Can not get F8 key to react on startup.

[slate_leeper]

I am trying to get to "last known good configuration." The
instructions for this on the Microsoft website are to hold down the F8
key as the system boots.

Well I have tried this,several times, using two different keyboards.
There is no reaction -- Windows just boots as usual.

Am I doing something wrong?
Is there another way to get to "last known good configuration?"

Any wisdom would be greatly appreciated!

-dan z-




--
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Let the politicians know how you feel.
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Gun control is like trying to reduce drunk driving by making it tougher for sober people to own cars.

 

[philo]

I am trying to get to "last known good configuration." The
instructions for this on the Microsoft website are to hold down the F8
key as the system boots.

Well I have tried this,several times, using two different keyboards.
There is no reaction -- Windows just boots as usual.

Am I doing something wrong?
Is there another way to get to "last known good configuration?"

Any wisdom would be greatly appreciated!

-dan z-

If it's a USB keyboard, try a PS/2 type

 

[GlowingBlueMist]

If it's a USB keyboard, try a PS/2 type

I have similar problems with my USB keyboards but found that if I unplug
the keyboard and plug it back in just after the BIOS splash screen that
the keyboard usually wakes up just in time to work. The trick seems to
be waiting until after the USB port gets powered up but prior to when
windows continues it's own reboot of the system.

If I leave the keyboard plugged in the entire time of the reboot the
keyboard does not become active until Windows turns on it's own USB
drivers rather than when the BIOS is waiting for a USB keyboard input.

It may take a couple of tries to get the timing right on when to plug
the keyboard back in but you should be able to make it work.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

I am trying to get to "last known good configuration." The
instructions for this on the Microsoft website are to hold down the F8
key as the system boots.

Well I have tried this,several times, using two different keyboards.
There is no reaction -- Windows just boots as usual.

Am I doing something wrong?
Is there another way to get to "last known good configuration?"

Any wisdom would be greatly appreciated!

-dan z-

1. You have to press F8 after the BIOS splash screen but *before*
anything from Windows appears.

2. Pressing and holding it has *never* worked for me. What I do is start
pressing it repeatedly, timed as above.

 

[Ken1943]

The only way is to start > run > msconfig to get into safe mode.
My desktops are so fast that it's the only way.

If it's a USB keyboard, try a PS/2 type

KenW

 

[...winston]

"slate_leeper" wrote in message I am trying to get to "last known good configuration." The
instructions for this on the Microsoft website are to hold down the F8
key as the system boots.

Well I have tried this,several times, using two different keyboards.
There is no reaction -- Windows just boots as usual.

Am I doing something wrong?
Is there another way to get to "last known good configuration?"
If your keyboard has an 'F Lock' key ensure it is enabled prior to pressing F8.

--
....winston
msft mvp


Any wisdom would be greatly appreciated!

-dan z-




--
Protect your civil rights!
Let the politicians know how you feel.
Join or donate to the NRA today!
http://membership.nrahq.org/default.asp?campaignid=XR014887

Gun control is like trying to reduce drunk driving by making it tougher for sober people to own cars.

 

[Rob]

The only way is to start > run > msconfig to get into safe mode.
My desktops are so fast that it's the only way.


KenW

Ill agree with that

 

[Stan Brown]

2. Pressing and holding it has *never* worked for me. What I do is start
pressing it repeatedly, timed as above.

I find that also with the "get into BIOS setup" key, which varies
from one computer to another.

I think this makes sense -- the keyboard handler that converts a
held-down key into repeated virtual keypresses probably hasn't been
loaded yet (and might not work for the function keys in any case).
So the key has to transition physically from "not pressed" to
"pressed" during a short period.

 

[Ken1943]

I find that also with the "get into BIOS setup" key, which varies
from one computer to another.

I think this makes sense -- the keyboard handler that converts a
held-down key into repeated virtual keypresses probably hasn't been
loaded yet (and might not work for the function keys in any case).
So the key has to transition physically from "not pressed" to
"pressed" during a short period.

The F8 key gets you into safe mode. It can be done with msconfig. The
only thing is that you have to run msconfig a second time to get back to
a normal boot.


KenW

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

I find that also with the "get into BIOS setup" key, which varies
from one computer to another.

I think this makes sense -- the keyboard handler that converts a
held-down key into repeated virtual keypresses probably hasn't been
loaded yet (and might not work for the function keys in any case).
So the key has to transition physically from "not pressed" to
"pressed" during a short period.

I've rarely had trouble with the F2 or Del key into a BIOS - but rarely
!= never

I often do press it repeatedly, but that seems to be a habit I got from
dealing with F8 for Windows.

 

[slate_leeper]

I am trying to get to "last known good configuration." The
instructions for this on the Microsoft website are to hold down the F8
key as the system boots.

Well I have tried this,several times, using two different keyboards.
There is no reaction -- Windows just boots as usual.

Am I doing something wrong?
Is there another way to get to "last known good configuration?"

Any wisdom would be greatly appreciated!

-dan z-

Your suggestions were good.

Use PS2 keyboard: Actually I had already thought of that. I am using a
Microsoft Multimedia PS/2 keyboard, but through a USB adapter as this
expensive but cheaply built ASUS only has one PS2 connector, and the
trackball was using that. (Would you believe that ASUS does not even
install a case fan in the desktop computer?)

I reconfigured, plugging the keyboard directly into the PS2 port, and
used a USB mouse in Device Manager to scan for new hardware. The
keyboard failed to work,

Because of your kind posts here, I decided that this probably is the
solution to the F8 problem, so I repeated the exercise but rebooted
after plugging in the keyboard. This time the keyboard did work, Not
only that, but all my special key settings for it also work. Only some
did when it was connected through the USB adapter. I am very happy
about this.

Unfortunately, the F8 key still produces no results.

Use msconfig to boot in to safe mode: This does get me into safe mode
just fine. Unfortunately that does not bring up the option for going
into "Last known good configuration."

Oh well.

Do you think a deliberate crash of Windows would cause that menu to
come up on reboot? I'm thinking, exit all programs and then turn off
the power.

-dan z-



--
Protect your civil rights!
Let the politicians know how you feel.
Join or donate to the NRA today!
http://membership.nrahq.org/default.asp?campaignid=XR014887

Gun control is like trying to reduce drunk driving by making it tougher for sober people to own cars.

 

[Dave-UK]

Your suggestions were good.

Use PS2 keyboard: Actually I had already thought of that. I am using a
Microsoft Multimedia PS/2 keyboard, but through a USB adapter as this
expensive but cheaply built ASUS only has one PS2 connector, and the
trackball was using that. (Would you believe that ASUS does not even
install a case fan in the desktop computer?)

I reconfigured, plugging the keyboard directly into the PS2 port, and
used a USB mouse in Device Manager to scan for new hardware. The
keyboard failed to work,

Because of your kind posts here, I decided that this probably is the
solution to the F8 problem, so I repeated the exercise but rebooted
after plugging in the keyboard. This time the keyboard did work, Not
only that, but all my special key settings for it also work. Only some
did when it was connected through the USB adapter. I am very happy
about this.

Unfortunately, the F8 key still produces no results.

Use msconfig to boot in to safe mode: This does get me into safe mode
just fine. Unfortunately that does not bring up the option for going
into "Last known good configuration."

Oh well.

Do you think a deliberate crash of Windows would cause that menu to
come up on reboot? I'm thinking, exit all programs and then turn off
the power.

Don't deliberately crash Windows, you'll only give yourself problems.
Try pressing F5 as it boots up.
When I try F5 first I get a boot menu option to proceed to F8 for more options.

 

[charlie]

If it's a USB keyboard, try a PS/2 type

Some of the the later BIOS versions have a variety of USB support
options that may come into play. I'm still playing with a UEFI BIOS, so
I don't know what the effects of all the USB support options are on it.
The F8 key seems to work on most P/Cs if it's repeatedly pressed.
Such things a legacy support, delayed support, partial support, or
similar options seem to be things in the BIOS settings that may come
into play.

Then again, the problem may be related to a particular USB support chip
set, motherboard, or BIOS revision.

I'm still not happy about the lack of support for power on via a USB
keyboard on many systems. To add insult, P/S-2 keyboards are getting
harder to find

 

[Ken1943]

Don't deliberately crash Windows, you'll only give yourself problems.
Try pressing F5 as it boots up.
When I try F5 first I get a boot menu option to proceed to F8 for more options.


He is correct, using msconfig doesn't do what F8 does. I have to look into this. There must

be an alternate way ?


KenW

 

[Ken1943]

Don't deliberately crash Windows, you'll only give yourself problems.
Try pressing F5 as it boots up.
When I try F5 first I get a boot menu option to proceed to F8 for more options.

Found this which may help. Between bios screen and windows startup press
SPACE BAR and the option to press F8 is there. The only other way is to
modify the boot.ini file and I wouldn't touch that with a ten foot pole.

KenW

 

[Dave-UK]

Found this which may help. Between bios screen and windows startup press
SPACE BAR and the option to press F8 is there. The only other way is to
modify the boot.ini file and I wouldn't touch that with a ten foot pole.

The boot.ini file died with XP, it's not in Windows 7.

 

[Char Jackson]

The boot.ini file died with XP, it's not in Windows 7.

Besides, I wonder what's up with the "I wouldn't touch that" comment. I
wasn't aware that there was anything scary about boot.ini.

 

[Dave-UK]

Besides, I wonder what's up with the "I wouldn't touch that" comment. I
wasn't aware that there was anything scary about boot.ini.

Perhaps he meant the Win7 BCD file .
That is a bit scary!

 

[Ken1943]

Besides, I wonder what's up with the "I wouldn't touch that" comment. I
wasn't aware that there was anything scary about boot.ini.

I screwed it up once. 'gun shy'


KenW

 

[Char Jackson]

I screwed it up once. 'gun shy'

If I never attempted for a second time any of the things that I screwed up
once, life would be dull, indeed. ;-)