I encountered a problem (long story, but thank you so much Norton tech
support...not!), my new laptop crashed and when I restarted it was in safe
mode. Turns out that the system restore had been turned off prior to the
laptop being sold to me and I can't turn it on in safe mode. I am unable to
reboot in "normal" mode despite spamming the F8 key and selecting "start in
normal mode" option. When I go to System Config, the "boot in safemode"
option is checked and when I uncheck it and reboot it defaults back to being
checked.
Any ideas as to what I can do?
Ps. It's a Dell Inspiron Mini, it's Saturday, and Dell support only operate
Mon - Fri.

Try this:

1. Right-click the My Computer icon on the Desktop and click Properties.
2. Click the System Restore tab.
3. Remove the check mark next to Turn off System Restore on All Drives.

Or this:

From the System Configuration Utility, on the General tab, click Launch
System Restore.

"Wendy" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:139A647F-72FD-45EF-8D1F-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I encountered a problem (long story, but thank you so much Norton tech
> support...not!), my new laptop crashed and when I restarted it was in safe
> mode. Turns out that the system restore had been turned off prior to the
> laptop being sold to me and I can't turn it on in safe mode. I am unable
> to
> reboot in "normal" mode despite spamming the F8 key and selecting "start
> in
> normal mode" option. When I go to System Config, the "boot in safemode"
> option is checked and when I uncheck it and reboot it defaults back to
> being
> checked.
> Any ideas as to what I can do?
> Ps. It's a Dell Inspiron Mini, it's Saturday, and Dell support only
> operate
> Mon - Fri.

Thanks for responding Bob, but I've tried both of those things. The message
I get is "System restore cannot be enabled in safe mode. Please restart your
machine in normal mode and try again".

Problem is, I can't get my laptop to start in normal mode...at all!

"Bob" wrote:

> Try this:
>
> 1. Right-click the My Computer icon on the Desktop and click Properties.
> 2. Click the System Restore tab.
> 3. Remove the check mark next to Turn off System Restore on All Drives.
>
> Or this:
>
> From the System Configuration Utility, on the General tab, click Launch
> System Restore.
>
> "Wendy" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:139A647F-72FD-45EF-8D1F-(E-Mail Removed)...
> >I encountered a problem (long story, but thank you so much Norton tech
> > support...not!), my new laptop crashed and when I restarted it was in safe
> > mode. Turns out that the system restore had been turned off prior to the
> > laptop being sold to me and I can't turn it on in safe mode. I am unable
> > to
> > reboot in "normal" mode despite spamming the F8 key and selecting "start
> > in
> > normal mode" option. When I go to System Config, the "boot in safemode"
> > option is checked and when I uncheck it and reboot it defaults back to
> > being
> > checked.
> > Any ideas as to what I can do?
> > Ps. It's a Dell Inspiron Mini, it's Saturday, and Dell support only
> > operate
> > Mon - Fri.
>
>
>

Wendy wrote:
> Thanks for responding Bob, but I've tried both of those things. The
> message I get is "System restore cannot be enabled in safe mode.
> Please restart your machine in normal mode and try again".
>
> Problem is, I can't get my laptop to start in normal mode...at all!
>
> "Bob" wrote:
===========================================
Maybe using 'Last Known Good Configuration' would
be worth a try. Have a look at the following article:

Windows Vista -
Using Last Known Good Configuration
http://tinyurl.com/56cq6c
or...
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...3621d1033.mspx

--

J. Inzer MS-MVP
Digital Media Experience

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

Thanks John, but I tried that too.

I'm thinking maybe I should restore factory settings and then re-install OS.
Not sure it will even allow me to do that in safe mode though.


"John Inzer" wrote:

> Wendy wrote:
> > Thanks for responding Bob, but I've tried both of those things. The
> > message I get is "System restore cannot be enabled in safe mode.
> > Please restart your machine in normal mode and try again".
> >
> > Problem is, I can't get my laptop to start in normal mode...at all!
> >
> > "Bob" wrote:
> ===========================================
> Maybe using 'Last Known Good Configuration' would
> be worth a try. Have a look at the following article:
>
> Windows Vista -
> Using Last Known Good Configuration
> http://tinyurl.com/56cq6c
> or...
> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...3621d1033.mspx
>
> --
>
> J. Inzer MS-MVP
> Digital Media Experience
>
> Notice
> This is not tech support
> I am a volunteer
>
> Solutions that work for
> me may not work for you
>
> Proceed at your own risk
>
>
>

Run sfc /scannow, disk cleanup and disk defrag before you resort to System
Recovery.

"Wendy" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:6AEAE684-B866-4B2E-92B9-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Thanks John, but I tried that too.
>
> I'm thinking maybe I should restore factory settings and then re-install
> OS.
> Not sure it will even allow me to do that in safe mode though.
>
>
> "John Inzer" wrote:
>
>> Wendy wrote:
>> > Thanks for responding Bob, but I've tried both of those things. The
>> > message I get is "System restore cannot be enabled in safe mode.
>> > Please restart your machine in normal mode and try again".
>> >
>> > Problem is, I can't get my laptop to start in normal mode...at all!
>> >
>> > "Bob" wrote:
>> ===========================================
>> Maybe using 'Last Known Good Configuration' would
>> be worth a try. Have a look at the following article:
>>
>> Windows Vista -
>> Using Last Known Good Configuration
>> http://tinyurl.com/56cq6c
>> or...
>> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...3621d1033.mspx
>>
>> --
>>
>> J. Inzer MS-MVP
>> Digital Media Experience
>>
>> Notice
>> This is not tech support
>> I am a volunteer
>>
>> Solutions that work for
>> me may not work for you
>>
>> Proceed at your own risk
>>
>>
>>

Did you buy this computer brand-new or used, Wendy?

If's brand-new:

When (date) did you buy it?

Where did you buy it and are you sure it's running WinXP?

Did a Norton free-trial come preinstalled on the computer? Have you
upgraded to a paid version of a Norton application?

I can assure you that Dell Support techs are available 24/7, Wendy, at least
under terms of your Warranty.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002


Wendy wrote:
> I encountered a problem (long story, but thank you so much Norton tech
> support...not!), my new laptop crashed and when I restarted it was in safe
> mode. Turns out that the system restore had been turned off prior to the
> laptop being sold to me and I can't turn it on in safe mode. I am unable
> to
> reboot in "normal" mode despite spamming the F8 key and selecting "start
> in
> normal mode" option. When I go to System Config, the "boot in safemode"
> option is checked and when I uncheck it and reboot it defaults back to
> being
> checked.
> Any ideas as to what I can do?
> Ps. It's a Dell Inspiron Mini, it's Saturday, and Dell support only
> operate
> Mon - Fri.

On Sat, 6 Jun 2009 08:21:01 -0700, Wendy
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I encountered a problem (long story, but thank you so much Norton tech
>support...not!), my new laptop crashed and when I restarted it was in safe
>mode. Turns out that the system restore had been turned off prior to the
>laptop being sold to me and I can't turn it on in safe mode. I am unable to
>reboot in "normal" mode despite spamming the F8 key and selecting "start in
>normal mode" option. When I go to System Config, the "boot in safemode"
>option is checked and when I uncheck it and reboot it defaults back to being
>checked.
>Any ideas as to what I can do?
>Ps. It's a Dell Inspiron Mini, it's Saturday, and Dell support only operate
>Mon - Fri.

When you uncheck , do you "apply" and then "ok" ?

Hi Robear,

It's brand new...I bought it last Monday from PC World and I'm definitely
running Windows XP Home Edition.

No it didn't come with Norton pre-installed. I bought the Norton disc
(although the laptop doesn't have a cd/dvd drive) at the same time as the
laptop ...with hindsight, I should have purchased it online.

The problem seems to be that my husband tried going onto the Norton site to
activate/download by entering the product key. He got to a point hwere he
realised that you could only do this with downloads purchased from their
online store, so he abandoned the exercise.

Today I tried installing from the disc (we bought an external drive) and got
a message saying that the programme had detected another Norton product and
was preparing to remove it. After doing so, I got a restart prompt. This
happened 3 times so I decided to contact Norton support.

The upshot of it is that the Norton tech did the same thing I did...5 or 6
times and when he reaslised it wasn't going to work, he tried to interrupt
the programme..a warning flashed up from the Norton programme stating that
this could cause serious system problems. My laptop then crashed and the
whole "safe mode" saga began.

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> Did you buy this computer brand-new or used, Wendy?
>
> If's brand-new:
>
> When (date) did you buy it?
>
> Where did you buy it and are you sure it's running WinXP?
>
> Did a Norton free-trial come preinstalled on the computer? Have you
> upgraded to a paid version of a Norton application?
>
> I can assure you that Dell Support techs are available 24/7, Wendy, at least
> under terms of your Warranty.
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
>
>
> Wendy wrote:
> > I encountered a problem (long story, but thank you so much Norton tech
> > support...not!), my new laptop crashed and when I restarted it was in safe
> > mode. Turns out that the system restore had been turned off prior to the
> > laptop being sold to me and I can't turn it on in safe mode. I am unable
> > to
> > reboot in "normal" mode despite spamming the F8 key and selecting "start
> > in
> > normal mode" option. When I go to System Config, the "boot in safemode"
> > option is checked and when I uncheck it and reboot it defaults back to
> > being
> > checked.
> > Any ideas as to what I can do?
> > Ps. It's a Dell Inspiron Mini, it's Saturday, and Dell support only
> > operate
> > Mon - Fri.
>
>

Jim,

Yes I do.



"Jim" wrote:

> On Sat, 6 Jun 2009 08:21:01 -0700, Wendy
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> >I encountered a problem (long story, but thank you so much Norton tech
> >support...not!), my new laptop crashed and when I restarted it was in safe
> >mode. Turns out that the system restore had been turned off prior to the
> >laptop being sold to me and I can't turn it on in safe mode. I am unable to
> >reboot in "normal" mode despite spamming the F8 key and selecting "start in
> >normal mode" option. When I go to System Config, the "boot in safemode"
> >option is checked and when I uncheck it and reboot it defaults back to being
> >checked.
> >Any ideas as to what I can do?
> >Ps. It's a Dell Inspiron Mini, it's Saturday, and Dell support only operate
> >Mon - Fri.
>
> When you uncheck , do you "apply" and then "ok" ?
>