How to get access to real mode or safe mode

I was removing things in the Add/Remove section of the control panel and by doing so made my computer unusable.

when I turn on my computer I get my background in real mode, but immediately a message pops up and it says:

Error Start Program

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSVCRT.DLL, was not found.

after that pops up another thing pops up which says:

Error loading explorer.exe

You must reinstall windows.

I went out yesterday and bought windows XP Full version -not an upgrade.

I want to install it, but can't.

I cannot do real mode because I get those pop ups and then the computer freezes and the same thing happens in safe mode.

the only thing that I can get is command prompt only-at the start up screen when I hold down ctrl when turning on the computer.

At command prompt only I typed D:\setup.exe

What it said was:

Invalid drive specification.

It does access the floppy drive though when I do A:\setup.exe

this doesn't help me though because I didn't create a start up disk.

I did download boot software on to a boot disk from bootdisk's site but it did not work. I had the disk in the computer in the disk drive and turned on the computer and it said:

Non-system disk or disk error replace and strike any key when ready.

I tried doing command prompt only and accessing the disk by typing a:\start windows with cd-rom support and it said:

This program cannot be run in dos mode.

Can’t get bios screen to switch cd-rom to first drive and if I did would it say cannot install windows xp in command prompt only mode?

Immediately when I turn on the computer it flashes the biostar logo screen and then windows 98 logo screen then AVG virus scan then windows 98 logo screen again then real mode starts and then those two error messages pop up and then the computer freezes.

Keep in mid all I wan to do is install windows XP, but do not have access to real mode or safe mode.

Any suggestions will help. Please be as detailed as possible though, for I have no computer knowledge or experience.

This question was answered on December 29, 2004. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.

---

As soon as you turn the pc on hit the Delete key (or maybe Insert, F4, or Esc) -

one of those should get you into the BIOS .Change first boot device from floppy to CD and save settings [after windows is completely installed and working properly go back to BIOS and reset to boot from floppy].

Put windows xp cd in and reboot the cd and it should start automatically and then you should have Setup format to your hard drive ushing NTFS (!! this will erase everything on your hard drive!!)

Here is a step by step guide: http://www.winsupersite.com/showcas...xp_sg_clean.asp

I hope that helps.

About the author

Posted by Michael of Katharine Gibbs School - New York on December 29, 2004

Need Help with this Issue?

We help people with technology! It's what we do.
Contact or Schedule an Appointment with a location for help!