help with getting into safe mode

[2dmommy]

I apologize if i am asking a question that you get asked all the time.

But when i read through here and google my problem isn't quite addressed.

Basically last night I shut teh computer down as normal.

This morning when i turned it on it stops and says:

Press DEL to enter setup, Alt-F2 to enter EZ Flst

However nothing works.  We tested teh keyboard which seems to be working.

One site said to press F8 instead which i tried and then it said press DEL or ESC to skip memory test.  But then did nothing, when i turned it off it went bck to saying teh alt F2 thing.

I have some very important files on there that i need back.  I am currently on the laptop.

The desktop has windows XP professional on it.

[2dmommy]

does anyone know what i can do?? please help, i desperately nee dto get those files

[Geek-9pm]

Well, here is what I would do. Get one of those nifty adapters that can hoop any kind of HDD up to a USB port. Then take the HDD out of your big computer, put it into the USB gadget and then power up you laptop and it should find the HDD as a USB storage device.

Search Google for
USB HDD adapter
Make sure to get one with an AC poser adapter, the  laptop may not have enough power for the standard HDD. Expect to pay $20 to $40 for a good one.

Then you can get to your files.
If you are 'Jack' and the USB drive is E: then your files are in:

Code: [Select]

E:\Documents and Settings\Jack\My Documents

For me, that is the easy way.
I am better with a screwdriver that with software.
At least I think I am!

The other way is to boot your Desktop with Ubuntu...
 and use a cross over cable...
Na, I don't want to explain that. Too much mental work.

 Find a screwdriver.

[ziggy]

Try when booting, keep hitting the F8 key (hope that is the one for your computer) until you get the screen with the choice how to boot.  Don't worry about skipping the memory test.

[spacecat9]

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/download.html

this is a dos bootable cd for free you can boot of it and copy your files to a flash drive. i think it has a gui so you dont have to use dos commands.