Anilrgowda

Question: (1) Does Vista support Safe mode (a diagnostic mode that will boot and work even when problems occur in normal mode boot because Safe mode uses fewer features)

Please note that per the following link John Barnett's Windows Vista Support: Windows Vista Repair Options (whose reliability I can NOT vouch for), pressing F8 at boot gets you to the Vista Recovery Options menu on PCs with pre-installed Vista OS's (i.e from Dell, HP and so on).

Well F8 under Win XP (and earlier OS's) got you to Safe Mode !! That it does not do this under Vista suggests to me that Vista has got rid of Safe Mode !! WHICH IS VERY BAD FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME THAT FIX PCs FOR A LIVING.

PCs badly infected with virus's or spyware will often have no or very limited internet access or other basic functionality. But, bingo, I boot to Safe Mode and EVERYTHING WORKS !!! Which is very useful in getting rid of the secuirty threats or other problems. An example is that most Spyware/Virus Scanner-Removers need to be updated to get the program and threat definitions issued since the product was released. And without internet access, you can not get these updates; SAFE MODE SOLVES THIS PROBLEM !!

So again, is there an equivalent to Safe Mode under Vista AND what F key do I press (other other way) to get to Safe mode (or equivalent).

(2) Does Vista require Activation?

Anilrgowda

I take my first statement back. By doing a search at the site, I came upon this web page:

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...ef5a71033.mspx
Windows Vista Help: Advanced startup options (including safe mode)