BleepingComputer.com: Keyboard Error When Pressing Ctrl To Enter Safemode

Hello all.
First a brief background before the real issue I just purchased a brand new DELL Inspiron I530 to finally replace my antiquated DELL 700 MHZ with Millenium Edition OS. I am keeping the old DELL for my kids to learn off of. I want to defrag and wipe out the hard drive and restore the computer back to the way it was 7 years ago.

I'm trying to get to SAFE MODE. After booting up, I hold down the CTRL key waiting for the menu to appear to allow me to select SAFE MODE. Instead, I get a message that says "keyboard error". So I do CTRL/ALT/DEL and try it again...and again. I've also tried holding down the F8 key instead, but still get the same error message. If I don't hold down the key the whole time, or if I try rapidly pushing it, it will not give the message. Instead, it will bypass the option for SAFE MODE and proceed to fully boot.

Any ideas/suggestions?

This post has been edited by garmanma: 30 July 2008 - 06:58 PM

Don't hold the F8 key down, just keep tapping it just as soon as the first screen loads. It can be tricky sometimes. You have to catch it just right

Tapping the F8 key seems to have no effect and it still boots up. I'll keep trying. In the past I could always hold down the CTRL key right after powering on and then the menu to allow safe mode would pop up. But now it just says keyboard error.

You are correct, it is the control key
http://www.md4pc.com/



Try the second methed for ME here
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/

This post has been edited by garmanma: 31 July 2008 - 11:05 AM