Safe mode doesn't work Win ME

Troubleshooting a friend's pc, trying to get it to start in Safe Mode. During Restart hitting the Delete key just starts it in Bios settings; hitting F8 doesn't do anything. Any suggestions what might be wrong?

 

How 'bout the F5 key? That's a must for Johanna on Xp and works for me as well on both ME and XP.

Regards - Charles

 

On my PC its supposed to be the f8 key however what works is the ctrl key,,

its much easyer to use selective startup

go start run type msconfig , advanced, and place a check next to selective startup, apply and ok then restart.

 

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll try them next week when I see my friend again.

 

Hi Eleanor,

One of the consequences of using selective startup is that all the unchecked startups will be checked again on selection of normal startup afterwards - so take note beforehand of programs that are disabled from starting up.

Regards - Charles

 

A bit confused here. Selective startup is on the general tab and will be selected if any startup items have been previously disabled. Click the advanced button and check the 'enable start menu' box and exit with restart will reboot with the selective startup menu, where safe mode can be chosen. Later unchecking that box will not make any changes to the previously set 'selective startup', at least it does not on my machine.

 

Talking about WinME here Dave - does on mine. Going back to "normal startup.." resets msconfig - all the items that were un-checked are checked.

One other obscure (ism): Diagnostic startup wipes SR's restore points on XP. What happens in XP using the other startup options don't know from personal experience.

Regards - Charles

 

Yes, I'm sure that it does, and should. But she is only wanting to get to safe mode, which involves only checking and unchecking the 'enable start menu' box on the advanced menu. The 'normal', 'diagnostic' or 'selective' startup modes don't even come into play.

 

Ok Dave, I only got into this "riff" because of Lonny's reply

Happy Fathers Day,

Regards - Charles

 

I think I see where we may be getting wires crossed. At the startup menu, where you can choose to start normally, command prompt, safe mode, step-by-step, etc., if you choose normal, you will indeed reset the startup preferences, and everything will be once again be rechecked on the startup tab. However, if rather than leaving safe mode and choosing normal startup, you instead go to msconfig and uncheck the 'enable startup menu' box and then exit safe mode, you will restart back into windows without having changed your selective startup.


OK. Happy Dad's Day to you also.