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boots into safe mode only

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17 replies

by seadogs

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A friend of mine was logging onto their mindspring email through ie on their home windows 98 pc. In the process a couple of pop up boxes came up saying that win98 updates had been found and did she want to install them. She answered no to these, acouple of other boxes popped up which she tried to cancel out of, and then the pc froze. When she boots up now it automatically goes into safe mode. Any ideas on how to undo any damage that was done? Thanks!

17 replies

by syscokid

Check this article regarding the MSDOS.SYS file:

support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;q118579

Make sure it does not have a line that says

BootSafe=1
If it does, change it to

BootSafe=0

The file is system, hidden, so remove those attributes before editing in Notepad. Then add them back when done.

by nomac

When your computer first starts up hold the F8 key. This allows for you decide whether you want to start in safe mode or boot normally. When you get this screen, try to boot normally.

by opatzg9

addendum for sysco kids, to change the file attributes go to a command prompt (MSDOS)
type
attrib msdos.sys -r -h -s
then edit the file with notepad or the dos editor
then
attrib msdos.sys +r +h +s
to set the attributes back
good luck

by an_it_guy

Maybe this can help. Boot into the OS with the safe mode. Go to the command-prompt. Type 'msconfig' . It should open a utility where in you have a tab that shows all the applications that start along with the OS. deselect all and restart. Then try enabling one at a time to pinpoint the problem.
Heres a link that shows how to use msconfig:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;q281965

Remove any spaces in the above link if any.Hope this helps.
Cheers.

by fredc1950

Any chance there might be the klez virus in there.Run a virus scran if you can then run SFC and see if you have any corrupted files.Im looking at the date and it seems to me around the 17th I know that alot of people got it .Seems to hit the anti virus programs.

by sharon

Don't restart the pc. You need to choose Shut down, and let the pc shut down and stay powered off for at least 10 seconds or so... then boot it up. If it still goes into safe mode, then I would try some of the other suggestions such as running msconfig and removing some of the programs that load at start up.

by zlitocook

After you try the other things try going to start, run type in sfc this will look at the files on your computer and compair them to the files that were installed first. Did you try putting in the Win98 cd and let it reinstall?

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