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SAFE MODE
You are now entering the "Safe Mode"
Basically, Safe Mode is when your computer boots up
without loading any of the drivers or programs unless they are absolutely
necessary. In safe mode, your CDROM won't work, your video display will
look terrible because the video drivers aren't loaded and only 256 colors
are used, your modem and many other devices will not work because the
drivers are not loaded for them.
This Safe Mode is used for diagnosing problems that you
may be having on your computer. It allows you to verify whether the
problem may be a hardware issue or a driver issue or something else.
To enter the SAFE MODE, you need to hit the F8 key during
the boot-up process, usually as soon as you see "Starting
Windows" but it is different for some computers. I usually start to
lightly tap on the F8 key right after I see the memory count up. Sometimes
you might have to reboot again if it makes it to the Windows Desktop. But,
once you have hit the F8 key in time, you'll be taken to a DOS screen
(black screen with white lettering) with a menu .
To get to safe mode, you'll want to choose the third
option (Safe Mode... duh). You'll know when you have done things right
because Windows will tell you that you are about to start your computer in
SAFE MODE and you have to click on OK. Then, once you are at the desktop,
and see how terrible your icons look because the video drivers aren't
installed, you'll see that each corner of the screen has "Safe
Mode" in it. As if you had gotten there accidentally and didn't know
it... Jeesh!
From here, you can try to troubleshoot the problem your
computer is having, but since that is a bit beyond the "Basic"
user, I'll leave that situation for another page or another site.
Stay safe!
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