[Ham-Computers] RE: Booting into safe mode

[Hsu, Aaron (NBC Universal)]

Hi all,

Just for clarification, F-key startup options are presented by different handlers.  On a Windows-based system, there's one during the pre-OS "POST" (Power-On Self Test) and the other that Windows monitors for the first half second during the actual Windows boot-up sequence.

The BIOS F-key options usually allow you to enter the BIOS setup, select the boot device, initiate a network boot, system recovery, and maybe other items.  These are all presented and handled by the systemboard BIOS *BEFORE* the operating system loads.  Typical keys are <DEL>, <F1>, <F2>, <F9>, <F10>, and <F12>.

During the POST, but before the BIOS boots the OS, it might also allow "add-on" ROMs to present POST options.  This allows you to configure any add-on cards/adapters that needs pre-OS configuration.  This is most often used by hard drive controllers (SCSI, RAID, etc) to allow you to configure hard drive options, create/delete RAID volumes, etc.  These add-ons usually use a control-key combination such as CTRL-A, CTRL-I, and CTRL-S.

After the POST (and add-ons) is finished, the BIOS boots the OS and the OS might present it's startup options.  In the case of Win2K/XP/Vista, you press <F8> at this time to bring up the Advanced boot options (which includes Safe mode).  In older versions of Windows (and DOS), <F5> would start Safe mode and <F8> would bring up the Windows startup menu.

Now, something to remember...since different "things" (BIOS, add-on BIOS, OS) handle each keypress, pressing the right key at the right time is CRITICAL.  If you want to start Win2K/XP/Vista in Safe mode, then you need to make sure that <F8> is pressed *AFTER* the BIOS (and add-on BIOS) has finished and the OS is booting.  If you want to configure that RAID array, you need to press <CTRL>-<whatever> once the RAID BIOS presents the option.

Again, timing is absolutely critical.  On many systems, the BIOS generates a single "beep" through the PC speaker (not your soundcard speaker(s)) when it starts to boot the OS - this is a hold-over from the old IBM PC days (remember "errng errng BEEP! errng"?).  On these systems, once you hear the beep, the OS starts to boot - this is the time to press <F8>.  Another way is watching the startup screens - the BIOS POST screen often clears or shows the Interrupt list just before it boots the OS.

Yes, repeatitly tapping F8 at boot often brings up the Windows boot menu - however, this sometimes doesn't work as some systems clear the keyboard buffer after POST.  And, since you're pressing a key during the POST, the system thinks there's a keyboard error and disables keyboard entry until the OS has loaded - this will prevent Windows from picking up the <F8>.

And, here's a list of BIOS startup keys for various systems:

<DEL> - "generic" AMI and Award BIOS setup
<F2> - Dell BIOS Setup
<F9> - Compaq boot device selection
<F10> - Compaq BIOS Setup
<F12> - Dell boot device selection
<F12> - Compaq Network boot
<CTRL>-S - Phoenix BIOS Setup

These are common, but may not apply to all systems - check your computer/systemboard manual for specific keystrokes (or watch the POST screen).

73,

  - Aaron, NN6O


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Sent: Saturday, October 18, 2008 8:26 PM
Subject: Re: [Ham-Computers] Booting into safe mode


On three machines (system boards) here with ages spanning about 8 years, F2 is Setup.  On XP Pro F10 is Boot Menu (and nothing on the others).  Which means boot source, not type.  But as an add-on to one of my previous posts, that is apparently a way to boot from CD if the boot order in BIOS is not set to check CD before HD.  On NT, W2K and XP Pro machines F8 is Safe (among other things).  But on the latter that information is never displayed.  You have to already know what it is and start tapping the key at about 1 TPS as soon as the screen turns from black to showing activity.

In a message dated 10/18/2008 10:01:45 PM Central Daylight Time, johngadd at comcast.net writes: 


	On very early part of boot BEFORE the Windows lego appears Start rapidly pounding the F2 Or it could be the F8 key or the F-10 key or the F12 key Try them one at a time. Will take a cold boot from each one until you find the key that your machine uses. 
	
	
	

		-------------- Original message -------------- 
		From: Gareth <gareth at capecod.net> 
		
		>Brian K. Gaskamp wrote: 
		>>Wished that helped still won't boot into safe mode! 
		>>
		>>
		>>
		>>
		>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Dan Violette" 
		>>To: "'Computers (or other) used for amateur radio, communications, or 
		>>experimenting'" 
		>>Sent: Friday, October 17, 2008 7:56 PM 
		>>Subject: RE: [Ham-Computers] Booting into safe mode 
		>>
		>>
		>>
		>Some boards are finicky. Try rapidly tapping F8 during the entire boot 
		>up. Like you were sending the letter i at about 15wpm. Sometimes this 
		>will work. 
		>
		>N1MSV gary 
		




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