How do I boot into safe mode?

[Big Bill]

Yeah, I know, press F8 when the machine boots up - but it sails
straight past it and goes into normal mode where it pretty much locks
up. Mouse will move but nothing responds to it, and it won't respond
to the keyboard either.
I did manage once to get into safe, it just kind of happened that that
one time it did respond to F8, but I rebooted to an instance where it
previously started fine, which I imagine is the quivalent of the old
scanreg/restore function, but it locked up again.
I just got this new machine online and am busy installing lots of
progs on it so I think there's a conflict between Avast and the Sygate
firewall. I have to uininstall one or the other would be my guess,
then let the other settle down, get comfy, then install the other. Too
much too soon.
So, how can I get into safe mode please?

BB

 

[Malke]

Yeah, I know, press F8 when the machine boots up - but it sails
straight past it and goes into normal mode where it pretty much locks
up. Mouse will move but nothing responds to it, and it won't respond
to the keyboard either.
I did manage once to get into safe, it just kind of happened that that
one time it did respond to F8, but I rebooted to an instance where it
previously started fine, which I imagine is the quivalent of the old
scanreg/restore function, but it locked up again.
I just got this new machine online and am busy installing lots of
progs on it so I think there's a conflict between Avast and the Sygate
firewall. I have to uininstall one or the other would be my guess,
then let the other settle down, get comfy, then install the other. Too
much too soon.
So, how can I get into safe mode please?

I'm not sure what the last bit of your post has to do with your
question, but you should repeatedly tap F8 as the computer is starting
up. Perhaps you are just pressing the key once. Also, some computers
respond to F5.

If you are just unable to tap your way to Safe Mode, then in Regular
Mode go to Start>Run>msconfig [enter]
Click on the Boot.ini tab and put a check in the /SAFEBOOT box. When you
restart, the computer will go into Safe Mode. To return to Regular
Mode, run msconfig again and uncheck the /SAFEBOOT box.

Malke

 

[Rich Barry]

Bill, if you can get into Normal Mode go to Start>Run type: msconfig
click Ok Select Boot.ini tab and check
Safe Mode box. Restart and that should get you in. You would do best
using only one firewall and antivirus.

 

[Phil Weldon]

'Big Bill' wrote, in part:
| Yeah, I know, press F8 when the machine boots up - but it sails
| straight past it and goes into normal mode where it pretty much locks
| up. Mouse will move but nothing responds to it, and it won't respond
| to the keyboard either.
_____

Can you access the BIOS using the keyboard? Have you tried a known good
keyboard. Your problem could have nothing to do with the applications or
operating system or computer. It just may be a keyboard gone bad, or at
least only very intermittently operative (or the keyboard connecting cable
or connector plug.

Phil Weldon

| Yeah, I know, press F8 when the machine boots up - but it sails
| straight past it and goes into normal mode where it pretty much locks
| up. Mouse will move but nothing responds to it, and it won't respond
| to the keyboard either.
| I did manage once to get into safe, it just kind of happened that that
| one time it did respond to F8, but I rebooted to an instance where it
| previously started fine, which I imagine is the quivalent of the old
| scanreg/restore function, but it locked up again.
| I just got this new machine online and am busy installing lots of
| progs on it so I think there's a conflict between Avast and the Sygate
| firewall. I have to uininstall one or the other would be my guess,
| then let the other settle down, get comfy, then install the other. Too
| much too soon.
| So, how can I get into safe mode please?
|
| BB
| --
|
| http://www.kruse.co.uk/hoarding-pagerank.htm
| http://www.here-be-posters.co.uk/erte-prints.htm
| http://www.crystal-liaison.com/dreamsicles/index.html
|

 

[Big Bill]

Bill, if you can get into Normal Mode go to Start>Run type: msconfig
click Ok Select Boot.ini tab and check
Safe Mode box. Restart and that should get you in. You would do best
using only one firewall and antivirus.

I've heard that but I find that if you let things settle down then
different programs will pick up on different viruses. On my 98Se
machine I have AVG Free, Norton anti-virus w hich checks all my mail,
Sygate firewall which checks what goes in and out, and Avast which I
keep turned off except once a fortnight when I update it and let it
run. I also use Spybot S&E and a couple others to search for viruses
now and then. It all gets along but you have to let it figure out what
does what, it can't all be trying to do the same things at the same
time because then you get conflicts.
Anyhoo, I recovered, thanks to all who responded.

BB

 

[Big Bill]

'Big Bill' wrote, in part:
| Yeah, I know, press F8 when the machine boots up - but it sails
| straight past it and goes into normal mode where it pretty much locks
| up. Mouse will move but nothing responds to it, and it won't respond
| to the keyboard either.
_____

Can you access the BIOS using the keyboard? Have you tried a known good
keyboard. Your problem could have nothing to do with the applications or
operating system or computer. It just may be a keyboard gone bad, or at
least only very intermittently operative (or the keyboard connecting cable
or connector plug.

Phil Weldon

I kept repeating the process till I got in, then I deleted Avast and
went on from there. I still have a few probs but I think it's due to
XP being weird, not wanting to install the Google toolbar and like
that.

BB

 

[Stan Brown]

Yeah, I know, press F8 when the machine boots up - but it sails
straight past it and goes into normal mode where it pretty much locks
up.

Not "press", but "tap quickly and repeatedly".

If you just press it when the machine boots, the software may not yet
have got to the point where it senses keystrokes to store them for
later processing.