"safe mode" and task manager in XP home

[Guest]

hi --

i'm wondering if it's possible that i bought a version of windows home XP
without "task manager" or the possibility of booting windows in "safe mode."

if i click cntrl-alt-delete nothing shows up, and there's no option made
available for "safe mode" re-opening if i click on "turn off computer" and
cannot figure out what to do.

i even looked up "task manager" in XP help and clicked on the "open task
manager" link and it couldn't open up.

thoughts? thanks -- dave

 

[Malke]

hi --

i'm wondering if it's possible that i bought a version of windows home
XP without "task manager" or the possibility of booting windows in
"safe mode."

if i click cntrl-alt-delete nothing shows up, and there's no option
made available for "safe mode" re-opening if i click on "turn off
computer" and cannot figure out what to do.

i even looked up "task manager" in XP help and clicked on the "open
task manager" link and it couldn't open up.

thoughts? thanks -- dave

If Task Manager doesn't run, you may have a virus. Try right-clicking on
the Taskbar - you'll get a context menu with one of the choices being
Task Manager. If you click it, does anything happen? What antivirus
program (name and version) do you have installed?

There is no Start/Shutdown option for Safe Mode in any Windows operating
system. To get into Safe Mode, restart the computer and repeatedly tap
the F8 key as the computer is starting up. This will get you to the
right menu. Navigate using your Up arrow key; the mouse will not work
here.

Malke

 

[Gene K]

Another way to execute the "Task Manager" is to right click a blank spot in
the Taskbar [at the bottom of your screen] and left click the "Task Manager"
entry on the pop up menu.

 

[S.Sengupta]

Task Manager - Control/Alt/Delete - Doesn't work

Lift Restrictions - TM, Regedit and CMD (Line 275)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Enable the Task Manager (Line 51)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Starting your computer in Safe mode
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001052409420406?OpenDocument

regards,
S.Sengupta[MS-MVP]

 

[Guest]

i couldn't get XP to start in "safe" mode using F8, so i did the
msconfig>boot.ini > SAFEBOOT thing, but now XP won't start up at all...and i
tried clicking on "use last configuaration that worked."

does this potentially have to do with the fact that my computer's got
windows and linux on it? so, after i hit F8 when the computer's booting, i
select an operating system. if i keep choosing windows and keep hitting F8,
it just repeats the cycle.

.....i only installed XP in my computer like a week ago anyway, so it
wouldn't be the biggest deal in the world to re-install....is it time to do
that?

 

[Spikey]

http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001052409420406?OpenDocument

This aticle recommends using sys config to enter safe mode. Is there some
danger from using the F8 key??

 

[Malke]

i couldn't get XP to start in "safe" mode using F8, so i did the
msconfig>boot.ini > SAFEBOOT thing, but now XP won't start up at
all...and i tried clicking on "use last configuaration that worked."

does this potentially have to do with the fact that my computer's got
windows and linux on it? so, after i hit F8 when the computer's
booting, i
select an operating system. if i keep choosing windows and keep
hitting F8, it just repeats the cycle.

....i only installed XP in my computer like a week ago anyway, so it
wouldn't be the biggest deal in the world to re-install....is it time
to do that?

The problems you are having with XP most probably have nothing to do
with your dual-boot unless you installed strangely. With dual-boot
systems, you have to choose the OS you want (I assume you're using Grub
or LILO for the boot manager) and then very quickly do the F8 tapping.

Since I don't know how you installed XP or Linux (completely separate
drive or partition, after Linux, which distro, etc.) it's pretty hard
to give you focused troubleshooting. The normal way to dual-boot XP
with a Linux OS is to install XP first and then install Linux, using
Grub or LILO as boot manager.

None of this would affect Task Manager not running, however. If you
connected the Windows OS to the Internet without a firewall or av
installed, you could have picked up a virus. There's no way for me to
know from your posts.

Malke

 

[Guest]

sorry i haven't been clearer about online surfing/virus possibilities. i did
go online without a firewall, and trying to re-boot in safe mode to run some
of the virus scanners i've been using (via geekstogo.com) is how this all
started.

so, i'm pretty sure the machine's infected.

but, beyond that, i tried tapping F8 after selecting my OS and i still
couldn't get it to boot in safe, or at all, so i'm gonna just re-install.

thanks for your time. peace -- dave

PS -- fyi, i did the double install by putting in XP first, then
partitioning and adding linux.

 

[Malke]

sorry i haven't been clearer about online surfing/virus possibilities.
i did go online without a firewall, and trying to re-boot in safe
mode to run some of the virus scanners i've been using (via
geekstogo.com) is how this all started.

so, i'm pretty sure the machine's infected.

but, beyond that, i tried tapping F8 after selecting my OS and i still
couldn't get it to boot in safe, or at all, so i'm gonna just
re-install.

thanks for your time. peace -- dave

PS -- fyi, i did the double install by putting in XP first, then
partitioning and adding linux.

Yes, you probably should just do another clean install. Do not connect
XP to the Internet without installing SP2 which will activate the
Windows Firewall. If your XP installation disk doesn't include SP2,
slipstream it first.

After your install of Windows, you'll need to repair Grub or LILO.

Malke