Start Windows in Safe Mode Many times in order to remove a piece of spyware or for troubleshooting and diagnostic purposes, you'll have to start Windows in Safe Mode. While in Safe Mode, only specific programs and files needed to run the operating system are loaded. Some functions, such as connecting to the Internet, will not be active in Safe Mode and a standard video driver will be loaded causing a washed out look and a possible change in resolution.
However, because just the essential programs and files are loaded in Safe Mode, this allows us to remove some spyware, adware, viruses and such that cannot be removed in Normal Mode. Follow the instructions below to Start Safe Mode for your specific version of Windows.
Windows 95
* Restart the computer. * Just after the POST diagnostics and memory count, start pressing the F8 key * On the Startup Menu, choose Safe Mode
Windows 98/Me
* Restart the computer. * Just after the POST diagnostics and memory count, start pressing the F8 key * On the Startup Menu, choose Safe Mode
or you may use the System Configuration Utility Method.
* While in Normal mode, Close all programs. * Click Start, Run and type MSCONFIG in the box and click OK * In the System Configuration Utility, on the General Tab, click the Advanced Button * In the Advanced Troubleshooting Settings dialog box, check Enable Startup Menu. Click OK. Click OK again when the System Configuration Utility reappears. * You will be prompted to restart the computer. Click Yes. The computer will restart in Safe mode. * When you are finished with troubleshooting in Safe mode, open MSCONFIG again and uncheck "Enable Start-up Menu." under the Advanced Menu, then click OK and restart your computer
Windows 2000
* If the computer is running, shut down Windows, and then turn off the power * Wait 30 seconds, and then turn the computer on. * When you see the black-and-white Starting Windows bar at the bottom of the screen, start tapping the F8 key. The Windows 2000 Advanced Options Menu appears. * Ensure that the Safe mode option is selected. In most cases, it is the first item in the list and is selected by default. * Press Enter. The computer then begins to start in Safe mode. * When you are finished with all troubleshooting, close all programs and restart the computer as you normally would.
Windows XP
If Windows XP is the only operating system installed on your computer, booting into Safe Mode with these instructions.
* If the computer is running, shut down Windows, and then turn off the power * Wait 30 seconds, and then turn the computer on. * Start tapping the F8 key. The Windows Advanced Options Menu appears. If you begin tapping the F8 key too soon, some computers display a "keyboard error" message. To resolve this, restart the computer and try again. * Ensure that the Safe mode option is selected. * Press Enter. The computer then begins to start in Safe mode. * When you are finished with all troubleshooting, close all programs and restart the computer as you normally would.
To use the System Configuration Utility method
* Close all open programs. * Click Start, Run and type MSCONFIG in the box and click OK * The System Configuration Utility appears, On the BOOT.INI tab, Check the "/SAFEBOOT" option, and then click OK and Restart your computer when prompted. * The computer restarts in Safe mode. * Perform the troubleshooting steps for which you are using Safe Mode. When you are finished with troubleshooting in Safe mode, open MSCONFIG again, on the BOOT.INI tab, uncheck "/SAFEBOOT" and click OK to restart your computer
Windows as part of a multiboot system
Use this method ONLY if you have multiple operating systems installed on your computer.
* If the computer is running, shut down Windows, and then turn off the power * Wait 30 seconds, and then turn the computer on. * When the Boot loader menu (list of the available operating systems) appears, use the arrow keys on the keyboard to select the version Windows what you want * Press Enter, and then immediately begin tapping the F8 key. The Windows Advanced Options menu appears. * Scroll to and select the Safe mode menu item, and then press Enter.
Fix Problems with Content Advisor Missing Information
Fix Problems with Content Advisor Missing Information In most cases, this problem occurs when the Ratings.pol file is damaged, follow the instructions below to fix this issue.
Quit Internet Explorer
Open My Computer, click on Tools, Folder Options
Click on the View tab and make sure "Show hidden files and folders" is selected, you may also want to uncheck the box next to "Hide extensions for known file types" and click Ok
Double click on Drive C in My Computer
Double click on the Windows folder and then double click on the System folder
Search for the file RATINGS.POL and right click on it and choose Rename. Rename it to RATINGS.OLD
Close out of the open Windows and then reopen Internet Explorer
Click on Tools, Internet Options
Click on the Content tab, then click on Settings
Type in the Supervisor password if necessary and click Ok
Select the Ratings options you would like and click Ok and close out of Internet Explorer
When you reopen Internet Explorer, everything should work.
Remove Content Advisor Password in Internet Explorer
Remove Content Advisor Password in Internet Explorer The following steps will remove any password set in the Internet Explorer Content Advisor and allow you to reset the program to its original state.
Click on Start and choose Run.
Type in RegEdit and select OK.
Now click on the little plus sign to the left of H_KEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
Continue to drill down, always clicking on the plus sign at the left of the named key, through Software, Microsoft, Windows, Current Version and Policies.
Now click on the Ratings folder.
In the right pane of the RegEdit window, you'll see an icon called Key. Click on it and press Delete.
Next, choose Registry and then Exit to exit RegEdit. You've just deleted your original Content Advisor password.
Restart the computer and run Internet Explorer again.
Choose View and then Internet Options (or Options for version 3.x). For IE 5 or greater, Click on Tools, Internet Options.
Click on the Content tab and click on Disable. When asked for a password, don't enter anything; just click on OK. This will disable Content Advisor because there's no longer a password.
