should reset that.
- add-on card disabling where no onboard exists could be gotten around by removing that card and inserting a different card for plug and play to detect - then VGA would work again if it didn't when the original card was disabled

I think

between step 1 and 2 if you can press windows key then 'R'
after that type 'narrator' and hit Enter
then proceed with step 2

it is a way to get a voice explaining what you are doing...

bye

i followed the steps 1 by 1 and nothing happened inform me on anything else i can do

Reinstall the OS from CD over top of itself might do the trick....

Otherwise hooking up the offending HD to another system and investigating it's registry or other files will do it, yes a hassle.

I just tried doing this, but it's still not working!? i've tried a million times.

A suggestion,

if your speakers are good open the narrator first, here is the shortcut

Windows key + U

Thank you, but I just reinstalled Windows, and it worked just fine (: thanks though x

Keep in mind that this is only for XP. Other Windowses have different user interfaces so these shortcuts might not work (UAC comes to mind).

Okay, I tried this and it did not work. I tried it a second time with the narrator turned on and found out that there was no item in the device manager window labeled 'display adapters'. So I'm still stuck without a display. Any ideas? I am using Windows XP SP3 if that helps at all. Please help. I'd rather not have to reinstall Windows.

Thank you soooooo much!!!! It helped )))) though my system is in russian, i don't ve the slightest idea how it all worked out, but it did)))) thank you thank you thank you!!!! I'm soooooo happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanxs