Safe Mode Starting

Hi guys, I cannot seem to get this computer into safe mode.
I have tried F8, F5 and even F1 but none of them work.
On boot up it tells me to hit F9 for Express Recovery but I am nervous to do that. I am trying to defrag in safe mode.
Also can I use a boot disk to boot me into DOS to defrag, and if so what is the command line?

 

Just as an add on to the last post my signature was showing the wrong operating system, it is in fact Win XP Home Edition.my apologies.

 

Try this, START > RUN > type MSCONFIG > enter > click on BOOT.INI TAB > tag box labeled /SAFEBOOT > click OK > then reboot. That should get you into safe mode. To return to a normal boot, run msconfig and click the Normal Startup box on the general tab.

You can't defrag XP from a boot disk unless you are using the FAT32 file storage system.

 

Yes Dude I am using the FAT 32 system!

 

I don't run FAT32 so can't instruct you any further on that. You may need a 3rd party program since I don't see defrag listed on any of my boot disks. It's generally a Windows based tool. Perhaps a Google search will turn up something for you. Maybe a Lenox boot disk would allow you to run the XP defrag.exe tool.

I doubt if it's worth the trouble since the Windows version works pretty well. There are several other 3rd party versions that I have had recommended but never tried. AFAIK, they are all Windows based though.

 

This is my problem dude, I have Auslogics disk defrag and as soon as it is finished the windows defrag tells me the disk still needs defragmenting, and even if I run the windows one it does the same?

 

Do you have System Restore enabled? If so, it's possible that defrag will not work on the SR files. I think the same issue applies to any image files made of a drive and stored on another drive.

I have tested Auslogics defrag tool and it works well for me on NTFS. However I have always had SR disabled since it doesn't impress me much.

Look and read about DiskMD and perhaps give it a go.

 

Other means of starting in safe mode

Several options
1) take out a piece of hardware for example a stick of ram , or pull a cord off a cd or dvd

2) if you can start the computer in regular mode start > run > msconfig
> general startup select "diagnostic startup "

try these out

 

I just Checked Dude, System Restore is OFF!

 

HI

Maybe you don't have the right time, when you press F8.

The system will give you a message under the screen, it tell you if you want to get in safe mode, PLS press F8.

 

Yes I did all that Flewsky, It does not work

 

Dude????

 

Yes Jerry, Dude, I was answering SurferDude OK!

 

To dude or not to dude!

Sorry! I didn't realize that, along with a lot of other things..... Just seemed rude w/o a good reason, and you apparently have one!

 

John, did you get into Safe Mode using the method I suggested in post #3?

 

Yes Dude I did but I have not had a chance to do a full defrag as yet,I also ran defrag d:\ -a from the command line, and it told me I am 25% fragmented but when I tried the switch defrag d:\ -w, which I believed to be the command line for defrag, it gave me a bad command, is this in fact the correct switch and would this way stop interference from outside programs?

 

John, there is no "w" switch for XP Defrag. The following are the valid switches:


/a
Analyzes the volume and displays a summary of the analysis report.

/v
Displays the complete analysis and defragmentation reports.
When used in combination with /a, displays only the analysis report. When used alone, displays both the analysis and defragmentation reports.

/f
Forces defragmentation of the volume regardless of whether it needs to be defragmented.

/?
Displays help at the command prompt.

 

So what will \ f do. I can see what it reads, but what does it mean?

 

The MS outline of the switches is somewhat misleading. Instead of the usual forward slach ( / ) you now use the minus ( - ) symbol instead.

The -f switch will allow you to run defrag even though you haven't the usually required 15% free disk space and regardless of whether defrag is needed or not.

New defrag command with XP explained

 

Hi Aussiejohn, I may have missed something here, I have no trouble running Defrag from System tools in normal mode. I've just put one comp into Safe Mode by hitting F8 at start up and it's Defragging quite normally. My comps all run with XP Home and I have no problems doing scheduled Defrags. Neil.