What Are the Advantages of Troubleshooting Windows XP Startup Problems in Safe Mode?
Startup problems are common for any Windows XP user. As you add programs to your computer, some of these inevitably work into the system startup, causing your computer to run slower. If a program in the startup group crashes when it loads, Windows might not load properly. Windows XP's built-in diagnostic mode, Safe Mode, is a stripped-down version of Windows that is useful when troubleshooting startup issues.
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What is Safe Mode?
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Safe Mode is Windows XP without zest. When you boot into Safe Mode, you tell Windows not to load drivers or startup group programs, which is why Safe Mode looks so barren and strange. The video driver isn't loaded, so Windows doesn't know how to project your desktop and the result is huge icons and less colors. To access Safe Mode, repeatedly tap the "F8" key when the computer starts up, before Windows XP loads, to open the Windows Advanced Startup Menu. Highlight "Safe Mode" and press "Enter."
Drivers
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When Windows XP loads normally, it opens a specific piece of software called a driver for each piece of hardware in your system. In Safe Mode, Windows loads basic drivers for essentials, like your input devices and chipset, but doesn't load an advanced video, sound or network driver or any drivers for your peripherals, like a printer or webcam. This simplifies the Windows startup considerably, and illuminates any drivers that may be causing startup problems. If Windows is loading in Safe Mode but not normally, you have identified a driver as a possible problem -- though other programs cause boot issues as well.
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Startup Group
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Certain programs are configured to load when Windows starts up. These programs are sometimes shown in your system tray, beside the clock, but not always; sometimes a program runs in the background but doesn't show you that it is running. This enables you to launch programs like iTunes or Media Player more quickly, but poses problems as well. If a background program that loads at startup is crashing, Windows won't load correctly, or sometimes at all. In Safe Mode, Windows doesn't load any of these startup programs. Again, if Safe Mode loads correctly, you've identified a possible source of your startup problems.
Checking Startup Programs
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Open the Microsoft System Configuration Utility from Safe Mode to check and modify your startup group. Click "Start," "Run" and then type "msconfig" and press "Enter." Click on the "Startup" tab to see a list of programs that load every time Windows XP loads. When Windows tries to load normally, one of these programs can get in the way, crash, and stop Windows from opening. Uncheck everything in the list. This doesn't remove programs from your computer, it simply stops them from trying to start when Windows starts. In Safe Mode, there is no chance of the program running while you try to turn it off, and you can reboot quickly and easily. Press "OK" to save your changes, then reboot when prompted. If Windows doesn't load normally the next time, you know that your problem is more than a startup program and you can troubleshoot drivers.
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