Re: WinXP home safe mode help needed

I think I figured it out.

If the Recovery Console is installed on your machine, F8 opens the Recovery
Console instead of the Windows Advanced Options Menu. Or by having the
Recovery Console installed, you just plain do not get the option for the
Windows Advanced Options Menu.

The Windows Advanced Options Menu is where you can choose...
-----
Safe Mode
Safe Mode with Networking
Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Enable Boot Logging
Enable VGA Mode
Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent setting that worked)
Directory Services Restore Mode (Windows domain controllers only)
Debugging Mode

Start Windows Normally
Reboot
Return to OS Choices Menu
-----

Either way, try this.

Once you have booted into Windows...

Start | Run | Type: msconfig | Click OK |
Boot.ini tab | Check All Boot Paths button |
A dialog box will open detailing the location of any invalid operating
system locations | Confirm you want to remove the entry and reboot

[[Check All Boot Paths - This button will check the boot paths for all
operating systems listed in the BOOT.INI to ensure they point to a valid
operating system. ]]

A dialog box will open detailing the location of any invalid operating
system locations.
Similar to this...
-------------------
It appears that the following line in the BOOT.INI file does not refer to a
valid operating system:

C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons

Would you like to remove it from the BOOT.INI file?
-------------------

Click on YES.

C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons
is the line that needs to removed from the boot.ini file.

Since you do not have an XP CD, you will not be able to re-install the
Recovery Console. The Recovery Console is a sort of last resort if Safe
Mode will not help in fixing problems.

If the msconfig Check All Boot Paths did not get rid of the Recovery
Console, post back and we can see about manually editing the boot.ini to get
rid if the Recovery Console.

Also...
How to delete the Recovery Console
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307654#XSLTH3183121125120121120120


--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In news:43fmitF1n8t0vU1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx,
dfrog <dfrog@xxxxxxxxxxxx> hunted and pecked:
> Wes,
> XP Home came already installed on this Compaq Presario 5100UK PC that I've
> had for approx 2 years (I've never had an XP CD)
> The first thing I see when starting is a Compaq background with the option
> to press 'Esc' for Boot Menu - 'F1' for Setup or 'F10' for System Recovery
> ( I have in the past used 'Esc' & 'F1' but not 'F10')
> If I don't select any of these (which is 99.999% of the time, thankfully )
> then the second screen appears giving an option to boot into XP or by
> using the 'up' arrow key on keyboard, to boot into Windows Recovery Consol
> (something I've never needed to do in the past, thankfully ), or to press
> 'F8' to Boot into Safe Mode.
>
> My issue has been, that along with 'esc' 'F1' 'F10' ''up' key on
> keyboard', selecting 'F8' does not work (just as tho' the keyboard is not
> recognised at this stage despite USB devices being enabled in BIOS)
>
> Having followed your last message advice in disabling NumLock, then when
> this second screen appears, I can use the 'up' key on the Numeric Pad (not
> the 'up' key on keyboard) to select Windows Recovery Console, which then
> goes into the 'Command Prompt' screen, but, at this stage I can go no
> further because I cannot type anything into this prompt, ie my main
> keyboard is still not working (even tho' the Numeric Pad just allowed me
> to get
> here - does this make sense?)
>
> I've tried to explain this issue as accurately as possible and really do
> appreciate your efforts to help, and do want to solve it, but I do still
> have the option of using an old PS2 keyboard to get me into Safe Mode
> (should the need ever arise - you will remember that I stumbled upon this
> problem by accident rather than a 'need' to use Safe Mode)
>
> dfrog
>
> "Wesley Vogel" <123WVogel955@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:OgFmp4rHGHA.3896@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>> keypad to go up to choose "Windows Recovery Console" rather than booting
>>> into Windows, but all I am left with is a screen with a flashing cursor
>>> top left that I cannot influence in any way, so unfortunately I am no
>>
>> Either you're booting form the XP CD or you have installed the Recovery
>> Console as a startup option.
>>
>> The screen with the flashing cursor is the Recovery Console, similar to a
>> command prompt.
>>
>> Recovery Console
>> [[A command-line interface that provides a limited set of administrative
>> commands that are useful for repairing a computer.]]
>>
>> --
>> Hope this helps. Let us know.
>>
>> Wes
>> MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
>>
>> In news:43fdmnF1naauaU1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx,
>> dfrog <dfrog@xxxxxxxxxxxx> hunted and pecked:
>>> Further thanks Wesley,
>>> have looked thro' these topics (and Related Topics) and they all refer
>>> to going into Safe Mode by pressing F8, and this is exactly my problem,
>>> with this Belkin USB keyboard, even with Legacy USB enabled in BIOS, F8
>>> does nothing (along with the other keyboard strokes at this stage)
>>> By turning Numlock off (new info for me), I am now able to use numeric
>>> keypad to go up to choose "Windows Recovery Console" rather than booting
>>> into Windows, but all I am left with is a screen with a flashing cursor
>>> top left that I cannot influence in any way, so unfortunately I am no
>>> further along.
>>>
>>> dfrog
>>>
>>>
>>> "Wesley Vogel" <123WVogel955@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>>> news:%23TipyHrHGHA.2628@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>> [[NUM LOCK must be off before the arrow keys on the numeric keypad will
>>>> function.]]
>>>> To start the computer in safe mode
>>>>
>>
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/boot_failsafe.mspx
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Hope this helps. Let us know.
>>>>
>>>> Wes
>>>> MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
>>>>
>>>> In news:43f8l1F1ltmaiU1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx,
>>>> dfrog <dfrog@xxxxxxxxxxxx> hunted and pecked:
>>>>> Wesley, thank you for that, you will see from my last reply that I had
>>>>> come to a similar conclusion to this M/Soft Support article resolution
>>>>> (that I had been unable to find myself :-( )
>>>>> The difference being that apparently my BIOS does support USB devices
>>>>> and has them 'enabled' and my difficulties start "before" getting into
>>>>> Safe Mode rather than the articles suggestion that "once in the BIOS
>>>>> the
>>>>> keyboard doesn't work."
>>>>> Thank you again for your help with my problem
>>>>> dfrog
>>>>>
>>>>> "Wesley Vogel" <123WVogel955@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>>>>> news:Oo4O9qqHGHA.3056@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>>>> Universal Serial Bus Devices Do Not Work in Safe Mode
>>>>>> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310496
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Hope this helps. Let us know.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Wes
>>>>>> MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
>>>>>>
>>>>>> In news:43f0tkF1nalt9U1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx,
>>>>>> dfrog <dfrog@xxxxxxxxxxxx> hunted and pecked:
>>>>>>> Thanks for response R McC
>>>>>>> It's USB. Just been into BIOS (via msconfig etc & reboot) and Legacy
>>>>>>> USB
>>>>>>> is set at 'Auto' which tells me that if there are USB devices
>>>>>>> connected it
>>>>>>> works but if no USB devices are connected it switches off so I have
>>>>>>> not changed it.
>>>>>>> If that is one thing eliminated I could still do with more help
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> dfrog
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> "R. McCarty" <PcEngWork-NoSpam_@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>>>>>>> news:e3duxGpHGHA.2940@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>>>>>> Which type of interface does the Keyboard receiver plug into ?
>>>>>>>> (PS2/USB).
>>>>>>>> If USB, then you may need to enter BIOS setup and ensure that
>>>>>>>> support
>>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>>> USB Keyboard/Mouse or Legacy USB is enabled.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> "dfrog" <dfrog@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>>>>>>>> news:43esa6F1n7ee0U1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>>>>>>> I have an HP Presario desktop with Win XP home running nice and
>>>>>>>>> smoothly
>>>>>>>>> with no problems, except :-
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> For a reason I cannot remember, last week decided to boot up into
>>>>>>>>> Safe
>>>>>>>>> Mode, (maybe just to do it because I hadn't for a long time), but
>>>>>>>>> failed. I have since then also failed to find a solution myself,
>>>>>>>>> lots of
>>>>>>>>> information available for booting up into Safe Mode, but not able
>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>> find any info when that doesn't work.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On the initial screen I have the options of 'Esc' for Boot Menu -
>>>>>>>>> 'F1'
>>>>>>>>> for Setup - 'F10' for System recovery (none of these work)
>>>>>>>>> Next screen lets me choose 'Windows Recovery Console' or 'Boot
>>>>>>>>> into Windows' (change selection with up/down arrows - doesn't
>>>>>>>>> work) or 'Press
>>>>>>>>> F8' for Safe Mode (doesn't work)
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Windows boots up just fine. If I then go to 'msconfig' select the
>>>>>>>>> BOOT.INI tab, select /SAFEBOOT and Minimal, select 'restart'
>>>>>>>>> Windows
>>>>>>>>> shutsdown and restarts in Safe Mode OK.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> No matter whether I select 'Normal Startup' or 'Selective Startup'
>>>>>>>>> in msconfig, on the next & successive boots I'm back to No 'Esc'
>>>>>>>>> 'F1' 'F10'
>>>>>>>>> or 'F8' options again, and my head is begining to hurt now !
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> In case I have a need to do any of this in the future, I'd really
>>>>>>>>> like
>>>>>>>>> to feel that I could, and so I need to fix it.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I would appreciate some help at this stage............
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> dfrog
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> PS having read this, it makes me think that maybe my keyboard
>>>>>>>>> (fairly
>>>>>>>>> new Belkin cordless and working perfectly well to my knowledge) is
>>>>>>>>> not
>>>>>>>>> operational at this stage (but I'm sure that it used to be)

.

Loading