Can't get out of Safe Mode

[sjm1027]

I have an XP system and wanted to do a defrag. I usually go into safe mode to do this. Today I did the following:
Start > Run > msconfig
Went to the BOOT.INI tab and selected /SAFEBOOT
and system responded with it could not make the change until I rebooted
So when the reboot happened it went into safe mode and I selected administrator
and it rebooted again, comes back to windows safe mode and askes for user... you have 2 choices, Mike or Admin
no matter what I choose the system goes into a loop rebooting and asking who the user is.
If I leave the system alone and don't pick a user it will reboot anyway.

I have stopped the computer by removing the power source and then re plugging it in but the same thing happens.

Is there anything in BIOS to stop this, any ideas?

Thanks
Steve

[glc]

Nope.

Try pressing F8 on startup to get the boot menu, then choose normal startup. If this works, then you can fix the boot.ini file when it's in Windows. If this does not work, you will need to boot with the XP CD and use the recovery console to edit it. The BOOTCFG command should let you do it.

NEVER use msconfig to do a safe mode startup - use F8. There is also NO need to use safe mode to defrag XP - this was only needed with Win9x/ME.

[sjm1027]

Originally Posted by glc Nope. Try pressing F8 on startup to get the boot menu, then choose normal startup. If this works, then you can fix the boot.ini file when it's in Windows. If this does not work, you will need to boot with the XP CD and use the recovery console to edit it. The BOOTCFG command should let you do it. NEVER use msconfig to do a safe mode startup - use F8. There is also NO need to use safe mode to defrag XP - this was only needed with Win9x/ME.

My defrag seems to stop because things are running in background. I was told to do it from safe mode to make sure nothing is running.

Let me go see if I can get this thing back up and running. Thanks for answering.
Can I use any XP CD? This is my nephews system and not sure I will have to ask for his XP CD or not. I also have XP, can I use that one?

Steve

[sjm1027]

Thanks glc, that solution worked fine

Steve

[glc]

XP's defrag should not stop in normal mode - you can even keep working while it defrags in the background.