XP Emergency Startup Options!
You should print these instructions before continuing.
If your computer will not start, you might be able to
start it in safe mode. In safe mode, Windows uses
default settings (VGA monitor, Microsoft mouse driver,
no network connections, and the minimum device drivers
required to start Windows).
If your computer will not start after you install new
software, you might be able to start it with minimal
services in safe mode and then change your computer
settings or remove the newly installed software that is
causing the problem. You can reinstall the service pack
or the entire operating system, if necessary.
If a symptom does not reappear when you start in safe
mode, you can eliminate the default settings and minimum
device drivers as possible causes of the computer's
inability to start.
The startup options are
Safe Mode
Starts using only basic files and drivers (mouse, except
serial mice; monitor; keyboard; mass storage; base
video; default system services; and no network
connections). If your computer does not start
successfully using safe mode, you might need to use the
Recovery Console feature to repair your system.
To start the computer in safe mode
1. You should print these instructions before
continuing. They will not be available after you shut
your computer down in step 2.
2. Click Start, click Shut Down, and then, in the
drop-down list, click Shut down.
3. In the Shut Down Windows dialog box, click Restart,
and then click OK.
4. When you see the message Please select the operating
system to start, press F8.
5. Use the arrow keys to highlight the appropriate safe
mode option, and then press ENTER.
6. If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot system,
choose the installation that you need to access using
the arrow keys, and then press ENTER.
In safe mode, you have access to only basic files and
drivers (mouse, monitor, keyboard, mass storage, base
video, default system services, and no network
connections). You can choose the Safe Mode with
Networking option, which loads all of the above files
and drivers and the essential services and drivers to
start networking, or you can choose the Safe Mode with
Command
Prompt option, which is exactly the same as safe mode
except that a command prompt is started instead of the
graphical user interface. You can also choose Last Known
Good Configuration, which starts your computer using the
registry information that was saved at the last
shutdown.
Safe mode helps you diagnose problems. If a symptom does
not reappear when you start in safe mode, you can
eliminate the default settings and minimum device
drivers as possible causes. If a newly added device or a
changed driver is causing problems, you can use safe
mode to remove the device or reverse the change.
There are circumstances where safe mode will not be able
to help you, such as when Windows system files that are
required to start the system are corrupted or damaged.
In this case, the Recovery Console may help you.
NUM LOCK must be off before the arrow keys on the
numeric keypad will function.
Safe Mode with Networking
Starts using only basic files and drivers, and network
connections.
Safe Mode with Command Prompt
Starts using only basic files and drivers. After logging
on, the command prompt is displayed instead of the
Windows graphical interface.
To start your computer at a command prompt
1. Print these instructions before continuing. They will
not be available after you shut your computer down in
step 2.
2. Click Start, click Shut Down, and then, in the
drop-down list, click Shut down.
3. In the Shut Down Windows dialog box, click Restart,
and then click OK.
4. When you see the message Please select the operating
system to start, press F8.
5. Use the arrow keys to highlight Safe Mode with
Command Prompt, and then press ENTER.
6. If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot system,
choose the installation that you need to access using
the arrow keys, and then press ENTER.
NUM LOCK must be off before the arrow keys on the
numeric keypad will function.
Enable Boot Logging
Starts while logging all the drivers and services that
were loaded (or not loaded) by the system to a file.
This file is called ntbtlog.txt and it is located in the
%windir% directory. Safe Mode, Safe Mode with
Networking, and Safe Mode with Command Prompt add to the
boot log a list of all the drivers and services that are
loaded. The boot log is useful in determining the exact
cause of system startup problems.
Enable VGA Mode
Starts using the basic VGA driver. This mode is useful
when you have installed a new driver for your video card
that is causing Windows not to start properly. The basic
video driver is always used when you start in Safe Mode
(either Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, or Safe
Mode with Command Prompt).
Last Known Good Configuration
Starts using the registry information and drivers that
Windows saved at the last shutdown. Any changes made
since the last successful startup will be lost. Use Last
Known Good Configuration only in cases of incorrect
configuration. It does not solve problems caused by
corrupted or missing drivers or files.
Directory Service Restore Mode
This is for the server operating systems and is only
used in restoring the SYSVOL directory and the Active
Directory directory service on a domain controller.
Debugging Mode
Starts while sending debug information through a serial
cable to another computer.
If you are using, or have used, Remote Installation
Services to install Windows on your computer, you might
see additional options related to restoring or
recovering your system using Remote Install Services.
If you delete the IE history and it keeps recurring you
have corrupted Index.dat!
If you delete the IE history and it keeps recurring you
have corrupted Index.dat file in the History folder. You
can't delete that while you're logged on, so log on as
Administrator or as a different user and then delete it.
If your system isn't set to display hidden and system
files, you'll need to enable that first.
Select Folder Options from the Tools menu and click on
the View tab.
Check the item entitled Show hidden files and folders
and uncheck Hide protected operating system files.
Now navigate to C:Documents and SettingsusernameLocal
SettingsHistory and delete the History.IE5 folder.
When you log back on to your own account, IE will
recreate that folder.
