How to get to safe mode?

Question

I've tried the F8 when booting up. I constantly press it and on my other computer it does it but on this one it won't. I really need to boot up in safe mode to scan for viruses. My computer is working fine but I just wanna scan in safe mode to make sure. Is there another way to boot in safe mode besides the F8???

Answer 1

http://www.pchell.com/support/safemode.shtml

Windows XP

If Windows XP is the only operating system installed on your computer, booting into Safe Mode with these instructions.

If the computer is running, shut down Windows, and then turn off the power
Wait 30 seconds, and then turn the computer on.
Start tapping the F8 key. The Windows Advanced Options Menu appears. If you begin tapping the F8 key too soon, some computers display a "keyboard error" message. To resolve this, restart the computer and try again.
Ensure that the Safe mode option is selected.
Press Enter. The computer then begins to start in Safe mode.
When you are finished with all troubleshooting, close all programs and restart the computer as you normally would.


To use the System Configuration Utility method

Close all open programs.
Click Start, Run and type MSCONFIG in the box and click OK
The System Configuration Utility appears, On the BOOT.INI tab, Check the "/SAFEBOOT" option, and then click OK and Restart your computer when prompted.
The computer restarts in Safe mode.
Perform the troubleshooting steps for which you are using Safe Mode.
When you are finished with troubleshooting in Safe mode, open MSCONFIG again, on the BOOT.INI tab, uncheck "/SAFEBOOT" and click OK to restart your computer

To run in “Safe Mode” read:
http://www.pchell.com/support/safemode.shtml
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/boot_failsafe.mspx?mfr=true
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001052409420406

Answer 2

Safe mode is only recommended if you find a virus that is known for copying itself to your restore points, then a safe mode scan is required. F8 is the only way to get into safe mode on an xp system that I'm aware of.

Answer 3

If you are running Windows XP the F8 key will give you the option to boot into safe mode. Sounds like you need to check your timing, tap the key rather than just pressing it, it will work.

Answer 4

If you're sure F8 isn't working, I'd try letting your computer try to start up, then when it starts to load Windows (with the logo), turn it off from the back. Windows will think something went wrong, and next time you boot up, the menu you select safe mode from should come up.

If the menu doesn't come up, experiment with turning it off at different times.

Answer 5

If you have no problems you don;t need to scan in safe mode. But if you want to - are you hitting it quickly many times in a row?
Check the manufacturers support pages to find out if they have another way to open in safe mode.

Answer 6

you fairly want to study what secure mode is. Its a ordinary mode, in ordinary words the basic drivers, classes and so on that are used to run abode windows are loaded (that is why your show screen nicely look different). you do not might want to run your anti-virus in secure mode. it would want to be slightly extra ordinary (no longer as many classes operating, might want to bathe some classes extra ordinary) Then once you reboot (turn off your computing gadget) it nicely boot similar to general until eventually you hit the f8 and prefer to pass into secure mode.

Answer 7

There is no need to scan in safe mode. Just scan your computer while it;s running in it's normal mode.

Answer 8

it is F8, you have to press it before you see the xp splash page.

try F2 or F10.