Re: WinXP home safe mode help needed

Good luck. ;-)

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In news:43fu0iF1nb10nU1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx,
dfrog <dfrog@xxxxxxxxxxxx> hunted and pecked:
> 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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