Can't enter Safe Mode

Why are you still fiddling with that thing? Search for Hiren's boot CD. Load it onto a CD or flash drive and reset the password In a few minutes. You will need to alter the bios so the CD or USB becomes your first boot option.

2oldman wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
pressing it once will work if you hit it at exactly the right time. If you miss the correct time, and just hold the key down, then it will just go ahead and boot. That's why you press the key repeatedly: you don't have to know the exact time to press the key.

I can't follow this logic. You're implying the MS directions are wrong?

My point was that there is a specific point when the computer is changing from the BIOS operation to the Windows Boot menu. At that point you have to hit the F8 key. If you miss that narrow margin of opportunity the computer will continue to boot. Holding down the key too soon or too late will not get you into the Options menu. So you tap the key to maximize your chances of hitting it at the right moment.

I've worked on lots of computers and holding down the F8 key will not necessarily work on all computers.

Pressing it once will work if you hit it at exactly the right time. If you miss the correct time, and just hold the key down, then it will just go ahead and boot. That's why you press the key repeatedly: you don't have to know the exact time to press the key.

I can't follow this logic. You're implying the MS directions are wrong?

Like they never were before?

This is the way I've always done it.

Info from http://www.computerhope.com/issues/chsafe.htm

To get into the Windows 2000 and XP Safe mode, as the computer is booting, press and hold your "F8 Key", which should bring up the "Windows Advanced Options Menu" screen as shown below. Use your arrow keys to move to "Safe Mode" and press your Enter key.

Note: With some computers, if you press and hold a key as the computer is booting, you will get a stuck key message. If this occurs, instead of pressing and holding the "F8 key", tap the "F8 key" continuously until you get the startup menu.

Trouble Getting into Windows 2000 or Windows XP Safe mode - If after several attempts you are unable to get the Windows Advanced Options Menu screen to come up by pressing F8, turn off your computer while it is loading into Windows. When the computer is turned on the next time, Windows should notice that the computer did not successfully boot and give you the Safe Mode screen.

fj12ryder wrote:
pressing it once will work if you hit it at exactly the right time. If you miss the correct time, and just hold the key down, then it will just go ahead and boot. That's why you press the key repeatedly: you don't have to know the exact time to press the key.

I can't follow this logic. You're implying the MS directions are wrong?

2oldman wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:

2oldman wrote:

mr. ed wrote:
well,on top of my other woes on this older Toshiba laptop for some reason I can't get it into safe mode. I know in the past, before I reinstalled Windows XP I could get into safe mode OK by repeatedly pressing the F 8 key while booting up.now,.

I thought you were supposed to HOLD the F key.

Nope, tap repeatedly.

From the MS website: "If your computer has a single operating system installed, press and hold the F8 key as your computer restarts."

Pressing it once will work if you hit it at exactly the right time. If you miss the correct time, and just hold the key down, then it will just go ahead and boot. That's why you press the key repeatedly: you don't have to know the exact time to press the key.

mr. ed

Does your keyboard have two labels on the F8 key?

Mine says "Save" and "F8". The default is "Save". To engage "F8" (Function keys), I have to press the "F-Lock" button (turns on an indicator light "F") before I press "F8". Otherwise I am really pressing "Save".

Also, during the Boot process, F-Lock is turned off to the default setting. If I press F-Lock too soon, it gets turned back off. I have to watch the indicator light while pressing F8.

2oldman wrote:

mr. ed wrote:
well,on top of my other woes on this older Toshiba laptop for some reason I can't get it into safe mode. I know in the past, before I reinstalled Windows XP I could get into safe mode OK by repeatedly pressing the F 8 key while booting up.now,.

I thought you were supposed to HOLD the F key.

I've always repeatedly pressed it in the past and it always worked. Never tried holding it steady. Iguess I could try that.

1492 wrote:
I'm pressed for time as I've got to get to work, so doing this off the top of my head. But, in WIN XP, hold down Windows Key+R and in RUN, type msconfig and hit the ENTER key. Click on Boot.ini tab and in options, check-mark /safemode and click the OK button. Reboot, and it should go into Safe Mode.

You may have to go back into msconfig while in Safe Mode, and un-check /safemode option to boot back to WIN XP.

Again, let me state that I can't get into Windows at all and therefore can't reach MSCONFIG. I do appreciate your suggestion, though.

YC 1 wrote:
Some computers want F2 or F10. Give those a shot. I have seen them use the Del key as well.

If you have the original disks it may boot from those.

I'll give that a try ,but it's always gone into safe mode before by using the F8 key. I may have difficulty getting to the original disks since they're in my RV and I'm wheelchair -bound for the time being.I can make it inside with much difficulty through the help of friends.