Can't exit Safe Mode

[Guest]

Good day and thank you for reviewing this question. I was fixing to start up
in Safe Mode so that I could run a virus detection program there versus in
Windows XP. So I went to MSCONFIG, BOOT.INI, and chose SAFEBOOT, like I
normally do.

But then the computer won't finish it's Safe Mode start up ..... it APPEARS
to start up, but stops short of putting any icons on the desktop, and I
cannot access anything.

I have tried:
Windows Key
CTL+ALT+DEL
Hitting F8 and choosing every other option at least once
Pressing random keys in case I got lucky. (Don't laugh, I have actually
learned shortcuts from doing that! LOL)

Nothing brings it into anything where I can type or do anything. Since it
ALWAYS starts up in safe mode (from the MSCONFIG), I can't seem to STOP it
from going there.

Please help. There MUST be a bypass to BOOT.INI somewhere!

Thank you very much.

Don in Tucson
AizA

 

[Galen]

In AizAizA had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

Good day and thank you for reviewing this question. I was fixing to
start up in Safe Mode so that I could run a virus detection program
there versus in Windows XP. So I went to MSCONFIG, BOOT.INI, and
chose SAFEBOOT, like I normally do.

But then the computer won't finish it's Safe Mode start up ..... it
APPEARS to start up, but stops short of putting any icons on the
desktop, and I cannot access anything.

I have tried:
Windows Key
CTL+ALT+DEL
Hitting F8 and choosing every other option at least once
Pressing random keys in case I got lucky. (Don't laugh, I have
actually learned shortcuts from doing that! LOL)

Nothing brings it into anything where I can type or do anything.
Since it ALWAYS starts up in safe mode (from the MSCONFIG), I can't
seem to STOP it from going there.

Please help. There MUST be a bypass to BOOT.INI somewhere!

Thank you very much.

Don in Tucson
AizA

Does CTRL + ALT + DEL bring up the task manager? (Vital information.) If so
then File > new task > "explorer.exe" (without the quotes) > Enter/Okay...

In other words - if that brings up the task manager then take a peek here:

Missing Icons and Taskbar:
http://kgiii.info/windows/XP/general/missing_desktop-icons_taskbar.html

--
Galen - MS MVP - Windows (Shell/User & IE)
http://dts-l.org/ http://kgiii.info/

"Chance has put in our way a most singular and whimsical problem, and
its solution is its own reward." - Sherlock Holmes

 

[Guest]

Thank you for your reply, Galen. No, ctl+alt+del does NOT bring up task
manager. Also, I forgot to mention that I cannot acces this through Windows
XP Recovery as I have no idea what the admin password is (yes, I tried just
hitting enter in case there was no password).

Geesh, I am stuck!

Thanks

Don in Tucson
AizA

 

[Galen]

In AizAizA had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

Thank you for your reply, Galen. No, ctl+alt+del does NOT bring up
task manager. Also, I forgot to mention that I cannot acces this
through Windows XP Recovery as I have no idea what the admin password
is (yes, I tried just hitting enter in case there was no password).

Geesh, I am stuck!

Thanks

Don in Tucson
AizA

Well let's kill said password...

Password Problems:
http://kgiii.info/windows/2k-XP/security/password_problems.html

Though I'm not sure if that will help matters any...

If it doesn't?

Repair Installation of XP:
http://kgiii.info/windows/XP/general/xprepair.html

--
Galen - MS MVP - Windows (Shell/User & IE)
http://dts-l.org/ http://kgiii.info/

"Chance has put in our way a most singular and whimsical problem, and
its solution is its own reward." - Sherlock Holmes

 

[Robert Gault]

Good day and thank you for reviewing this question. I was fixing to start up
in Safe Mode so that I could run a virus detection program there versus in
Windows XP. So I went to MSCONFIG, BOOT.INI, and chose SAFEBOOT, like I
normally do.

But then the computer won't finish it's Safe Mode start up ..... it APPEARS
to start up, but stops short of putting any icons on the desktop, and I
cannot access anything.

I have tried:
Windows Key
CTL+ALT+DEL
Hitting F8 and choosing every other option at least once
Pressing random keys in case I got lucky. (Don't laugh, I have actually
learned shortcuts from doing that! LOL)

Nothing brings it into anything where I can type or do anything. Since it
ALWAYS starts up in safe mode (from the MSCONFIG), I can't seem to STOP it
from going there.

Please help. There MUST be a bypass to BOOT.INI somewhere!

Thank you very much.

Don in Tucson
AizA

Since you can't complete the boot process from your hard drive, you will
need to boot from something else.

Do you have a WinXP boot disk? If you made one, you can at least boot to
DOS. Depending on what files you put on the repair disk or have on your
hard drive, you could edit boot.ini so that you boot normally.

You should at least have your WinXP CDROM which should be bootable. Set
you BIOS to boot from the CD and attempt to repair your system that way.

=======

By the way, try booting to safe mode by holding down the F8 key when you
start your computer. You will be able to select Safe Mode from the list
of boot modes. That is a one time selection and safer than changing
boot.ini given what has just happened to you.