when I try to boot into safe mode with XP i can’t!
I restart.. press F8 every second or less but still it boots up into Windows. The only way i can force my way into command prompt boot up is go into msconfig and the rest.
But the simple straight way.. booting up.. pressing F8 does nothing!! why??
Re: So why is it that....
hmm... is your F8 key itself working fine? I guess there are some software that help you ckeck whether all your keyboard keys are working or not. Try to figure out that first.
ps. I have used one such software but don't know, right now, if any free software is available. Search in the google.
Re: So why is it that…
ok, i found one such software here:
http://www.passmark.com/products/keytest.htm
ps. Don’t know whether it is trusted (i.e. without any malware/spyware - always doubt any freeware as a best practice). Scan it before installing.
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Or other way i’d do this primary check by using other keyboard whose F8 key is working properly. Try that if you have any other keyboard.
Re: So why is it that....
You might be pressing the F8 key too late.
Re: So why is it that....
i know some motherboards (like Asus) use f8 to load temporary boot device. you should wait till the after the IRQ listing and then press f8.
see if that work for u.
Re: So why is it that....
The F8 key does work.. i use it all the time for Photoshop actions i've assigned to the key.
As soon as the initial bios display scrolls past, i start pressing the key.. like once every second .. and I remember it didn't use to be this way.. i didn't have to pay attention to the frequency or duration of my keypresses like this.. it was just press F8 after bios displays scroll through and u get the menu.. now its almost like it's ignoring my keypresses and boots directly into XP!
Re: So why is it that....
Try to repair XP by booting through CD, might work.
Re: So why is it that....
You might have played with one of the registry editors or XP tuners utility recently and may accidently have reduced the wait time for the F8 key by innocently assuming that you are making your system faster.
Re: So why is it that…
I came across a similar problem at me friend’s place. The thing was that my friend had an overly-complicated multimedia keyboard for which the “Function” keys would only work when turned on using a toggle button. 
KISS it, is all I can say!
Re: So why is it that…
thanks everyone.. WitchDr was close 
..it’s fixed now.. or so I think.. at least it let me in there last night and i was able to tackle a lot of those ‘locked’ files i can’t clean when in windows.
Re: So why is it that....
it's good that your problem has been fixed...:)
