Starting your computer in Windows in - XP/98SE/2000/Vista-Safe Mode can help you diagnose and solve many serious problems, especially when starting normally is not possible.

To begin entering Windows XP (et al) in Safe Mode, (remove all floppy disks and CDs from your computer) turn your PC on or restart it. Just before the Windows XP splash screen shown below appears, press the F8 (repeatedly) key to enter the Windows Safe Mode

If you have this screen first then you "did not" press F8 early enough! The first screen you should see is this one below.


Firstly try "Last known Good Configuration" and if all's OK then breath a sigh of relief and do those backups / file saves that you've been meaning to

and kept putting off.
If sadly the system still won't start, restart in the safe mode and select "safe mode". If it then boots this screen will appear so you can confirm that you really wanted to do this.


From here you may chose to "uninstall" a recent program you feel may have caused this problem or
iniciate a "system restore" If after trying all that
or your getting a message that "the hive" is corrupt your going to have to talk to me.