Safe Mode Issue
in [Windows XP]
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From: rlastar on 17 Mar 2010 14:48 Purchased a Dell Vostro Windows XP3 desktop a few months ago. About a month or so ago, I wanted to boot up in safe mode, but couldn't always get there. At least 50% of the time I can't get the safe mode screen to pop up correctly. Instead of the normal safe mode screen, all that shows is Windows Vista on the screen and Windows Vista isn't my OS. I can only hit the enter key and Windows XP load in the normal mode. While needing to go into safe mode is rare, I'd like to fix this issue. Any help is appreciated.
From: Mark Adams on 17 Mar 2010 15:59 "rlastar" wrote: > Purchased a Dell Vostro Windows XP3 desktop a few months ago. > About a month or so ago, I wanted to boot up in safe mode, but couldn't > always get there. > At least 50% of the time I can't get the safe mode screen to pop up > correctly. Instead of the normal safe mode screen, all that shows is Windows > Vista on the screen and Windows Vista isn't my OS. I can only hit the enter > key and Windows XP load in the normal mode. > > While needing to go into safe mode is rare, I'd like to fix this issue. Any > help is appreciated. If you purchased this machine new, this sounds like a warranty problem. Make sure you save your data and make an image of it to an external drive before you send it in for repair. Dell is likely to reimage the hard drive and everything on it will be wiped.
From: rlastar on 17 Mar 2010 16:56 Dell says software is not a warranty issue. "Mark Adams" wrote: > > > "rlastar" wrote: > > > Purchased a Dell Vostro Windows XP3 desktop a few months ago. > > About a month or so ago, I wanted to boot up in safe mode, but couldn't > > always get there. > > At least 50% of the time I can't get the safe mode screen to pop up > > correctly. Instead of the normal safe mode screen, all that shows is Windows > > Vista on the screen and Windows Vista isn't my OS. I can only hit the enter > > key and Windows XP load in the normal mode. > > > > While needing to go into safe mode is rare, I'd like to fix this issue. Any > > help is appreciated. > > If you purchased this machine new, this sounds like a warranty problem. Make > sure you save your data and make an image of it to an external drive before > you send it in for repair. Dell is likely to reimage the hard drive and > everything on it will be wiped.
From: Billns on 17 Mar 2010 17:11 On 3/17/2010 1:56 PM, rlastar wrote: > Dell says software is not a warranty issue. > > "Mark Adams" wrote: > >> If not a warranty issue, still Dell should be able to assist you in resolving the problem. You could call me an optimist here... Bill
From: Anonamoose on 17 Mar 2010 17:13
I presume this was labeled a used or off-lease computer or you have been swindled by Dell as there is no way a hard drive that has not been previously loaded with Vista could ever show anything related to Vista. A computer sold as new cannot have a used hard drive: there is no wiggle room. If you cannot get to safe mode in your XP installation and are seeing a remnant of a former Vista install your XP setup is seriously faulty/hosed and the most expedient thing to do is reformat/reinstall. I would use a program like Magic Jelly Beans to get the XP installation key from the registry first. as well as make the usual back-ups. Vista and XP use different boot loaders and if XP is your only OS it appears that the XP installation did not completely wipe out a prior Vista install. The sooner you bite the bullet the less painful it will be. Microsoft OSes being what they are, including Win7, sooner or later you will absolutely need to get to safe mode. |