Win98SE Automatic Safe Mode on Restart

Discussion in 'Software' started by ItsWendy, Jun 26, 2008.

  1. ItsWendy

    ItsWendy MajorGeek

    OK, I've made an interesting discovery. The really cool light up keyboard will not work during the bootup process on my Win98SE laptop, so I can't get into safe mode while I'm using it.

    Is there a way of jumping into Safe Mode automatically upon restart? Seems like their ought to be, since Windows manages it just fine.

    The keyboard in question is on my laptop docking bay. I never did get that keyboard fixed, finally concluded it is cheaper to bring a spare keyboard along. rolleyes
     
  2. Dan Penny

    Dan Penny Specialist

    Try this, no promises (with the keyboard issue) though.

    Start, Run, msconfig. Click Advanced on the General tab. Put a checkmark in the ""Enable Startup Menu" box.

    When you boot, the menu will come up with all the choices, Safe Mode being one of them. If your keyboard will work at this point, I don't know.

    Reverse this process to get back to regular booting.
     
  3. ItsWendy

    ItsWendy MajorGeek

    Uh, if I don't have a keyboard then I can't select any choices. The root issue is it is a USB keyboard, and needs the drivers. If it would boot up in safe mode the mouse would do everything I need to do, mostly. Basically I tend to do all scans and defrags in safe mode, it's a lot faster and more reliable.

    Thanks for trying though.
     
  4. Dan Penny

    Dan Penny Specialist

    Okay. I wasn't clear on your issue until now. (USB)

    Is there Legacy USB support in the bios?
     
  5. ItsWendy

    ItsWendy MajorGeek

    Don't know, but I doubt it. This is an older laptop, Dell Latitude 500Mhz running 98SE. I'm using it in a docking bay. I almost killed my computer, so I dug up another keyboard and put it in the PS2 port for now, but would still like to have the machine reboot into the safe mode for basic maintenance. Since I've seen it do it by itself I know it can, I just don't know how.

    I've used the other method (startup menu) for a long time, but against a USB keyboard it is helpless.
     
  6. Dan Penny

    Dan Penny Specialist

    This may not be the ideal solution for you, however, if you add the line

    BootSafe=1

    to your msdos.sys file, Safe Mode will start every time. To turn it off, either set the value to 0, or delete the line.

    Again, the Legacy USB support in the bios (if found) should enable a USB keyboard.
     

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