New Monitor>Stop Error>Reboot>No Desktop

[Sean Olivers]

I'm running W2k on a tower w/ ATI graphics/video ("rage pro turbo 2X" or some ridiculous name like that) originally built for W98 2ed. My 5-year old monitor died, I bought a slightly used Viewsonic Perfect Flat A70f benchmark/testing monitor from Best Buy. I plugged it in, and it seemed to work fine for a few days, but suddenly I got a blue screen w/Stop Error "IRCQ..." (or something)"...not less or equal to..." It seems to be driver related.
I rebooted, and it worked fine again for awhile, but it started getting the stop error screen about every couple days. This went on for two weeks. I downloaded drivers from Viewsonic, but their driver for W2k won't install, so I used the "universal" unsigned driver.
Recently, after the stop error, I rebooted, but my desktop wouldn't load. All I get is a blank screen with hourglass. I can access programs/files manually (typing-no clicking on icons) and once they are up I can use the mouse just fine.
Also, I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling my (very old but W2k compatible) ATI drivers which came w/the computer but the installation won't "finish"-after the progress meters are done, the installation window just hangs w/ hourglass.
Is my graphics setup too old to handle the flatscreen? Do I need Viewsonic drivers or can I use W2k's own driver? What about the ATI drivers? Are these what are called "adapter drivers"? I'm confused by the multitude of possible driver conflicts which seem to be occurring.

 

[~Candy~]

The 'or something' error message is very important. Can you post the complete message?

 

[Sean Olivers]

Sorry, it's "IRQL". Also, my computer doesn't seem to be detecting my new monitor.

 

[~Candy~]

If it works and you can see things loading up in dos, then your computer is detecting the new monitor. I would suggest you boot into safe mode and perhaps lower the refresh settings by right clicking on the desktop, properties.

 

[Sean Olivers]

The refresh is as low as it can be set- 60 hz. When I tried to install the Viewsonic driver, I got a message saying "your monitor was not detected." it then asks me to go to Device Manager and click on "Monitors"-but there is no "Monitor" icon...????

 

[~Candy~]

Hopefully others will have some ideas.

 

[Sean Olivers]

Here is the complete message (it just happened again)
"***STOP: 0x000000D1 (0xE385C040, 0x00000FF, 0x00000001, 0xBF99D7AC)
DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
***Address BF99D7AC base at BF99800, Date Stamp 3ecd5361-
mrxsmb.sys

Then it gives a brief series of useless instructions like boot into safe mode and/or unplug or uninstall new hardware. (And then do what exactly???? MS's website gives instructions that I don't understand at all.)
Also, I've noticed when I boot and get no desktop, and then reinstall one of the ATI drivers, the "please restart" message comes on, so I hit yes, and all of a sudden, there are several error messages which briefly pop up which say "cannot open such-and-such program because it failed to initialize" then they close quickly and it shuts down.
It seems the various desktop/startup programs aren't initializing, which is why my screen remains blank.

 

[brite750]

http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5695/

Try turning off hyperthreading in your bios

 

[Sean Olivers]

Sorry, I'm not sure what that means, or how to do it. Could you explain, Please?

 

[~Candy~]

http://www.winnetmag.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=27037

This may shed some light too. Do you have all patches and SP updates installed?

 

[brite750]

Sorry, I'm not sure what that means, or how to do it. Could you explain, Please?

Sorry, at work, got busy. That site had a lot of people with you're problem and noticed that happened to fix one of them. since I don't know what your pc specs are I don't even know if you have HT, but if you do, try turning it off to see if it makes a difference.

 

[Sean Olivers]

Sorry, brite, but I don't know what hyperthreading is or how to figure out if I have it or not! How do I disable it?
I'm using W2k w SP4 and...what else would you want to know? there are quite alot of other details I could provide... 256 RAM, 13 + 20 GB HD, P-III 500, do you need every last detail?
It's basically an old(er) computer originally loaded w/W98 2dEd; I upgraded to W2k a year ago.
I'm not sure what other info would be helpful...

 

[brite750]

Well that's not the answer for you, I think HT is only with nwer P4 boxes.