No Safe Mode page available on startup

I installed a new Mobo and CPU a few months ago. After install of Windows XP Home haver no Screen that shows different startup options. Have re-installed OS twice to see if that corrected problem with no luck. Have seen some safe mode repair programs and different repair options, but not sure if they are what I need to cure problem or are safe to use. Below is Belarc Adviser info on hardware.
Thanks
BillH

Operating System
Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 3 (build 2600)

Main Circuit Board
Board: NF-CK804

Processor
2.40 gigahertz AMD Athlon 64
256 kilobyte primary memory cache
2048 kilobyte secondary memory cache
Bus Clock: 201 megahertz
BIOS: Phoenix Technologies, LTD 6.00 PG 09/29/2006

Memory Modules
2048 Megabytes Installed Memory


Drives
ATAPI CD R DH52RYP [CD-ROM drive]
JLMS XJ-HD166S [CD-ROM drive]
3.5" format removeable media [Floppy drive]
MAXTOR STM3320620AS [Hard drive] (320.07 GB) -- drive 2, s/n 9QF1YMHS, rev 3.AAE, SMART Status: Healthy
ST3320620AS [Hard drive] (320.07 GB) -- drive 1
WDC WD1600JS-40NGB2 [Hard drive] (160.04 GB) -- drive 3
WDC WD800BB-00CAA1 [Hard drive] (80.02 GB) -- drive 0
880.20 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
205.96 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

Slot 'A0' is Empty
Slot 'A1' has 1024 MB
Slot 'A2' is Empty
Slot 'A3' has 1024 MB

Local Drive Volumes
c: (NTFS on drive 3) 47.32 GB 29.73 GB free
d: (NTFS on drive 0) 7.50 GB 197 MB free
e: (NTFS on drive 0) 5.47 GB 3.68 GB free
f: (NTFS on drive 0) 9.67 GB 5.29 GB free
g: (NTFS on drive 2) 320.07 GB 15.78 GB free
h: (NTFS on drive 0) 57.39 GB 44.03 GB free
i: (NTFS on drive 1) 320.06 GB 67.45 GB free
j: (NTFS on drive 3) 112.72 GB 39.81 GB free

Network Drives
None detected

Printers
Canon iP4500 series on USB001

Controllers
Standard floppy disk controller
NVIDIA nForce4 Serial ATA Controller (2x)
Primary IDE Channel [Controller]
Secondary IDE Channel [Controller]
Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller

Display
RADEON 9250 [Display adapter]
RADEON 9250 Secondary [Display adapter]
ACR AL1916W [Monitor] (19.1 "vis, s/n L800C0184030, February 2007)

Bus Adapters
Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller
Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller

Multimedia
Creative Game Port
Creative SB Audigy 2 ZS (WDM)

Communications
1394 Net Adapter
1394 Net Adapter #2
NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller

Other Devices
OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller
VIA OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller
HID-compliant consumer control device
HID-compliant device (3x)
USB Human Interface Device (2x)
HID Keyboard Device
HID-compliant mouse
NVIDIA Network Bus Enumerator
USB Composite Device
USB Printing Support
USB Root Hub (2x)

 

Are you saying that pressing F8 during boot no longer gives you a startup menu?

If so it's possible a ROM is kicking in, do you get any menu at all?

Ignoring the belarc info for the moment can you follow the instructions below for motherboard make/model.

To identify your motherboard please download CPU-Z and save it to your Desktop. Unzip and run cpuz.exe.

Select the Mainboard tab and post the details that are in the Manufacturer and Model fields.

 

Welcome to WindowsBBS BillH

To see the startup options, you must tap the F8 key after powering up the computer (sometimes repeatedly tap the key). That should enable the Advanced Startup menu, where Safe Mode is an option.

 

If you'd like to add a safe mode option to the normal boot menu, I've written a tool to do just that, which can be downloaded here.

 

MOBO is a Mach Speed MSNV-939

When I tap F8 I get no Advanced Startup Menu.

 

I'd try noahdfears tool and see if that works.

 

I have not had the advanced startup menu since I upgraded MOBO and CPU. Have the option before upgrade.
When I start computer on the first screen I have the options:
F8-System Config
F9-Boot device
Del-Setup

Is the noahdfears a malware tool?

 

Ties in with what I thought a ROM was kicking in nothing to worry about.

Erm, no noahdfear posted earlier aka Dave.

He hangs around in that malware forum (I beleive there's an APB for stalking there ).

Dave's tool will allow you to make the choice after all those roms have finished there business.

 

Thanks, that gives me the options but cannot highlite safeboot option on screen. Arrow keys will not move up or down.

 

Sounds like your keyboard is not working properly during boot sequence. What type of keyboard are you using?

 

Logitech LX-710 wireless laser.

 

If the MOBO has a ps2 port, and you have a ps2 keyboard available, try it. Otherwise, any wired usb keyboard could be tried.

 

Great little app. Dave works great Thanks

 

Thanks Hawk ... glad you like it. My motivation for creating it was to avoid using the safeboot switch in the system configuration utility. If for some reason safe mode is inaccessible, the machine would be caught in a loop because safe mode was the only option.

 

Your welcome Dave great work deserves recognition.
Does it work in Vista, as I would love to install it on my Vista Ultimate System as well.

 

Cudos Dave...I just read this post and saw your tool...downloaded it and installed it. Very nice...

 

Thanks Kent.

hawk .. no Vista, since it uses boot manager rather than boot.ini

 

Finally found a PS2 key board. It works fine. What I can't figure out is my USB Logitech laser arrow keys work to get into setup and boot devices? Be a pain to keep changing keyboards.

 

The first thing to do is try fresh batteries. Then, updated drivers/software.
I read elsewhere that enabling PlugnPlay OS in the BIOS might be the answer.

 

I did some exploring.Thought maybe there was a way to change start up order. When I was looking in the set up menu found two options to turn USB key board and mouse on or off. Was set to off on both. Changed to yes and no can get into advanced screen like it should. Thanks for you help and suggestions.