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33015
September 9th, 2008 22:00
F8 at boot will not work
Here is my sad story. I have a dimension 8300 that was running ok. The auto patch in xp installed service pack 3. After running for hours the install did not complete. Talked with MS support and was told to kiil the update and the plan was to come up in safe mode and remove sp3.
The problem is that when the dell tries to boot I get the dell splash screen and try to select F8 to go into safe mode. Selecting the F8 does not enter the safe mode form it just goes to a blank screen. Have tried over and over.
F2 and F12 work fine so don't think it is the keyboard. But still tried three keyboards same results. Have tried a PS/2 keyboard and usb and a usb wireless keyboard.
fireberd
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September 10th, 2008 09:00
It sounds like the entire Operating System is corrupted. I assume it will not load Windows normally either because of the corrupted update. Do you get anything if you do not use the F8? Do you get any options such as "last known good configuration" or something similar? If not, you will at a minimum have to boot with the Windows XP CD and do a Repair operation with the XP installation CD and ultimately you may have to completely reinstall.
Grantman999
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September 10th, 2008 15:00
Larry R
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September 10th, 2008 15:00
Are you hitting F8 at the correct time?
F2 and F12 need to be pressed while the Dell splash screen is being displayed, just after powering on the computer. To get to the Windows start up options, however, you need to press the F8 key after the Dell splash screen, but before you get the "Windows is starting" message.
fireberd
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September 10th, 2008 16:00
You didn't mention you had talked to Dell support before, just MS (Microsoft).
If Dell support thinks it's a motherboard problem are they going to replace it? and if they are, no use doing anything else or trying to troubleshoot anything else until the motherboard is replaced.
Grantman999
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September 10th, 2008 17:00
I worked with dell last night after no solution since Sunday. No replacement since old computer. Believe
me I have been trying everything and no luck. So have to take next step.
fireberd
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September 11th, 2008 10:00
Can you boot with the Dell Windows XP CD? If you can, that would also suggest Windows XP is corrupted with the failed SP3 install.
There is a "Recovery Console" procedure HERE and you can try that. If that doesn't work a Repair would be my next suggestion. How to run Repair