Re: WinXP home safe mode help needed

Wes,
It'll be tomorrow now before I get into this, but I will and report back

Thanks

dfrog


"Wesley Vogel" <123WVogel955@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:%23aV1EVtHGHA.1728@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>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)
>


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