Windows Wont start in Safemode

Hey all,

I have a major issue?

Well I was having trouble with my computer.

Decided to go into safe mode...

Saw this thread....

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=184059

and did this....

In Windows XP Click on "Start"
Click "Run"
Type in "msonfig"
Select tab "boot.ini"
Select bootoption "/safeboot"


Big mistake! Now it keeps trying to rebooting in safe mode but WIll NOT start in Safe Mode and wont go back to normal mode. Tried using "last known good config...." Still nothing.

 

Also Forgot to mention.

It wont also run to cd...it sees the CD in set-up

It simply reboots the safe mode option choices over and over again.

 

Last known config would have canceled out the msconfig changes.

Remove the hard drive from the boot order and just boot to CD. Try running chkdsk /r from recovery console.

 

It wont allow me run as a CD...Tried that before posting.

It is really odd but just restarts the safe menu page

 

That isn't possible if you remove the hard drive from the boot order.

 

Sorry should have been clear.

If I remove the Hard Drive I get "Strike F1 to retry boot, f2 for setup utility"

Nothing else.

 

->artistwantab

From what you have written you may have physically removed the hard drive from your computer.

I think what adrynalyne meant was:

leave the hard disk in the computer; not remove it.

When you restart or turn on your computer, enter the BIOS set up utility instead of trying to boot up straight away. I'm guessing that on your computer that is done by repetitively tapping the F2 key after you turn on. This will enable to enter the BIOS set up utility and that will take you to a series of menus. On one of them you get the option to change the order that your computer tries for the device to boot from. Adrynalyne is saying that you should remove 'Hard disk' from that list and put the CD drive as the device to try booting from first (top of the list).

This should force your computer to boot from CD, while not making hardware changes (not removing your hard drive from the computer)

Having got to the situation you are in, you may type F2 to enter the BIOS menu/set up and make the changes I have tried to describe above. Your computer should boot from the CD. To test your hard drive, you need to shut down your computer, replace the hard drive, and power up again. Your computer should now boot from the CD, having remembered the changes in the BIOS set up utility. Now you can test your hard drive.

Apologies if I misunderstood what you have done.

Dumb_Question
14.February.2014

 

Dumb_question,

That is always my arrangement....CD...Harddrive

When it would not give the option of booting from the CD when I put the XP cd in I removed the Drive to see if that would work and nothing.

I tried clicking f12 it does go to boot options....

Tried CD and it goes automatically back to the Safe Mode Options.

I tried the CD in another disk and it's fine.

I may have am issue with the CD/DVD player but I use it often enough that I don't believe that is it.

When I try to access the USB from the boot menu it does work see it

I have never used a USB to repair an operating system so I am hoping for some direction before just trying stuff.

 

Is this a burned CD?

 

->artistwantab

Ok. Thanks for that clarification.
Can you remove the hard disk from the list of boot devices when in the BIOS set-up ? I have not noticed whether that was even possible, but it seems to be what Adrynalyne was suggesting.

Dumb_Question
14.February.2014

 

Not a burn CD.

Yes that is when I get the F1 to retry or f2 to go back to setup

 

Ok. So I swapped the CD with another CD player from another computer.

That one works. Whew. :hyper

It recognizes the Windows CD....

What from here? I don't want to lose any data. Just want to repair the config so I can get back into safe mode or repair the config so I can get back where I was.

 

Use msconfig and put the boot mode back to normal (not safeboot). Otherwise, you can edit the boot.ini.

 

I am not following.

I have two options from the XP start-up disk.

Install Windows...

Repair an installation...

When I select repair it sends me to DOS and after entering the HELP menu I still don't see where I can repair MSCONFIG