Help needed to access Safe Mode

I know to hit F8 before the Windows XP logo comes on, but for some reason I can't get into safe mode. I get KEYBOARD FAILURE, and I've shut down and rebooted at least 8 times with the same result. Why would that be?

My keyboard is a Microsoft Wireless Multimedia 1.1, and this is the first time I've tried Safe Mode since installing this keyboard.

I have removed the software for the keyboard and reinstalled it. That made no difference.

 

For folks who find themselves in that position and have no ps2 keyboard, it would be smart to have an XP Bootloader disk handy, either a floppy or CD.

You can make one by formatting a floppy and then copying the three bootloader files to it:

ntdetect.com
ntldr
boot.ini

Then edit the boot.ini file to add the /safeboot:minimal switch to the system loader command string.

This is a safe method since the disk can be withdrawn for normal booting. Editing the boot.ini file on the C: root to accomplish this same thing can be risky since you can't reverse it if you err or if some virus is at work that may cause a boot loop in Safe Mode. Forcing a Safe Mode boot without using the Bootloader Disk is not recommended. Reference

 

thank you

Thank you both for your responses. I did try another keyboard. I was able to boot in Safe Mode and to use Clean Disk (or whatever it's called --- you know what I mean) and to defrag. Bottom line after analysis was that I didn't need to defrag. After all that!
Alice

 

Another method for adding a safe mode boot option which involves editing the boot.ini yet does not require a bootloader disk.......

Lets say your default boot.ini reads like the following.

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\Windows= "Windows XP Professional " /fastdetect


Copy the last line and add it again (on the next line), then alter displayed name and the switch as shown below.


[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\Windows= "Windows XP Professional " /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\Windows= "Safe Mode" /safeboot:minimal


This will give you two boot options for the same operating system upon startup, yet will not throw you into a loop should a safe mode boot fail. It also gets you around the F8 keyboard issue.

 

Dave, Thanks but are you sure the necessary wireless keyboard driver mentioned will be loaded when the boot menu is presented?

That's why I suggested a bootloader disk that would already have the proper selection highlighted and not require any action via a keyboard.

 

Good point dude .......... no, I'm not sure. Nor do I have a wireless keyboard to test with

 

It would seem to follow that using the keyboard mentioned would not allow accessing the BIOS setup either.

Perhaps if the receiver unit was plugged into the ps2 port and not the usb, it might work outside of a Windows session.

Perhaps enabling legacy usb support in the BIOS would help but if you can't get into the setup routine.... Interesting deal all around.

I can't test that since I don't have the beast.

 

Now I'm wondering if the that keyboard driver will be loaded when Safe Mode is finally achieved. That would be the final disappointment on a bad hair day.

 

Interesting indeed!

@aks and PeteC,

Does that keyboard come with a usb-ps2 adapter?

 

Thanks for the good research report Pete! You must know how that stuff bothers Dave and I.

I'm betting the bootloader disk with the modified boot.ini will get you all the way to safe mode with no ps/2 assist.

 

hmm...I'm not going down that easy. I think you may need to add the /safeboot:minimal switch to the default OS line in the boot.ini instead of where I first indicated. Or even in both locations.

I assume you have floppy first in the boot sequence.

In spite of what I said above, mine works with the keyboard unplugged and the boot.ini looks like this:

[boot loader]
timeout=5
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS= "Microsoft Windows XP Home" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn /safeboot:minimal

 

Your last version should have worked unless you have an incorrect space or spelling error in the actual file.

The hal error indicates that the OS is not located in the directory you pointed to so double check the spaces and spelling.

Edit: I just cut/pasted your version onto my floppy and it booted me straight into Safe Mode with no input from me. I did have to remove the two spaces that the BB inserted when you pasted it.

 

I think you may have something there. If you have installed Vista, I think the bootloader operation is passed to it via the IPL code following the MBR.

I don't have Vista yet so I am at a loss to do any testing along that line.

However, I yet can't understand how the bootloader floppy could work without the /safeboot switch but not with it.