HELP - Can't get safe mode to load

I am having a problem starting windows xp pro in safe mode...when I start up it always does a NVRAM check...then I press F8 and it takes me to the Windows Advanced Option Menu and I select Safe Mode there...then it goes to Please Select the OS to start so I pick the only one there, XP Pro of course, then it starts scrolling something like mulit(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)windows/system32.....then it goes right back to the checking NVRAM screen and starts over

 

You should have several safemode options:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q315222
If one doesn't work try another.

What happened that made you "need to" or "try to use" the "safemode startup" in the first place?

Can you still get into XP using the "Normal startup "?

 

Thanks for trying, but still no luck

Thanks for trying, but it still wont boot to safe mode. That link pretty much just said press F8 to get to safe mode then detailed all the options. However, I cannot get it to actually go to safe mode.
I have a bad about:blank hijack on my computer that I have to get to safe mode to fix.
Anyone else got any ideas? Thanks.

 

You will find board members who have now become quite exceptional experts in removing this and other critters from your computer. They will be able to guide you through the steps and best method to use to get rid of this particular one. It is quite difficult and comes in many varities. See and do this:
http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=37074

Then head for the Security Forum.

 

Thanks, but I've already been told how to fix everything. I just have to get to safe mode now to get it done :-\

 

BollDogg,

Can you get to normal mode? If so, go to my computer> properties> advanced> settings in start-up and recovery (bottoom) section and uncheck Automatic restart, and ok out. Then you'll likely get an error message instead of the reboot. If you do, post it here please.

 

Thanks for your response. Now when I tried to get it to go to safe mode after making that change it still scrolls that info, but now sends me to a blue screen afterwards. It says A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer. IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL blah...blah...If problem continues, disable or remove any newly installed hardware or software. Disable BIOS memory options....blah blah...

Can you help?

 

We need the addresses in the BSOD; its a series of hex (alphanumeric) numbers.

 

If you are talking about the message displayed on the blue screen it was...

STOP 0x0000000a c0xf9d72354, 0x000000ff 0x00000001, 0x80512922

I'm not sure if this is what you were wanting. Also, I'm not sure if in fact that as a c on the second series. I can check again if you need me to.

Thanks again.

 

BollDogg

Check out this M$ page about BSODs; it states your problem is a hardware or driver change of recent date. One thing you can do is use system restore to return to a time before this problem if you can't recall anything specific that has changed in your box.

 

I did add an external 160 gig harddrive a month or so ago. Could it be it's not installed correctly? I download to it and have not had any problems with it and it shows up in my computer and everything like it should. Could it be easy enough to just disconnect it and then connect it back afterwards?

 

Yes, uninsall as well as disconnect (in add/remove and/or device manager?) Then reboot and run for a while with several reboots. Then try it without any drivers; you shouldn't need any installation - XP has all the drivers you generally need.

 

The drive came with a disk so I tried to use it to install it, but I wasent sure what type it was so I dont think I fully installed it since it seemed to be working fine without it. I'll try to unplug it first and then uninstall it if that wont work. It wont lose anything on there if I uninstall it, correct?

 

BTW, what exactly do you intend to fix in safe mode? There are alternative ways to fix almost everything.

Correct. You won't lose anything on the external disk.

 

Here is the thread that has what I intend to fix...http://forums.tomcoyote.org/index.php?act=ST&f=27&t=22940

Do you think I can just do this in normal mode?

 

I think the problem is deleting some of the files in normal mode. You can discontinue thier running in task manager and then try to delete them; it may take several tries in TM because they keep starting up. In safe mode they don't run in the first place, so deletion is easy. Anothet alternatibe is to download moveonboot
You can give it several files at once by cancelling the shutdown and adding their names.

The instructions to hijackthis can be run in normal mode also.