Do you mean that you can currently only boot the system into Safe Mode? If that is the case, then your video drivers are not loading, and you will not be able to select a higher resolution or color depth. You must boot the system into normal mode, and ensure that the video card drivers are properly installed.

If the system cannot be booted into normal mode, you must resolve whatever problem is occurring. You may want to try eliminating programs starting up in the background that could be causing problems. See the following Dell Knowledge Base article for further information:

What is the Microsoft® System Configuration Utility (MSCONFIG)?

Thanks for the answer.  I can only boot into safe mode. I have error message 0x0000007f.  i contacted dell support and was told to flash the bios.  I did that and nothing changed.  i tried reloading all the drivers off the cd rom that came with the system (2350).  safe mode is practically useless.  I beleive it is a video problem as you state.  The only software or hardware i've added in the last 6 months is Turbotax 2003 approx 1 1/2 months ago.  

Hi Storm13,

Your major symptoms;

* The monitor does not appear in the device manager. 

* Monitor :  "Default on"  You only have 16 colors. The resolution cannot be changed. The adapter information has nothing in it except "unavailable". 

* You can only access the computer through Safe Mode.

* A system error code 0x0000007f is generated.

The possible causes I know;

1. One or more faulty memory module.

2. One or more badly behaived memory module (Note: in some case, diagnosis test CD from any computer manufacturers may not detect any physical errors.)

3. Hardware issue that includes the logic board.

4. Incompatible software issue (Not like regular applications but a software programme that can access to a hardware device directly or indirectly.)

An error code "0x0000007f" is a kernel trap status which seems to be similar to the so-called Kernel Panic on Mac OS X and UNIX operating system. For further information, see kberrmsg KB137539 (Microsoft's technical document) if you like; http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;137539

I recommend to discuss with Dell's technical support expert for further information.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the info,,I'll try that