Like the post above, I recently received a new Vostro 430 desktop system with the Windows XP Pro 'Downgrade' option.  It comes with Win XP loaded and a Win 7 DVD I can use when I'm ready to upgrade the OS.  It mostly works just fine, but I discovered that if I try to use F8 when the system starts to access the 'Advanced Boot Manager' screen with the usual choices of Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, Safe Mode Command Prompt, etc., instead of the 'Advanced Boot Manager' screen, I get a 'Windows Boot Manager' screen with only one option, start XP in normal mode.  F8 and/or other Fx keys do nothing.  Arrow keys do nothing.  'Windows XP SP3 Professional' is highlighted/selected, but cannot be changed.  The screen looks sort of like this:

                          Windows Boot Manager

Choose an operating system to start:
(Use the arrow keys to highlight your choice, then press ENTER.)

   [  Windows XP SP3 Professional          ]

ENTER=Choose                                                       ESC=Exit

ENTER starts XP in Normal Mode.  ESC reboots the system.

I can force a Safe Mode start by using MSCONFIG and selecting Diagnostic Startup, but that doesn't do any good if, say, the system BSODs at startup some day.  This is not a show-stopper; I'll just need to insure I have a good, full-disk backup all the time.

So I opened up a Tech Support chat line yesterday to see if there was another way to get into Safe Mode at startup if I should need it.  The tech I chatted with said my issue was "pure software-related" and that I'd need to contact Dell's Advance Software Solution Support via phone and that "they will be the one to provide with the price for the service before they will provide support!"  Hunh?  What happened to my warranty?  Maybe I'll try another tech some day...

Since there's a hidden Boot folder in the root of C: (like Vista uses?), I'm guessing this anomoly is due to the XP Downgrade. In the mean time, do any of you wizards out there have any thoughts on this?

Windows XP

If Windows XP is the only operating system installed on your computer, booting into Safe Mode with these instructions.

    * If the computer is running, shut down Windows, and then turn off the power

    * Wait 30 seconds, and then turn the computer on.

    * Start tapping the F8 key. The Windows Advanced Options Menu appears. If you begin tapping the F8 key too soon, some computers display a "keyboard error" message. To resolve this, restart the computer and try again.

    * Ensure that the Safe mode option is selected.

    * Press Enter. The computer then begins to start in Safe mode.

    * When you are finished with all troubleshooting, close all programs and restart the computer as you normally would.

To use the System Configuration Utility method

    * Close all open programs.

    * Click Start, Run and type MSCONFIG in the box and click OK

    * The System Configuration Utility appears, On the BOOT.INI tab, Check the "/SAFEBOOT" option, and then click OK and Restart your computer when prompted.

    * The computer restarts in Safe mode.

    * Perform the troubleshooting steps for which you are using Safe Mode.

      When you are finished with troubleshooting in Safe mode, open MSCONFIG again, on the BOOT.INI tab,  uncheck "/SAFEBOOT" and click OK to restart your computer

Note:  When done, you must uncheck “SAFEBOOT”  or you will continue to

start in Safemode.

Uhhhh, the OP said F8 isn't working for him......................

Jeff :emotion-22:

Your post was nicley done however!

1. can't find how to post new question

2. poxy Dell ONLY boots into safe mode. how do i fix it?

f8 doesn't do naything on a Dell - faaantastico