Topic: XP Safe Mode

[Simon]

Simon could boot into DOS and try all the keys on the board

It doesn't work Brian, as Sean and I found out the other week when I was trying to run FDISK, and it's also why I couldn't get your ZAP program to work.

 

Is there any way round this, or does it mean swapping keyboards each time I want to do something like this?  The keyboard I have is a nice solid black IBM, so I don't really want to change it.

[lobo]

@Simon
There should be some sort of drivers for your keyboard that allow it to work in DOS check the IBM site and enter you keyboard type

Brian

[chorleydave]

I am probably stating the obvious, Simon, but have you tried removing the keyboard in Device Manager, rebooting and re-installing it?

Just that last week, I had a problem.  Every time I switched on, the bootup screen told me I hadn't a keyboard connected.  A restart found it and then the next rebbot it had gone again.  I removed and re-installed it and it's been OK since.

 

[Simon]

Mmm, don't think it's that Dave.  It's a USB keyboard,  it's not that there's anything actually wrong with it - it's just the way they are, apparently.

[Tony]

Look I'm still   waiting for that key I need to press at boot up. Which enables you to freeze the system boot sequence screen, so you can actually read it. Why do I want to read it....because I just do ...got a problem with that >  

[Simon]

Oh, for heaven's sake!!  

Found this Tony - it's for XP but I would think W2K is the same:

The Windows XP boot process is made up of several sections, represented by several different screens. During one of the screens, when the screen background is black, you can press the ESC key, and the boot process will pause until you press another key. During this screen, the system is waiting to see if you press F5 or F8 to choose other boot options, so pressing ESC causes it to wait indefinitely.

http://windows.about.com/library/tips/bltip650.htm

[lobo]

@Tony
If its the system boot sequence you want to see press "Pause" which is the top right hand key on the keyboard (well it is on mine)and the boot screen will be displayed untill you press another key.

Brian:go:
 

[Tony]

Cheers lads,

I tried 'Esc' first but ziltch, so I tried

'Pause' and BINGO, but then I found 'Esc' set it going again   so all in all a good combination  for stopping and starting the boot screen.

Thanks   8)