Computers - how do I start up in "safe mode"?

Subject: Computers - how do I start up in "safe mode"? Tue 10 Jun 2008 - 19:06

Please can anyone help?

My Outlook Express went into "not responding" a while back & I haven't been able to fix it yet. In the meantime, have been logging into my ISP platform for send & receive email. But need to get into some of the messages I have saved in Outlook Express. But whenever I try to open them - it just tells me again "Outlook Express" not responding. I've tried various fixes suggested on the Microsoft site, but still not resolved. But someone has told me that I should be able to get into the messages & sort out the problems if I start up my computer in "safe mode". I have Windows XP - does anyone know how to start up in "safe mode" in Windows XP. I used to be able to do it when I had Windows Millenium, but XP - I don't know how???

Any advice would be most appreciated.

Carole wave

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Carole, Smith Project/Smith Chat Admin
Nothing is too small to know, and nothing too big to attempt (William Van Horne)

Carole, Try rapidly pressing F8 key as your computer boots up.

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Don

Carole wrote:

Oooh thanks Don, I'll try that! Will let you know how it goes, Carole

Don wrote:

Carole, on some computers its the delete key. Playarond
with it - you'll find it.

Hi Don & thanks,
Yes you were right the first time, it is the F8 Key, though I tried it a few times after you'd told me, but I must have been clicking it at not quite the correct time during start-up - ie - I think I was clicking it too late. But anyway, didn't give up, especially as I remembered about the "XP Help & Support Center" - searched that & discovered the same info about using the F8 key.

So - did eventually manage to start-up in "Safe Mode". But unfortuately to no avail as far is fixing my Outlook Express problem. In Safe Mode it still is "not responding". The same thing as in "normal mode" - get the Inbox - but when click on anything at all - menus, messages, folders, etc just does not respond at all. And in "Help Center" Outlook Express Troubleshooting - of the options to choose, there isn't one that fits with my problem. I'm contacting my ISP to ask them for any advice.

Carole wave

posting here for ref - info found in the "Help & Support Center"........

Quote:

To start the computer in safe mode
1 You should print these instructions before continuing. They will not be available after you shut your computer down in step 2.
2 Click Start, click Shut Down, and then, in the drop-down list, click Shut down.
3 In the Shut Down Windows dialog box, click Restart, and then click OK.
4 When you see the message Please select the operating system to start, press F8.
5 Use the arrow keys to highlight the appropriate safe mode option, and then press ENTER.
6 If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot system, choose the installation that you need to access using the arrow keys, and then press ENTER.
Notes
* In safe mode, you have access to only basic files and drivers (mouse, monitor,
keyboard, mass storage, base video, default system services, and no network
connections).
You can choose the Safe Mode with Networking option, which loads all of the above
files and drivers and the essential services and drivers to start networking,
or you can choose the Safe Mode with Command Prompt option, which is exactly the
same as safe mode except that a command prompt is started instead of the graphical
user interface. You can also choose Last Known Good Configuration, which starts
your computer using the registry information that was saved at the last shutdown.
* Safe mode helps you diagnose problems. If a symptom does not reappear when you
start in safe mode, you can eliminate the default settings and minimum device drivers
as possible causes. If a newly added device or a changed driver is causing problems,
you can use safe mode to remove the device or reverse the change.
* There are circumstances where safe mode will not be able to help you, such as when
Windows system files that are required to start the system are corrupted or damaged.
In this case, the Recovery Console may help you.
* NUM LOCK must be off before the arrow keys on the numeric keypad will function.