need to restart XP in Safe Mode but there is no prompt for MS DOS or Safe mode mode on startup menu - HELP!

This is what it says in Help:
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.

--

Harry Ohrn MS-MVP [Shell/User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp


"Sonnicbooms" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:461445D7-1A3B-4D6F-9B82-52D2CFDA5A54@microsoft.com...

> Hi, and thanks for your help in advance, I appreciate it . . .
> I need to restart my computer in safe mode. I looked in the Help Menu and
> it said to choose to "Restart in Safe Mode" from the drop-down menu on the
> "Start" menu. When I click on "Start", no drop-down menu appears. How do
> I get my computer to start in safe mode in the absence of a drop-down
> "Start" menu?
>
> Thanks & have a great day,
>
> Sonnic

Hi, Sonnic.

It's EASY to misread those instructions. :>(

> choose to "Restart in Safe Mode" from the drop-down menu on the "Start"
> menu.

This is not referring to the Start button that appears on your Desktop after
WinXP is booted. It means the operating system menu that appears BEFORE
WinXP even starts to load. When you first turn on the computer's power
switch (or Restart the computer), it "counts the RAM"; detects the hard
drives, CPU and other installed hardware; and gets ready to load Windows or
another operating system. On many computers, all this may be hidden from
the user, but it goes on in the background.

When all of that has been completed, the computer may present you with a
Menu of operating systems, including WinXP and any others that you may have
installed. If you have only one (just WinXP, for instance), this menu will
be skipped and the computer will simply load the only choice and start it.
That probably is your situation, so you never see that menu.

If you press the F8 key while that Menu of operating systems is displayed,
you will see a second menu that offers choices such as Normal, Safe Mode,
Last Known Good Configuration, etc. THAT's what the Help file instructions
mean. Even if the first menu is not displayed, pressing F8 at this point
will still produce that same second menu. But your timing has to be just
right - or persistent. As Will said, press F8 repeatedly during the boot
process to be sure that the computer recognizes it at the right moment and
presents that second Menu, from which you can choose Safe Mode.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
rc@corridor.net
Microsoft Windows MVP

"Sonnicbooms" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:461445D7-1A3B-4D6F-9B82-52D2CFDA5A54@microsoft.com...

> Hi, and thanks for your help in advance, I appreciate it . . .
> I need to restart my computer in safe mode. I looked in the Help Menu and
> it said to choose to "Restart in Safe Mode" from the drop-down menu on the
> "Start" menu. When I click on "Start", no drop-down menu appears. How do
> I get my computer to start in safe mode in the absence of a drop-down
> "Start" menu?
>
> Thanks & have a great day,
>
> Sonnic