- To access Safe Mode, you have to press F8 as soon as you see booting into Windows XP text. This can sometimes be quite tricky, especially on very fast systems. To make it a little easier, you can tap the F8 key continually during the entire boot sequence, and if you have a dual boot system, select the OS, press Enter and F8 at the same time to enter Safe Mode.
Using MSCONFIG to Access SAFE MODE
- From Start> Run Type: msconfig
- Choose the Boot.ini tab
- From Boot Option
- Select /SAFEBOOT by placing a check in the box.
- Press Apply
- Press OK
- Select Restart
- System will boot into Safe Mode
- BEFORE rebooting from Safe mode repeat steps 1 thru 7 and uncheck the box selecting /SAFEBOOT
- Press Apply
- Press OK
- Select Restart
- You will get a message that your are in Troubleshooting Mode, place a check in the "do not show this again" box; press OK
- From Start> Run; once again Type: msconfig
- From the General Tab
- Select Normal Startup
- Press Apply
- Press OK
- This will restore normal boot.
