This explains how to create an a safe VGA video mode start-up option, especially useful when your video adapter or driver is causing problems.

Change the attributes for BOOT.INI so it is not 'Read Only', BOOT.INI is found in the root directory of the first partition. And open the file using Notepad or another text editor (not Microsoft Word or any word processor).

Listed under the [operating systems] section are all the OS's the NT boot loader can launch. To create a new safe VGA entry copy one of the existing NT entries and paste it on a new line.

At the end of the new entry add '/basevideo' (without the quotation marks), change the description of the entry to reflect that it is VGA mode.

The new entry should look similar to:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Windows NT Workstation Version 4.00 [VGA mode]" /basevideo

Changes will take place on the next reboot.

Disclaimer: Modifying the registry can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. We cannot guarantee that problems resulting from modifications to the registry can be solved. Use the information provided at your own risk.