Emergency measures

Posted on 2 Mar 2006 at 16:27

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Safe mode

Even if you are unable to boot into Windows in the usual way, you still have the option of using Safe Mode. Using this method, Windows will only load the files that are absolutely essential for running the operating system - no extra drivers will be loaded, and any programs configured to run at startup will be ignored. By opting to run in this bare bones mode, you may well be able to bypass any hardware or software which is causing Windows problems, then you can set about the task of removing the offending item.

To enter Safe Mode, restart your computer and as soon as the black and white boot screen appears, start to tap the F8 key on your keyboard. If you're using Windows 98 or Me, the Windows 98/Me Startup menu will be displayed; in the case of Windows XP, Windows Advanced Options will be displayed instead. In either case, use the arrow keys on your keyboard to scroll down to Safe Mode and press Enter. Despite the fact that fewer files are loaded in Safe Mode, you will probably find that your computer takes longer than normal to start.

Additionally, you will notice that your screen resolution drops dramatically as does the number of colours displayed on screen.

With Safe Mode successfully loaded, you can uninstall any software you think may be causing problems or uninstall or roll back drivers. You also have access to System Restore which may well be able to return your system to a working state. Once you have made any necessary configuration changes, restart your computer in the normal way and load Windows as usual. If you are still unable to reach your desktop, you could try entering Safe Mode again and try removing additional items, or try some of the other methods described on these pages.

Last known good configuration

Windows XP introduced a new recovery option called 'last known good configuration'. Selecting this option will enable you to load Windows with the most recent system settings that worked properly, enabling you to bypass any troublesome system changes that have been made. This is a great way to recover your system if you have installed the incorrect driver for a piece of hardware, although it will delete any other changes which have been made to your computer since this time.

Unlike System Restore, it's not possible to manually create restore points that can be used with this feature, as it's all done automatically. When your computer starts up successfully and when you shut it down, the current system settings are written to the Registry and it's these that are accessed when using last known good configuration.

To access the feature, restart or switch on your computer and start to tap the F8 key once the BIOS screen is displayed. From the Windows Advanced Options menu that appears, use the arrow keys to select the option labelled 'Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked)' and press Enter. If everything goes to plan, Windows XP should load as normal.

Windows XP recovery console

Windows XP users have access to another handy option in the form of the recovery console. This is a somewhat more advanced recovery mode than any of the others discussed in this feature, but this is because it's also the most powerful. If you have been experiencing problems with missing files on boot up - such as boot.ini, ntdetect or ntldr - the recovery console can help you get things back on track. Similarly, serious problems such as a corrupt Master Boot Record can be fixed from here.

The Recovery Console is particularly useful as it enables you to replace individual files even if you cannot boot into Windows. While this is not a very user-friendly tool, if you have used MS-DOS in the past, the way the console works and the range of commands available to you should be familiar. For full details of these pay a visit to www.tinyurl.com. To find out how individual commands can be used, type the name of the command followed by /? In the Recovery Console, or type 'help' (without the quotes) followed by the command you want to learn more about.