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 Getting Your Computer to Boot into Safe Mode

By Dick Curry

July, 2007

As an afterthought I sent the following message to John Ringer who had asked the question about not being able to boot up in Safe Mode:

1)   You ought to contact the people who sold you your computer and get them to provide you with a Windows XP installation CD.  If your computer is still under warranty have them work with you to correct the problem.  Even if it isn't under warranty your best bet may still be to have them help you correct the problem.  Read what Leo Notenboom has to say about not having an Installation CD at http://ask-leo.com/i_dont_have_an_installation_cd_for_windows_xp_what_if_i_need_one.html .

2).  You might want to follow the following instructions (taken from http://www.cybertechhelp.com/tutorial/article/how-to-boot-into-safe-mode ) and check out http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic8356.html. To use the System Configuration Utility method discussed:

1. Close all open programs.

2. Click Start, Run and type MSCONFIG in the box and click OK.

3.  

4. The System Configuration Utility appears, On the BOOT.INI tab, Check the "/SAFEBOOT" option, and then click OK

5.  

6. Restart your computer when prompted.

7.  

8. The computer restarts in Safe mode.

9. Perform the troubleshooting steps for which you are using Safe Mode.

10. When you are finished with troubleshooting in Safe mode, open MSCONFIG again, on the BOOT.INI tab, uncheck "/SAFEBOOT" and click OK to restart your computer .

3)   You should read everything at http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/options_to_use_when_a_system_will_not_start.mspx?mfr=true to have an understanding of what you are doing when trying to repair system files.

4)  A number of people have had trouble with safe mode startup after installing Nero InCD.  Do you have Nero InCD installed on your computer?

5)  Some people have reported problems when they have NUM LOCK on when tapping F8 on startup to initiate safe mode start up.  I can't see where this should do anything for you but you might try it.

6)  You might want to read what Leo Notenboom has to say on system file checker and other issues relating to   at:  http://ask-leo.com/what_is_the_system_file_checker_and_how_do_i_run_it.html

6)  I'm not sure what you mean by an "Acronis recovery disk".  Before using it I would check Acronis' User Manual to see what it does when you use it.  If it doesn't replace system files I'm not sure it would do you any good.

                                                                                  

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