Entering Safe Mode XP

[jojo]

Since SP3 I've been having a problem getting into Safe Mode, when running anti-malware and such.

Pressing F8 beings up a blue screen with a list of the drives available for BOOTing. But no means of opting for Safe Mode.

Not sure why. M$ and others seem to deny there is any problem. Others seem to have it as well, but they tend to be pointed back to the F8 on startup and when they say this doesn't work, are

told to try again.

I think I've figured a work around.

Right click on My Computer. Click Advanced Tab. Click Startup and Recovery: Settings. Now click the Edit button

The boot.ini loads and will look something like this:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

Cut and paste this file into a copy to notepad, on the desktop, as a backup.

Now, add this line:

[boot loader]
timeout=2
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
"do not select this" /debug
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

Finally, click File and Save. At this point, you may want to increase the time out period. Mine was set to 2, I increased it to 4.

Now, restart, watch the screen with your finger over the up arrow. As soon a screen opens asking you with Operating System you want, press up arrow. This will cause the whole process to

wait.

Now, press F8 and select Safe Mode

[vikingken]

Dont install SP3, all your doing is bogging down the computer. Your not installing anything that you cant do without. A sure way of getting into Safe Mode, Run msconfig and alter the boot. Just remember to alter it back to normal before rebooting.

[jojo]

I wasn't aware of that about sp3. I'll give that some thought.

I know about the msconfig method, but being able to use it from start-up needs a round about approach.

[jojo]

Ken.

Curious. Been looking at info in SP3 and the consensus seems to agree with you, provided all the hotfixes have been installed.

I have an iso image from M$ which apparently has all the updates for XP, up to Feb this year. www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=41929

But how many of these would only apply to SP3?

How many hotfixes have you installed?

It's occured to me that I could simply remove SP3 using uninstall. Is that what you did?

[vikingken]

SP3 basically turned XP Home into XP Pro, so if you were happy with Home it didn't matter. If you were already running Pro, there were bits and pieces it would selectively install. It wasn't an update that everything was installed, only the bits it thought you needed. I didn't install anything after SP2 on any version of XP, but I was using XP 64 until Windows 7 BETA came out and there was no SP3 for XP 64. I never had any bother from not installing updates, anymore than I think you will get bother from running unsupported XP. The trouble which will develope more and more, are the 3rd party internet updates that wont run on XP.

As far as I can remember; once you update to SP3, there is no going back. To restore an image is the only way and I would be inclined to do a full format before I put that on. 

[jojo]

Thank ken. Think I'll let sleeping dogs lie.

I can't risk problems with a reinstall at this time. I have an image created by Macrum, of XP before I put much onto it, but it includes SP3. A re-install in normal times would involve huge numbers of hotfixes, many of which I know form experience, are essential. Such as some needed to run any browser after IE7.

I'll need to upgrade eventualy, for the time being, things are working.

In the meantime, anyone using XP with the problems I was having of accessing Safe Mode, can use the method described here.

[mikkh]

On older versions of Windows pressing F5 takes you directly to safe mode - handy when F8 is already mapped to something else in the BIOS

I always install SP3 for the better wireless networking myself, there are also certain programs that demand it's there before letting you install

[jojo]

Thanks mikkh. That worked.

I've had a suspicion for a while that the key had been re programmed elsewhere, but with over 360 combinations finding it was not going to happen by trial and error.

[alexham36]

Jojo,

You can try msconfig, but you can also enter safe mode at boot up by continuously pressing F8 at the rate of approx. 3 times per second. First you hold F8 to bring up the list of drives available for booting. Then select the drive on which WinXP is and start "tapping" F8.

Let us know if this works.

Alex