after password only grey geometric forms

I can only get Vista (64-bit) to display a desktop in Safe Mode.
If I try any of the other modes, inlcuding the VGA one, after I enter my password there is a comment about creating my desktop, then a screen with only very, very faint geometric shapes (mostly triangles) in shades of grey appears.
The only thing I can do at that point is <ctrl+alt+del> to be able to click on the button in the lower right of the screen to reboot.
In Safe Mode, everything looks fine in Device Manager -- I tried finding new drivers for display adapter and monitor, but reply is that I have the most current. I do get a glimpse of the desktop wallpaper after I select the reboot option.
My system passed the Vista Upgrade Advisor: ASUS P5LD2 mobo, Intel 930 (3.0 ghz dual-core) processor, 2GB DDR2-533 RAM, ASUS ATI 1300x vid card.
I re-installed Vista a second time, and same thing.
What do I try next???

I'm also having the exact same issue! Very very frustrating....anyone know anything??? PLEASE HELP
"wpcoe" wrote:

I can only get Vista (64-bit) to display a desktop in Safe Mode.
If I try any of the other modes, inlcuding the VGA one, after I enter my password there is a comment about creating my desktop, then a screen with only very, very faint geometric shapes (mostly triangles) in shades of grey appears.
The only thing I can do at that point is <ctrl+alt+del> to be able to click on the button in the lower right of the screen to reboot.
In Safe Mode, everything looks fine in Device Manager -- I tried finding new drivers for display adapter and monitor, but reply is that I have the most current. I do get a glimpse of the desktop wallpaper after I select the reboot option.
My system passed the Vista Upgrade Advisor: ASUS P5LD2 mobo, Intel 930 (3.0 ghz dual-core) processor, 2GB DDR2-533 RAM, ASUS ATI 1300x vid card.
I re-installed Vista a second time, and same thing.
What do I try next???

What an ironic relief to know I'm not alone! It's difficult to describe the screen that we get stopped at.
Are you using the 64-bit version, too? I'm considering enduring another long download to try the 32-bit version to see if that's the issue. Windows XP x64 (64-bit) wasn't as stable on my system as 32-bit WinXP, and I wonder if Vista is likewise a little weak in 64-bit support?
"Hate" wrote:

I'm also having the exact same issue! Very very frustrating....anyone know anything??? PLEASE HELP

actually im using regular 32 bit Vista Ultimate....im starting to wonder if its a problem with the drivers for my graphics card since i've seen a few people that have this problem have similar cards.....i got the VisionTek Radeon x1300 with 512mb
"wpcoe" wrote:

What an ironic relief to know I'm not alone! It's difficult to describe the screen that we get stopped at.
Are you using the 64-bit version, too? I'm considering enduring another long download to try the 32-bit version to see if that's the issue. Windows XP x64 (64-bit) wasn't as stable on my system as 32-bit WinXP, and I wonder if Vista is likewise a little weak in 64-bit support?
"Hate" wrote:
I'm also having the exact same issue! Very very frustrating....anyone know anything??? PLEASE HELP

Are you able to get into safe mode like me??
"wpcoe" wrote:

What an ironic relief to know I'm not alone! It's difficult to describe the screen that we get stopped at.
Are you using the 64-bit version, too? I'm considering enduring another long download to try the 32-bit version to see if that's the issue. Windows XP x64 (64-bit) wasn't as stable on my system as 32-bit WinXP, and I wonder if Vista is likewise a little weak in 64-bit support?
"Hate" wrote:
I'm also having the exact same issue! Very very frustrating....anyone know anything??? PLEASE HELP

Hey all GREAT NEWS!! after about 3 hours with microsoft and 1 or 2 on my own i figured out the problem!! You should be able to boot into safe mode so go ahead and do that. Then while in safe mode open up msconfig. select selective startup. then go into the serivices tab and enable everything but desktop window manager session manager and reboot normally. This resolved it for me....let me know if this helps you as well :)
"Hate" wrote:

Are you able to get into safe mode like me??
"wpcoe" wrote:
What an ironic relief to know I'm not alone! It's difficult to describe the screen that we get stopped at.
Are you using the 64-bit version, too? I'm considering enduring another long download to try the 32-bit version to see if that's the issue. Windows XP x64 (64-bit) wasn't as stable on my system as 32-bit WinXP, and I wonder if Vista is likewise a little weak in 64-bit support?
"Hate" wrote:
I'm also having the exact same issue! Very very frustrating....anyone know anything??? PLEASE HELP

Thanks so much for the "GREAT NEWS". :-)
Yes, I was able to boot in to Safe Mode and disable the service. However, it means (a) no Aero Glass and (b) no way to alter any of the desktop appearance...
We both (Hate & I) have an ATI x1300 video card, so I'm guessing that's the common denominator. However, I tried to install the 64-bit ATI driver from their web site, and it *seems* to install, but Device Driver still shows the same driver as before: 7.7.90.
Also, the onboard Realtek Audio on my ASUS P5DL2 mobo are not functional on Vista. Originally Vista applied a generic audio driver, but sound did not emanate from my speakrs. Then I applied the audio driver from the mobo CD-ROM, and now have yellow exclamation point in front of it in Device Manager. I tried to uninstall (get a crash error message) via Control Manager > Programs, and tried to roll-back via Device Manager, but cannot.
So, so far on my system, the audio and video don't work as hoped. Not a great start, huh? :-(
Thanks, again, Hate for your video workaround!
"Hate" wrote:

Hey all GREAT NEWS!! after about 3 hours with microsoft and 1 or 2 on my own i figured out the problem!! You should be able to boot into safe mode so go ahead and do that. Then while in safe mode open up msconfig. select selective startup. then go into the serivices tab and enable everything but desktop window manager session manager and reboot normally. This resolved it for me....let me know if this helps you as well :)

Well worst case scenairo contact microsoft at http://support.microsoft.com/vistabeta for vista specific support....as for the "GREAT NEWS" lol i've noticed a few flaws with it like when i tried to full screen a video but i read another possible work around on a forum...i'll post it here for you once i dig it up and that might work better. I'm not gonna have time to try this one for a day or two so lemme know how it works out :)
"wpcoe" wrote:

Thanks so much for the "GREAT NEWS". :-)
Yes, I was able to boot in to Safe Mode and disable the service. However, it means (a) no Aero Glass and (b) no way to alter any of the desktop appearance...
We both (Hate & I) have an ATI x1300 video card, so I'm guessing that's the common denominator. However, I tried to install the 64-bit ATI driver from their web site, and it *seems* to install, but Device Driver still shows the same driver as before: 7.7.90.
Also, the onboard Realtek Audio on my ASUS P5DL2 mobo are not functional on Vista. Originally Vista applied a generic audio driver, but sound did not emanate from my speakrs. Then I applied the audio driver from the mobo CD-ROM, and now have yellow exclamation point in front of it in Device Manager. I tried to uninstall (get a crash error message) via Control Manager > Programs, and tried to roll-back via Device Manager, but cannot.
So, so far on my system, the audio and video don't work as hoped. Not a great start, huh? :-(
Thanks, again, Hate for your video workaround!
"Hate" wrote:
Hey all GREAT NEWS!! after about 3 hours with microsoft and 1 or 2 on my own i figured out the problem!! You should be able to boot into safe mode so go ahead and do that. Then while in safe mode open up msconfig. select selective startup. then go into the serivices tab and enable everything but desktop window manager session manager and reboot normally. This resolved it for me....let me know if this helps you as well :)

Here it is pasted from another forum
BlacKnight316 6/20/2006 12:30 PM PST I Did Something Different, BUT It Still Go The Job Done..
Boot Into Safe Mode Run MsConfig Under Services - Disable Themes Installed BETA2 Drivers For My Video Card ReBoot Enable Themes Service ReBoot Tada...
Didn't Call MicroSoft On This One, Checked Error Events Everything Seemed To Point To Themes, I Dunno If It's The Correct Way, I Just Know It WORKED!!
"Hate" wrote:
Click to show or hide original message or reply text.

Hey all GREAT NEWS!! after about 3 hours with microsoft and 1 or 2 on my own i figured out the problem!! You should be able to boot into safe mode so go ahead and do that. Then while in safe mode open up msconfig. select selective startup. then go into the serivices tab and enable everything but desktop window manager session manager and reboot normally. This resolved it for me....let me know if this helps you as well :)
"Hate" wrote:
I'm also having the exact same issue! Very very frustrating....anyone know anything??? PLEASE HELP
"rileyrd" wrote:
I get the same problem. I can get it to work in safe mode. Tried to install ati beta drivers, but get message no installable components. Any idea?
"BlacKnight316" wrote:
I have installed beta2 on my system, it seems to have installed fine, but when I log in I get a nice fade, screen mode changes and all I see are triangles and squares flickering and opening and closing, and that's all. This has happened to two different beta versions that I have tried..
Has anyone had this problem, and how do you fix it???
My system is an AMD 64 3200+ 1 gig Memory 256 PCI-E ATI x1300

"Hate" wrote:

Well worst case scenairo contact microsoft at http://support.microsoft.com/vistabeta for vista specific support....as for the "GREAT NEWS" lol i've noticed a few flaws with it like when i tried to full screen a video but i read another possible work around on a forum...i'll post it here for you once i dig it up and that might work better. I'm not gonna have time to try this one for a day or two so lemme know how it works out :)
"wpcoe" wrote:
Thanks so much for the "GREAT NEWS". :-)
Yes, I was able to boot in to Safe Mode and disable the service. However, it means (a) no Aero Glass and (b) no way to alter any of the desktop appearance...
We both (Hate & I) have an ATI x1300 video card, so I'm guessing that's the common denominator. However, I tried to install the 64-bit ATI driver from their web site, and it *seems* to install, but Device Driver still shows the same driver as before: 7.7.90.
Also, the onboard Realtek Audio on my ASUS P5DL2 mobo are not functional on Vista. Originally Vista applied a generic audio driver, but sound did not emanate from my speakrs. Then I applied the audio driver from the mobo CD-ROM, and now have yellow exclamation point in front of it in Device Manager. I tried to uninstall (get a crash error message) via Control Manager > Programs, and tried to roll-back via Device Manager, but cannot.
So, so far on my system, the audio and video don't work as hoped. Not a great start, huh? :-(
Thanks, again, Hate for your video workaround!
"Hate" wrote:
Hey all GREAT NEWS!! after about 3 hours with microsoft and 1 or 2 on my own i figured out the problem!! You should be able to boot into safe mode so go ahead and do that. Then while in safe mode open up msconfig. select selective startup. then go into the serivices tab and enable everything but desktop window manager session manager and reboot normally. This resolved it for me....let me know if this helps you as well :)

here it is for ya :)
BlacKnight316 6/20/2006 12:30 PM PST I Did Something Different, BUT It Still Go The Job Done..
Boot Into Safe Mode Run MsConfig Under Services - Disable Themes Installed BETA2 Drivers For My Video Card ReBoot Enable Themes Service ReBoot Tada...
Didn't Call MicroSoft On This One, Checked Error Events Everything Seemed To Point To Themes, I Dunno If It's The Correct Way, I Just Know It WORKED!!
"Hate" wrote:
Click to show or hide original message or reply text.

Hey all GREAT NEWS!! after about 3 hours with microsoft and 1 or 2 on my own i figured out the problem!! You should be able to boot into safe mode so go ahead and do that. Then while in safe mode open up msconfig. select selective startup. then go into the serivices tab and enable everything but desktop window manager session manager and reboot normally. This resolved it for me....let me know if this helps you as well :)
"Hate" wrote:
I'm also having the exact same issue! Very very frustrating....anyone know anything??? PLEASE HELP
"rileyrd" wrote:
I get the same problem. I can get it to work in safe mode. Tried to install ati beta drivers, but get message no installable components. Any idea?
"BlacKnight316" wrote:
I have installed beta2 on my system, it seems to have installed fine, but when I log in I get a nice fade, screen mode changes and all I see are triangles and squares flickering and opening and closing, and that's all. This has happened to two different beta versions that I have tried..
Has anyone had this problem, and how do you fix it???
My system is an AMD 64 3200+ 1 gig Memory 256 PCI-E ATI x1300

"Hate" wrote:

Well worst case scenairo contact microsoft at http://support.microsoft.com/vistabeta for vista specific support....as for the "GREAT NEWS" lol i've noticed a few flaws with it like when i tried to full screen a video but i read another possible work around on a forum...i'll post it here for you once i dig it up and that might work better. I'm not gonna have time to try this one for a day or two so lemme know how it works out :)
"wpcoe" wrote:
Thanks so much for the "GREAT NEWS". :-)
Yes, I was able to boot in to Safe Mode and disable the service. However, it means (a) no Aero Glass and (b) no way to alter any of the desktop appearance...
We both (Hate & I) have an ATI x1300 video card, so I'm guessing that's the common denominator. However, I tried to install the 64-bit ATI driver from their web site, and it *seems* to install, but Device Driver still shows the same driver as before: 7.7.90.
Also, the onboard Realtek Audio on my ASUS P5DL2 mobo are not functional on Vista. Originally Vista applied a generic audio driver, but sound did not emanate from my speakrs. Then I applied the audio driver from the mobo CD-ROM, and now have yellow exclamation point in front of it in Device Manager. I tried to uninstall (get a crash error message) via Control Manager > Programs, and tried to roll-back via Device Manager, but cannot.
So, so far on my system, the audio and video don't work as hoped. Not a great start, huh? :-(
Thanks, again, Hate for your video workaround!
"Hate" wrote:
Hey all GREAT NEWS!! after about 3 hours with microsoft and 1 or 2 on my own i figured out the problem!! You should be able to boot into safe mode so go ahead and do that. Then while in safe mode open up msconfig. select selective startup. then go into the serivices tab and enable everything but desktop window manager session manager and reboot normally. This resolved it for me....let me know if this helps you as well :)

Hey i tried that other solution but it didn't work for me....when i tried to install the graphics card driver it said it couldnt find anything compatible or whatever....:(
"Hate" wrote:

here it is for ya :)
BlacKnight316 6/20/2006 12:30 PM PST

I Did Something Different, BUT It Still Go The Job Done..
Boot Into Safe Mode Run MsConfig Under Services - Disable Themes Installed BETA2 Drivers For My Video Card ReBoot Enable Themes Service ReBoot Tada...
Didn't Call MicroSoft On This One, Checked Error Events Everything Seemed To Point To Themes, I Dunno If It's The Correct Way, I Just Know It WORKED!!
"Hate" wrote:
Click to show or hide original message or reply text.
Hey all GREAT NEWS!! after about 3 hours with microsoft and 1 or 2 on my own i figured out the problem!! You should be able to boot into safe mode so go ahead and do that. Then while in safe mode open up msconfig. select selective startup. then go into the serivices tab and enable everything but desktop window manager session manager and reboot normally. This resolved it for me....let me know if this helps you as well :)
"Hate" wrote:
I'm also having the exact same issue! Very very frustrating....anyone know anything??? PLEASE HELP
"rileyrd" wrote:
I get the same problem. I can get it to work in safe mode. Tried to install ati beta drivers, but get message no installable components. Any idea?
"BlacKnight316" wrote:
I have installed beta2 on my system, it seems to have installed fine, but when I log in I get a nice fade, screen mode changes and all I see are triangles and squares flickering and opening and closing, and that's all. This has happened to two different beta versions that I have tried..
Has anyone had this problem, and how do you fix it???
My system is an AMD 64 3200+ 1 gig Memory 256 PCI-E ATI x1300




"Hate" wrote:
Well worst case scenairo contact microsoft at http://support.microsoft.com/vistabeta for vista specific support....as for the "GREAT NEWS" lol i've noticed a few flaws with it like when i tried to full screen a video but i read another possible work around on a forum...i'll post it here for you once i dig it up and that might work better. I'm not gonna have time to try this one for a day or two so lemme know how it works out :)
"wpcoe" wrote:
Thanks so much for the "GREAT NEWS". :-)
Yes, I was able to boot in to Safe Mode and disable the service. However, it means (a) no Aero Glass and (b) no way to alter any of the desktop appearance...
We both (Hate & I) have an ATI x1300 video card, so I'm guessing that's the common denominator. However, I tried to install the 64-bit ATI driver from their web site, and it *seems* to install, but Device Driver still shows the same driver as before: 7.7.90.
Also, the onboard Realtek Audio on my ASUS P5DL2 mobo are not functional on Vista. Originally Vista applied a generic audio driver, but sound did not emanate from my speakrs. Then I applied the audio driver from the mobo CD-ROM, and now have yellow exclamation point in front of it in Device Manager. I tried to uninstall (get a crash error message) via Control Manager > Programs, and tried to roll-back via Device Manager, but cannot.
So, so far on my system, the audio and video don't work as hoped. Not a great start, huh? :-(
Thanks, again, Hate for your video workaround!
"Hate" wrote:
Hey all GREAT NEWS!! after about 3 hours with microsoft and 1 or 2 on my own i figured out the problem!! You should be able to boot into safe mode so go ahead and do that. Then while in safe mode open up msconfig. select selective startup. then go into the serivices tab and enable everything but desktop window manager session manager and reboot normally. This resolved it for me....let me know if this helps you as well :)

Keywords: triangles, X1300, X1300PRO, ATI, Vista, grey, preparing desktop, themes
I have experienced the same problems too, and am glad to report the suggested fix (see below) worked for me too.
BlacKnight316 6/20/2006 12:30 PM PST .... Boot Into Safe Mode (scleary F8 - with networking) Run MsConfig Under Services tab - Disable Themes Reboot Installed BETA2 Drivers For My Video Card (Scleary: I used ATI web site) ReBoot Enable Themes Service ReBoot Tada...