black screen with safemode in four corners

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Guest

Help me please! I'm running windows xp and I have tried everything to get out
of safe mode. I can't get to the start menu, task manager, or on the
internet. I can't press ctrl alt del, or ctrl esc. When I press the f8 key I
do get to a number of choices but, I've tried everyone one of them and the
computer restarts and comes back to the same black screenwith a box that
says, windows xp setup cannot run under safemode. Setup will restart now. Any
ideas??????
 
Are you trying to load a new copy of XP?
because when it says windows xp setup cannot run- it means it is trying to
install Windows.
If not did you accidently delete a windows file? if so this could happen.
If you have the xp cd disk, and you are not trying to set up Windows XP, try
booting from the Disk and click on Repair when Windows comes up. See if it
will repair the problem
robin
 
No, I'm not trying to load a new copy of xp. I purchased mcafee and then I
tried to uninstall explorer beta and all heck broke loose. Whenever I put the
xp cd in nothing happens. The cd tries to load but, all I get is a reboot and
back to the black screen. Any other suggestions?
 
I would go with Robin's suggestion; however, you probably have to change your
boot sequence (via your BIOS) to read from the CD drive before the hard
drive. So leave your XP CD in the CD drive and when you start your computer,
press the Del Key to enter the BIOS - Note that some BIOS use a different
key, possibly F1. You say you tried the different options under Safe Mode.
I hope you tried System Restore.
 
no access to system restore. Tried the del and f1 key and it goes right back
to setup is being restarted and then the black screen with safe mode in all 4
corners.
 
Can't seem to find the problem. If I can get to the task manager I can see if
I can get out of this mess.
 
From what NewScience posted and the site I gave you, you should have been
able to enter the BIOS with F2. I hope you were pressing the F2 key right
after pressing the power on button. You could always open the case and
remove the power cable attached to the hard drive. That should force the
bios to look at your CD optical drive.
 
Of course, my suggestion is of limited value if you want to look at the disk,
but at least you can see if you XP CD is good.
 
Sorry for the delay to your response. I have limited access to a computer.
Thanks Mr.Cat. I can get to the bios and the xpcd loads but, Idon't get a
repairoptionor restoreoption. I only get an upgrade or start new installation
option. I ran a diagnostic check through the Bios and everything checks out
fine. I booted the drivers cd that came with the laptopand thosecheced out
fine as well. It still reboots in safe mode with the black screen.
 
OK, you can get at your dell CD. You have to remember that the CD provided
by Dell is not the same as the Windows XP CD and I don't know what kind of
repair/recovery tools are on it. I can reference you to the site
tweakguides.com which has a very nice PDF manual you can download called the
Tweakguides tweaking Companion V 3.3 This is a very helpful manual and you
can find info on recovering you system (look in the table of contents);
however, the info is predicated on using the Microsoft XP CD. Take a look at
it ; you might be able to borrow a friends XP CD disk to repair your system.
If you need to, your dell CD should allow you to rebuild your system;
however, there may be options that save your existing data and so on. I
would suggest you look at your Dell documentation or contact your vendor. If
you are still under warranty, by all means contact your vendor and have them
help you.
 
If your still under warranty by Dell, contact Dell and purchase the CD (it's
only 10.00).
 
If you can get the CD from a friend or Dell, after fixing the problem,
install the Recovery Console from the CD onto your system.

From the CD's i386 folder, run winnt32 /cmdcons
 
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