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USING A CD-ROM DRIVE IN SAFE MODE
If you've ever had serious problems with your computer
starting up, then you have undoubtedly seen
"Safe" mode. You get an error message as the
machine boots up and then after you click the button to
continue, your normal Desktop will be shown, but the word
"Safe" will be in each of the four corners of
the screen. You are expected to do whatever is necessary
to correct the startup problem and then re-boot with,
hopefully, the problem corrected.
Unfortunately, what might be needed to correct the
problem could involve re-installing part of Windows,
which may require use of your CD-ROM drive, and in the
normal way of getting to Safe mode this is not allowed.
What to do? If you have "protected" mode CD-ROM
drivers rather than real-mode drivers, you are in luck.
What you need to do is re-boot and hold down the Ctrl key
simultaneously. This will get you to what is called the
Startup Menu. One of the options in the menu is
"Command Prompt Only"; choose this. Now you
will be back under the control of DOS. Don't despair if
you know next to nothing about this ancient precursor of
Windows; all you have to type in at the prompt (which is
usually the ">" sign on the left of a
blinking cursor) is this: WIN /D:M and then you press the
Enter key. Windows now re-starts Safe Mode with the use
of your CD-ROM drivers.
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