Jump to content

Welcome to Geeks to Go - Register now for FREE

Need help with your computer or device? Want to learn new tech skills? You're in the right place!
Geeks to Go is a friendly community of tech experts who can solve any problem you have. Just create a free account and post your question. Our volunteers will reply quickly and guide you through the steps. Don't let tech troubles stop you. Join Geeks to Go now and get the support you need!

How it Works Create Account
Photo

Windows Safe Mode Alternate Shell


  • Please log in to reply

#1
nadesico

nadesico

    Member

  • Member
  • PipPip
  • 11 posts
So my computer has been struck with a series of nasty viruses that AVG, Nod32, Etc have all failed to delete. So I wanted to go into safe mode/diagnostic mode and delete the files manually. I misclicked safe mode alternate shell and am now stuck in a DOS screen. I've tried typing exit, win.com, all the usual stuff. How do I get back into normal windows?
  • 0

Advertisements


#2
Retired Tech

Retired Tech

    Retired Staff

  • Retired Staff
  • 20,563 posts
Press and hold the power button until the PC goes off, press the power button
  • 0

#3
nadesico

nadesico

    Member

  • Topic Starter
  • Member
  • PipPip
  • 11 posts
it doesnt work. Now even when I control alt delete and f8 .. and click turn windows back normally it loops back into safe mode cmd.exe alternate shell.
  • 0

#4
nadesico

nadesico

    Member

  • Topic Starter
  • Member
  • PipPip
  • 11 posts
windows has also failed to restart.. don't know what is the problem. Basically the safe mode alternate shell cannot be exited by f8 method or turning off the comp.
  • 0

#5
nadesico

nadesico

    Member

  • Topic Starter
  • Member
  • PipPip
  • 11 posts
the msdos screen for cmd.exe says C:\Documents and Settings\My Name> if that helps
  • 0

#6
Retired Tech

Retired Tech

    Retired Staff

  • Retired Staff
  • 20,563 posts
Try the first part, if it still won't load, try the second part

Items in blue which are underlined are clickable to give more information about the process

Start the System Restore Utility at a command prompt

1. Restart your computer, and keep tapping F8 during the initial start-up until you get options, select Safe Mode with a Command Prompt then press enter.

2. Log on to your computer with an administrator account or with an account that has administrator credentials.

3. Type the following command at a command prompt, and then press ENTER:

%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe

4. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen to restore your computer to an earlier state.

Look for the most recent system checkpoint created before the errors to restore from

For additional information about the Safe mode with a command prompt, click 315222 to see a description of the Safe Mode Boot Options in Windows XP


You can use this guide to repair XP

Possibly, you will need to press the power button and keep tapping the delete key, (possibly F2) until the PC enters set up. Change the boot order to CD ROM Drive then hard drive, press F10 then press enter, load the XP CD then type Y then press enter, as it reboots, look for press any key to load from CD, press enter

You will need your XP product key to complete this

The XP Product Key is a 25 character alpha numerical code, which does not include the sequence OEM


If you have audio / video files which are subject to DRM you should check with the provider for known issues with performing an XP repair install

Click this to view the XP Repair Install Guide

Windows XP repair feature won't delete your data, installed programs, personal information, or settings. It just repairs the operating system

The XP repair install will look and run as a normal install, however, you must not see a request to format the drive


After running XP Repair you will need to install all Windows Updates

Microsoft Update
  • 0

#7
nadesico

nadesico

    Member

  • Topic Starter
  • Member
  • PipPip
  • 11 posts
I tried the first method, did not work. It still loops back to the alternate shell DOS screen.

I cannot do the second method because my laptop did not come with a windows XP cd OR backup cd's.

Anything left I could do?
  • 0

#8
nadesico

nadesico

    Member

  • Topic Starter
  • Member
  • PipPip
  • 11 posts
Anything?
  • 0

#9
Retired Tech

Retired Tech

    Retired Staff

  • Retired Staff
  • 20,563 posts
Are you able to borrow a same version XP CD
  • 0

#10
nadesico

nadesico

    Member

  • Topic Starter
  • Member
  • PipPip
  • 11 posts
I am going to get my friend's xp CD today. Hers is the very original SP1 CD though, so ?
  • 0

#11
Retired Tech

Retired Tech

    Retired Staff

  • Retired Staff
  • 20,563 posts
Run the repair with it, use your product key, not the one from the borrowed CD
  • 0

#12
nadesico

nadesico

    Member

  • Topic Starter
  • Member
  • PipPip
  • 11 posts
I tried the second method, and it lists 2 paritions
The first one cannot be acessed.
The second parition is c:\ .. but it does not list windows XP or anything
There is also no REPAIR option, it says to install new windows, and that windows already exists so it may be unstable, etc.

I have followed all the steps before this to the latter though, the boot from disc, then pressing any key to get to the screen, choosing set up windows, then f8, but there is no repair option after that. There is only DEL, Install, or Exit. What do I do now?
  • 0

#13
nadesico

nadesico

    Member

  • Topic Starter
  • Member
  • PipPip
  • 11 posts
The two options are

-:Parition1 <EISA Utilities> 5000 MB
C:Parition2 <NTFS> 71000 MB

There is only ENTER to install, DEL to delete parition, or f3 to exit. There is no repair option.
  • 0

#14
nadesico

nadesico

    Member

  • Topic Starter
  • Member
  • PipPip
  • 11 posts
If there is no other way, is there any1 that could tell me how to reformat?
  • 0






Similar Topics

0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users

As Featured On:

Microsoft Yahoo BBC MSN PC Magazine Washington Post HP