Cannot boot into safe mode

[John Hennings]

I'm running XP Pro SP2 with Norton AV2002 - everything up to date.

The computer functions perfect, except for the fact that I cannot boot into safe mode. Whenever I get to the safe mode login screen and click boot in safe mode, all I get on the screen is a bunch of data on a black background.

It looks like a mysterious listing of the folder \Windows\System32\Drivers with a line for each driver. This is an example of one of the lines:

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS\System32\drivers\dmload.sys

I would greatly appreciate if somebody could explain this to me and help me solve the problem.

PS! I know I can go to MSCONFIG and try to get into safe mode that way, but I'm not too keen (scared) to try that, after having experienced what I've described above.

 

[Raztax]

That text on the screen is normal when booting into safe mode. It's a
list of drivers etc being loaded on startup in case you need them for
troubleshooting purposes.
Did you wait and give it time to boot?

 

[John Hennings]

I gave it lots of time, but it wouldn't boot - the strange lines stayed on the screen!
I hope somebody can come up with an explanation and help me correct the situation.
Thanks

 

[Wesley Vogel]

The last line displayed should be the driver that hasn't loaded.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Guest]

I agree with Raztax. you may have done something wrong but when the black
background with the driver names appear, you have to wait until the welcome
screen appears.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

I didn't do it. And I'll never do it again! :-D

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[John Hennings]

I thought I asked a polite and serious question and was expecting a similar answer. But instead of trying to help, you guys (including an MS-MVP) apparently think it's funny to joke around and play games rather than helping people. Sorry I bothered you.

 

[Raztax]

No need to apologize for not having a sense of humor. This is a public
forum, so you basically have to take what you get. Although I would
like to point out that the MS-MVP in question DID give you a good piece
of advice.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

All seriousness aside...

Situations in Which Windows May Not Start in Safe Mode
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;199175

How To Troubleshoot the Video Adapter Driver in Safe Mode in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;292460

I happened to think it was funny that Max accused me of doing something
wrong.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In