this may sound really stupid but how do i get XP Pro into safe mode? i thought it was F8 but it doesn't seem to do anything. any help would be nice!

F8 is the right key. You need to press it at the right time between the BIOS test and when Windows begins to boot. On faster systems you only have like a 2 second window to hit the key before Windows begins to load....

The technique for forcing Windows XP into Safe mode is, as you've noticed, not the same as for Windows 9x. From the Start menu's Run dialog, enter the command MSConfig. Click on the BOOT.INI tab and check the /SAFEBOOT box. Now when you boot, Windows will go into Safe mode. Naturally, when you no longer need Safe mode, you'll repeat the process and uncheck that box. note: Don't experiment with the other settings on this tab. You could wind up unable to get back into MSConfig to undo your changes HTH If you need a simple solution, try mine. I try to give advise on things that have happened to my PC. Changes in registry can be FATAL! Glad to have a chance to help you.

thanks a lot, i use the old fashioned 'keep hitting F8 on startup' method! working nicely! thanks again!