I can't get XP to go into safe mode!!!

This is driving me nuts! I can't go into safe mode. Is there some setting in Windows that dissables the os switching menu when you press F8? I originally thought it was just my keyboard not working, now I find out that my boot up won't even go to the menu at all. It just jumps right to the XP load screen. Anyone have any ideas?

The window of opportunity to hit a function key on startup is very small especially on very fast systems. Try repeatedly hitting the F8 key from before the system even starts and continue until the menu appears. You can also try the F5 key - this works on some systems

There's also a brute force method usable when everything else fails. When XP starts to load just reset the computer. XP should now realize something has gone wrong and ask you (among other things) if you'd like to start it in safe mode.

Barney

hold control while the computer is booting.

Perhaps you have a F Lock key on your keyboard that has to be toggled before the regular functions work. Most keyboards are starting to come with it now, quite frustrating.