Starting In Normal Mode

On the computer...

Published on December 31, 2005 By pseudosoldier In Windows Software

I was cleaning some malware from my laptop, and it was reccomended that I run msconfig to start in Safe Mode in order to remove everything. However, when trying to restart in Normal Mode:

When I click on Normal under the General tab, /SAFEBOOT is automatically selected under the BOOT.INI tab. When I unselect /SAFEBOOT, Selective Start is automatically selected under the General tab... and so forth. It won't allow me to select Normal Start without /SAFEBOOT. I'm not sure how to fix this.

Because I keep starting in Selective Start, I get a popup window that says:

You have used the System Configuration Utility to make changes to the way Windows starts.

The System Configuration Utility is currently in Diagnostic or Selective Startup mode, causing this message to be displayed and the utility to run every time Windows starts.

Choose the Normal Startup mode on the General tab to start Windows normally and undo the changes you made using the Configuration Utility.

[ ] Don't show this message or launch the System Configuration Utility when Windows start

[OK]

Anyway, thought I'd give it a shot and put it up here...

Comments (Page 2)

Corky_O

on Jan 02, 2006

(I still can't change my wallpaper to a file other than those in the base folder, for verification.)

Bizarre.....

Two questions:

1 - do you have anything selected in "msconfig > BOOT.INI tab > Advanced Options? If so, deselect all options > click OK, then Apply > enable all services and startup tab listings > Apply > select Normal > Apply > reboot.

2 - can you right-click an image in My Pictures > select 'Set as Desktop Background' ?

Just a couple thoughts.

P.S. - I read your other thread, and it looks like you have a lot of strange files (spyware, malware?), and various cleaners, anti-spyware programs, etc. - I hope you are able to clean it up, and simplify your system a bit. I run a Firewall, Anti-Virus, and MS Anti-Spyware without any issues, so there must be a basic solution which will work for you somewhere.

Good luck.

pseudosoldier

on Jan 02, 2006

can you right-click an image in My Pictures > select 'Set as Desktop Background' ?

Sadly, no. The Desktop Background thing is really just a symptom of being in Selective Start, I'm certain... there are probably other minor symptoms that I'm just not running into yet.

This is really pushing me closer and closer into a new hard drive or just a new computer. I'd rather wait until after my move, though.

Corky_O

on Jan 02, 2006

A clean install of XP would do the trick in a few hours depending on how much extra software you have installed, and how many files you need to back-up first.

pseudosoldier

on Jan 02, 2006

Clean install of XP is sounding better and better...

greywar

on Jan 12, 2006

This is really pushing me closer and closer into a new hard drive or just a new computer.

yes the clean install is a refreshing change of pace....

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