Can't get out of Safe Mode

[Guest]

(I checked many posts to see if this question was already answered...sorry if
I missed it.)

Using WinXP Pro...
I was helping a friend find the best way to get into the command shell from
start-up. I used MSCONFIG to "SAFEBOOT (alternative shell)". So now, when
my computer restarts, it does so in Safe Mode and gives me a command prompt
window.

Here's the problem...I can't find how to make it go back to normal boot.
After exiting the command window, no icons, toolbars, Start Menu appear.
Restarting and hitting F8 shows a new screen asking if I want to boot from
the CD, floppy, hard drive, or the Intel Boot Agent Ve. No matter what I do,
once I head towards loading Windows, I'm given the choice of Admin or User
logins. No matter what I choose, it takes me into Safe Mode and brings up
the command window.

Knowing now that I should have explained the F8 key better to my friend, how
can I now get to boot normally?

Thanks in advance for your help,

 

[Guest]

Well, I got out. Here's what I did...

I browsed through the files in the Command window till I found a process
that normally runs in a Normal boot..."explorer.exe". I tried to start it,
and a window popped up saying that I was in Safe Mode (duh) and that if I
wanted to continue to work in Safe Mode, press OK...if I wanted to use System
Restore to go back, etc., press Cancel. When I pressed Cancel, not only did
System Restore come up, but so did my task bar and start menu. I ran
"msconfig", changed it back to Normal Boot, and restarted. All better!

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

From the prompt, run:

CD\
attrib -r -s -h boot.ini
edit boot.ini

This will open the file in the editor, and you can remove the /safeboot
option. Hit alt/f/x/y to save the changes while exiting, then restart the
system.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Alex Nichol]

Using WinXP Pro...
I was helping a friend find the best way to get into the command shell from
start-up. I used MSCONFIG to "SAFEBOOT (alternative shell)". So now, when
my computer restarts, it does so in Safe Mode and gives me a command prompt
window.

Here's the problem...I can't find how to make it go back to normal boot.

Run MSConfig again from the Safe mode and on the Boot.ini page uncheck
the /SAFEBOOT, exit and reboot. There will be a message about 'System
Configuration'. Check the 'Do not show again' box and exit