trying to switch from safe mode to normal in windows XP using msconfig but won't allow because it says I need to log in as administrator. I AM logged on as administrator.

Hi,

Warning:
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No matter how the Support Engineer ideas work out, this is risky behavior.

There is certain malicious software that if you use msconfig to enable Safe Mode, you will never boot again into any mode (because the malicious software thinks you are trying to find and remove it).

You can fix it, but unless you are planning on running in Safe Mode alot, I would get into Safe Mode from the F8 Advanced Boot Options Menu.

Since the Microsoft Answers forum implementation does not prompt for any kind of system information when a new question is asked, we know absolutely nothing about your system.  Not knowing fundamental information about a problem prolongs the frustration and agony of resolving these issues.

Thank you MS Answers, for making the resolution of simple problems as frustrating and time consuming as possible.

Please provide additional information about your system as best you can:

What is your system make and model?

What is your XP Version and Service Pack?

Describe your current antivirus and anti malware situation:  McAfee, Symantec, Norton, Spybot, AVG, Avira!, MSE, Panda, Trend Micro, CA, Defender, ZoneAlarm, PC Tools, Comodo, etc.

Does the afflicted system have a working CD/DVD drive (internal or external)?

Do you have a genuine bootable XP installation CD that is the same Service Pack as your installed Service Pack (this is not the same as any Recovery CDs that came with your system)?

If the system used to work properly, what do you think might have changed since the last time it did work properly?

No matter how the Support Engineer ideas work out, this is risky behavior.

There is certain malicious software that if you use msconfig to enable Safe Mode, you will never boot again into any mode (because the malicious software thinks you are trying to find and remove it).

You can fix it, but unless you are planning on running in Safe Mode alot, I would get into Safe Mode from the F8 Advanced Boot Options Menu.

Since the Microsoft Answers forum implementation does not prompt for any kind of system information when a new question is asked, we know absolutely nothing about your system.  Not knowing fundamental information about a problem prolongs the frustration and agony of resolving these issues.

Thank you MS Answers, for making the resolution of simple problems as frustrating and time consuming as possible.

Please provide additional information about your system as best you can:

What is your system make and model?

What is your XP Version and Service Pack?

Describe your current antivirus and anti malware situation:  McAfee, Symantec, Norton, Spybot, AVG, Avira!, MSE, Panda, Trend Micro, CA, Defender, ZoneAlarm, PC Tools, Comodo, etc.

Does the afflicted system have a working CD/DVD drive (internal or external)?

Do you have a genuine bootable XP installation CD that is the same Service Pack as your installed Service Pack (this is not the same as any Recovery CDs that came with your system)?

If the system used to work properly, what do you think might have changed since the last time it did work properly?

I am using XP 2002 service pack 3.

I have Norton suite thru comcast.

No bootable CD

I recently got Paretologic Regpro.

Error message "failed to launch ieframe.dll"

when opening web browser

Tried to do system restore but only 1 restore point is available and that was post safe mode.

I can't understand how it allowed me to go into safe mode but won't let me go back to normal mode.

Is this the message you see:

 

"An Access Denied error was returned while attempting to change a service. You may need to log on using an Administrator account to make the specified changes"

 

If so, I'll wager you have an HP printer since there is an HP PML driver that produces this nuissance effect. It is only a nuissance, and you should still be able to make your msconfig changes, and they should stick. However, if it's really bugging you, you may want to look at this:

 

http://www.pchell.com/support/msconfig_access_denied_error.shtml

If Daavee is not right, then I suspect that Norton is preventing you from making these adjustments.  Norton is protecting your system.

If you made the change to go into Safe Mode in msconfig and then you can't get back, you can edit your c:\boot.ini file and remove the /safeboot:minimal switch.

Look for a line like this:

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect /safeboot:minimal

and make it look like this:

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

You can get their by right clicking My Computer, Properties, Advanced, Startup and Recovery, Settings, Edit (this opens Notepad on your boot.ini file), make the adjustment to remove the /safeboot:minimal parameter, File, Save.

Is this the message you see:

 

"An Access Denied error was returned while attempting to change a service. You may need to log on using an Administrator account to make the specified changes"

 

If so, I'll wager you have an HP printer since there is an HP PML driver that produces this nuissance effect. It is only a nuissance, and you should still be able to make your msconfig changes, and they should stick. However, if it's really bugging you, you may want to look at this:

 

http://www.pchell.com/support/msconfig_access_denied_error.shtml

no printer involved but thanks anyway.

Is this the message you see:

 

"An Access Denied error was returned while attempting to change a service. You may need to log on using an Administrator account to make the specified changes"

 

If so, I'll wager you have an HP printer since there is an HP PML driver that produces this nuissance effect. It is only a nuissance, and you should still be able to make your msconfig changes, and they should stick. However, if it's really bugging you, you may want to look at this:

 

http://www.pchell.com/support/msconfig_access_denied_error.shtml

no printer involved but thanks anyway.

It already says that ... thanks for the help  tho.

That is the message.

Norton was disabled.