ok, now that I have my computer fixed, my kid's is flipping out-- It starts regular, but after the xp splash screen, it flashes to this garbled graphics, sometimes black and white bands, and then goes to grey, then you can hear the windows start sound, and the hard drive flashes for a few seconds, then nothing. I try to start into safe mode, or any of the others on the f8 screen and it hangs at the file ipvnmon.sys.
I can get into safe mode with command prompt, but don't know how to change the video driver mode in dos.
this has happened before, but somehow got into safe mode 640x480x16, and was able to reload the video drivers and made everything ok.
it's a vision tek 9600 128meg card, (same as a ati radeon 9600?)
p4 1.8ghz
win xp pro
I have tried boot with winxp cd, and it reinstalls stuff, but won't change the video driver to work.

is there any other way to change or reload the video drivers without being in windows??

"The error was likely caused by an interaction between Windows and the following: Visual IP InSight (IPVNMon.sys). Visual IP InSight (IPVNMon.sys) was created by Visual Networks. It is typically distributed by internet service providers. To find out if a solution or a fix is available, contact your internet service provider".

That error is also reported as an affect of a virus & or worm.

Disconnect your modem as you try the following:

If this just started to happen you can try a System Restore form the command prompt via:

%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe

You can also try check disk via:

chkdsk/f

when asked to check on reboot choose Y.

& or you can run

sfc /scannow

providing you have the original XP disk.

Also try from safe options:

Boot the computer to Safe Mode options (F8 after BIOS) & choose:
"Enable VGA Mode".
Go to Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs.
Find your graphics card driver package & uninstall.
While in Control Panel, go to System, Hardware, Device Manager.
Expand (Click +) besides Display Adapter,
Right Click your graphics card, Choose Properties, Drivers, uninstall.
Reboot the Machine - It will re-detect your graphics card.
Then re-install the drivers.

Worst case scenerio you can do a Repair Install of XP.

This is a good guide:

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm

Just to add: Device Manager from Command Prompt:

devmgmt.msc

ok,did chkdsk, and finally got it into safe mode and got the kid's homework assignment out, they played world of warcraft for a few hours, then it hanged and it all started over again.
so after doing some more of the above suggestions, somehow, it turned on and went through windows setup with the cd and worked.
I deleted the video cards and drivers and restarted, and it set up everything, then went to a blank screen. I got it to work in safe mode only, and renamed ipvnmon.sys to ipvnmon.old, then everything worked great. was paging through the video properties and then I clicked the desktop tab, the screen went black with a flashing cursor and nothing happened.
now if I hit f8 no matter which option I choose, it gets to kdcom.dll and then prints the message could not find the file to load kernel, blah blah blah and you hit a key and it all starts over.
SOOOOOO, I put in the windows disk, it goes to set up and flashes the message \I386\KDCOM.DLL could not be loaded error code is 4 setup will now close.
and it all starts over again.

suggestions??

Just to clarify: when you say "Setup" are you attempting to reinstall XP?

A Repair Install might be your best bet if you can get it to go.

It wiil retain your data but will eliminate all Windows Updates & Service Packs:

Here is a good guide:

How to Repair Install

However if you want to try to replace that KDCOM.DLL (if you can get back in safe mode) here is the .dll:

KDCOM.DLL

um, I guess so-- the only other choice it gives me is press f2 for an automated system recovery, then it asks for a floppy, which I don't have, so that option is out....and press f6 to load a 3rd party scsi or raid driver, and I know THAT's not what I need, (right?) unless I don't know how to boot a cd, or something....
it goes to the blue windows setup screen straight from cmos "press any key to boot from cd"

ok ... should have asked before ... I now assume this was a computer that 'came' with XP installed?
In other words you do not have a full version XP CD? Just a recovery CD?

Do you know the make & model of the computer?

Different manufacturers have different means of restoring XP.

sorry for my confusion

no, sorry, my mistakes for confusion, it's hard to do this stuff over the "phone"

no, this is a self-built computer I installed xp pro from a disk with a product key from the disk holder I got from a computer builder.

Originally Posted by gregg bruce

um, I guess so-- the only other choice it gives me is press f2 for an automated system recovery, then it asks for a floppy, which I don't have, so that option is out....and press f6 to load a 3rd party scsi or raid driver, and I know THAT's not what I need, (right?) unless I don't know how to boot a cd, or something....
it goes to the blue windows setup screen straight from cmos "press any key to boot from cd"

Perhaps you need that floppy as it sounds like you could use an "automated system recovery". Does it indicate what floppy it is?

Otherwise I wonder what it was you did before when the disk went thru setup