Safe Mode Issue

  • Thread starter Thread starter rlastar
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rlastar

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Purchased a Dell Vostro Windows XP3 desktop a few months ago.

About a month or so ago, I wanted to boot up in safe mode, but couldn't

always get there.

At least 50% of the time I can't get the safe mode screen to pop up

correctly. Instead of the normal safe mode screen, all that shows is Windows

Vista on the screen and Windows Vista isn't my OS. I can only hit the enter

key and Windows XP load in the normal mode.



While needing to go into safe mode is rare, I'd like to fix this issue. Any

help is appreciated.
 
"rlastar" wrote:



> Purchased a Dell Vostro Windows XP3 desktop a few months ago.

> About a month or so ago, I wanted to boot up in safe mode, but couldn't

> always get there.

> At least 50% of the time I can't get the safe mode screen to pop up

> correctly. Instead of the normal safe mode screen, all that shows is Windows

> Vista on the screen and Windows Vista isn't my OS. I can only hit the enter

> key and Windows XP load in the normal mode.

>

> While needing to go into safe mode is rare, I'd like to fix this issue. Any

> help is appreciated.



If you purchased this machine new, this sounds like a warranty problem. Make

sure you save your data and make an image of it to an external drive before

you send it in for repair. Dell is likely to reimage the hard drive and

everything on it will be wiped.
 
Dell says software is not a warranty issue.



"Mark Adams" wrote:



>

>

> "rlastar" wrote:

>

> > Purchased a Dell Vostro Windows XP3 desktop a few months ago.

> > About a month or so ago, I wanted to boot up in safe mode, but couldn't

> > always get there.

> > At least 50% of the time I can't get the safe mode screen to pop up

> > correctly. Instead of the normal safe mode screen, all that shows is Windows

> > Vista on the screen and Windows Vista isn't my OS. I can only hit the enter

> > key and Windows XP load in the normal mode.

> >

> > While needing to go into safe mode is rare, I'd like to fix this issue. Any

> > help is appreciated.

>

> If you purchased this machine new, this sounds like a warranty problem. Make

> sure you save your data and make an image of it to an external drive before

> you send it in for repair. Dell is likely to reimage the hard drive and

> everything on it will be wiped.
 
On 3/17/2010 1:56 PM, rlastar wrote:

> Dell says software is not a warranty issue.

>

> "Mark Adams" wrote:

>

>>

If not a warranty issue, still Dell should be able to assist you in

resolving the problem.



You could call me an optimist here...



Bill
 
I presume this was labeled a used or off-lease computer or you have been

swindled by Dell as there is no way a hard drive that has not been

previously loaded with Vista could ever show anything related to Vista. A

computer sold as new cannot have a used hard drive: there is no wiggle room.

If you cannot get to safe mode in your XP installation and are seeing a

remnant of a former Vista install your XP setup is seriously faulty/hosed

and the most expedient thing to do is reformat/reinstall. I would use a

program like Magic Jelly Beans to get the XP installation key from the

registry first. as well as make the usual back-ups.

Vista and XP use different boot loaders and if XP is your only OS it appears

that the XP installation did not completely wipe out a prior Vista install.

The sooner you bite the bullet the less painful it will be. Microsoft OSes

being what they are, including Win7, sooner or later you will absolutely

need to get to safe mode.
 
In news:7ED4DF36-7E27-4EC8-964E-F9ACA7E1E240@microsoft.com,

rlastar typed:

> Dell says software is not a warranty issue.



No, but if the HW can't work right, THAT is! You're probably tapping the F8

key too slowly or at the wrong time, actually. You see, when no details are

provided, it's necessary to guess at what is likely wrong. So I guessed you

are operating it incorrectly. Read up on how to enter Safe Mode. Or modify

boot.ini so you can instead just boot straight into it.



HTH,



Twayne`



> "Mark Adams" wrote:

>

>>

>>

>> "rlastar" wrote:

>>

>>> Purchased a Dell Vostro Windows XP3 desktop a few months

>>> ago.

>>> About a month or so ago, I wanted to boot up in safe

>>> mode, but couldn't always get there.

>>> At least 50% of the time I can't get the safe mode screen

>>> to pop up correctly. Instead of the normal safe mode

>>> screen, all that shows is Windows Vista on the screen and

>>> Windows Vista isn't my OS. I can only hit the enter key

>>> and Windows XP load in the normal mode.

>>>

>>> While needing to go into safe mode is rare, I'd like to

>>> fix this issue. Any help is appreciated.

>>

>> If you purchased this machine new, this sounds like a

>> warranty problem. Make sure you save your data and make an

>> image of it to an external drive before you send it in for

>> repair. Dell is likely to reimage the hard drive and

>> everything on it will be wiped.







--

--

Life is the only real counselor; wisdom unfiltered

through personal experience does not become a

part of the moral tissue.
 
"rlastar" wrote:



> Dell says software is not a warranty issue.

>



What "Anonamoose" said was my point. There should not be ANY reference to

Vista on a new computer shipped with XP. If Dell screwed up the XP install

somehow, then they should fix it---- under warranty. Which brings up another

question. Did you or anybody else try to install Vista on this machine and

then reinstalled XP? If so, all bets are off with Dell.



> "Mark Adams" wrote:

>

> >

> >

> > "rlastar" wrote:

> >

> > > Purchased a Dell Vostro Windows XP3 desktop a few months ago.

> > > About a month or so ago, I wanted to boot up in safe mode, but couldn't

> > > always get there.

> > > At least 50% of the time I can't get the safe mode screen to pop up

> > > correctly. Instead of the normal safe mode screen, all that shows is Windows

> > > Vista on the screen and Windows Vista isn't my OS. I can only hit the enter

> > > key and Windows XP load in the normal mode.

> > >

> > > While needing to go into safe mode is rare, I'd like to fix this issue. Any

> > > help is appreciated.

> >

> > If you purchased this machine new, this sounds like a warranty problem. Make

> > sure you save your data and make an image of it to an external drive before

> > you send it in for repair. Dell is likely to reimage the hard drive and

> > everything on it will be wiped.
 
rlastar wrote:

> Dell says software is not a warranty issue.

>

> "Mark Adams" wrote:

>

>>

>> "rlastar" wrote:

>>

>>> Purchased a Dell Vostro Windows XP3 desktop a few months ago.

>>> About a month or so ago, I wanted to boot up in safe mode, but couldn't

>>> always get there.

>>> At least 50% of the time I can't get the safe mode screen to pop up

>>> correctly. Instead of the normal safe mode screen, all that shows is Windows

>>> Vista on the screen and Windows Vista isn't my OS. I can only hit the enter

>>> key and Windows XP load in the normal mode.

>>>

>>> While needing to go into safe mode is rare, I'd like to fix this issue. Any

>>> help is appreciated.

>> If you purchased this machine new, this sounds like a warranty problem. Make

>> sure you save your data and make an image of it to an external drive before

>> you send it in for repair. Dell is likely to reimage the hard drive and

>> everything on it will be wiped.







You need to speak to a manager then



there is no way you should see a Vista screen when trying to get to safe

mode...



it's a warranty issue as they set it up wrong
 
rlastar wrote:

> Purchased a Dell Vostro Windows XP3 desktop a few months ago.

> About a month or so ago, I wanted to boot up in safe mode, but

> couldn't always get there.

> At least 50% of the time I can't get the safe mode screen to pop up

> correctly. Instead of the normal safe mode screen, all that shows is

> Windows Vista on the screen and Windows Vista isn't my OS. I can

> only hit the enter key and Windows XP load in the normal mode.

>

> While needing to go into safe mode is rare, I'd like to fix this

> issue. Any help is appreciated.



Who did you purchase this PC from?



The reason I ask is I noticed the same exact thing with my colleague's

Dell notebook. Our company (HQ are located in another state) had

purchased it from Dell but immediately put an image on the hard drive of

the XP Pro system and specific programs those in her department use.

I'll bet when the original image was made, it was from a Dell PC that

once had had Vista installed.



You should probably perform a Clean Install.



Otherwise, you might find this thread helpful:



http://groups.google.com/group/micr...hread/ab0a8837d4bbf578/1e22c2d4a98e9364?hl=en
 
"Anonamoose" écrivait

news:A164FD07-B16B-4E14-8331-48419357D63F@microsoft.com:



> I presume this was labeled a used or off-lease computer or you have

> been swindled by Dell as there is no way a hard drive that has not

> been previously loaded with Vista could ever show anything related to

> Vista. A computer sold as new cannot have a used hard drive: there is

> no wiggle room. If you cannot get to safe mode in your XP installation

> and are seeing a remnant of a former Vista install your XP setup is

> seriously faulty/hosed and the most expedient thing to do is

> reformat/reinstall. I would use a program like Magic Jelly Beans to

> get the XP installation key from the registry first. as well as make

> the usual back-ups. Vista and XP use different boot loaders and if XP

> is your only OS it appears that the XP installation did not completely

> wipe out a prior Vista install. The sooner you bite the bullet the

> less painful it will be. Microsoft OSes being what they are, including

> Win7, sooner or later you will absolutely need to get to safe mode.

>

>



If the CD key revealed by Magic Jelly Bean is the Dell volume key for image

purpose, it shouldn't be used on a new install, the OP should use the key

on the sticker applied on the case if he reinstall using a generic OEM XP

cd matching the type (Home or Pro) and language. If he reinstalls using a

"Factory restore" disk or partition, he shouldn't need a key.



But as mention by others, there shouldn't be Vista traces if the machine

was bought new and there was no attempt to install Vista, it must be

resolved by Dell.
 
"Doum" wrote in message

news:XnF9D3F5C3BFF291doumdomainnet@207.46.248.16...

> "Anonamoose" écrivait

> news:A164FD07-B16B-4E14-8331-48419357D63F@microsoft.com:

>

>> I presume this was labeled a used or off-lease computer or you have

>> been swindled by Dell as there is no way a hard drive that has not

>> been previously loaded with Vista could ever show anything related to

>> Vista. A computer sold as new cannot have a used hard drive: there is

>> no wiggle room. If you cannot get to safe mode in your XP installation

>> and are seeing a remnant of a former Vista install your XP setup is

>> seriously faulty/hosed and the most expedient thing to do is

>> reformat/reinstall. I would use a program like Magic Jelly Beans to

>> get the XP installation key from the registry first. as well as make

>> the usual back-ups. Vista and XP use different boot loaders and if XP

>> is your only OS it appears that the XP installation did not completely

>> wipe out a prior Vista install. The sooner you bite the bullet the

>> less painful it will be. Microsoft OSes being what they are, including

>> Win7, sooner or later you will absolutely need to get to safe mode.

>>

>>

>

> If the CD key revealed by Magic Jelly Bean is the Dell volume key for

> image

> purpose, it shouldn't be used on a new install, the OP should use the key

> on the sticker applied on the case if he reinstall using a generic OEM XP

> cd matching the type (Home or Pro) and language. If he reinstalls using a

> "Factory restore" disk or partition, he shouldn't need a key.

>

> But as mention by others, there shouldn't be Vista traces if the machine

> was bought new and there was no attempt to install Vista, it must be

> resolved by Dell.



I am wondering if this machine was one that was shipped with XP Pro on it as

a "downgrade" from Vista. I have an HP laptop that this was the way I

purchased it. If I hit the wrong key on boot-up the drive restore program

attempts to start and this has Vista on it. When you purchase the machine

with downgrade the Vista restore is generally installed and they only

overwrite the system partition with the XP image. I am also wondering if

the OP is pressing the F8 key for safe mode or hitting another key which is

attempting to start the system restore.
 
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