How do I get into safe mode on a Dell Inspiron 531. PF 8 doesn't do it?I can only get into Setup with PF2. Otherwise the boot up only goes to the DELL screen and hangs there.

There are several possible causes for this. Laptops are notorious for dust buildup and overheat issues. Take compressed air and blast out the vent areas. If you can push enough air through the vent leading to the CPU cooling fan, that may clear out dust clogging the fan, preventing proper CPU cooling.

The next possible issue is a threat.

Boot into safe mode - keep repeatidly pressing F8 key as soon as you power on - until a menu comes up. Using keyboard up/down arrow, select "Safe Mode" (with networking if available).

Next, install Malwarebytes (free version) and perform a full scan. Also scan using your current antivirus.

hope this helps,

Danny

Hello,

There are a lot of reasons why it's doing like that.

Here's my suggestion, you boot to safe mode and fix from there.

You can try updating the drivers in your computer if you can boot to safe mode. You can use RadarSync to automatically scan and update the drivers.

If you can't boot to safe mode, then you might want to reinstall the operating system then you have to manually install the drivers into it.

David

Try in Safe Mode.
Press F8 as you boot up, when the menu comes up select Safe mode.
Windows will the boot up in standard VGA mode.

You need to go into the Setup Utility or BIOS when the computer boots. You need to enable the computer to boot from the CD drive, and set up boot priority with CD Drive first, then Hard Drive HDD.

Then it will boot the disc.

u can try to look in the controll panel to see if there is a restore button in there insted of using a cd

If it is not getting into Safe Mode means that the HDD is not being read. Either the BIOS settings are wrong (enter BIOS by pressing F2 at boot up and set boot sequence to 1. CD drive and 2. HDD) or the HDD is corrupt. In that case it should have made some attempt at booting. Or it should have at least told you that there is no system on the HDD. So, I feel your best bet would be to enter BIOS and set it to beet from the HDD. Also check is the BIOS is registering the HDD.

try to hit win at keyboard, or ctrl+alt+del, if not working try safe mode(F8) and select recovery

This can usally be sorted by inserting your Dell windows OS restore disc & choosing the repair option.

You might want to try going into setup and setting your boot drive options to DVD drive as your 1st, HD as 2nd and Floppy as 3rd. Put your windows disk in the DVD before boot and run the program from DVD.

Try "Safe Mode" (holding F8 key on boot and selecting "Save Mode"), then run diagnostics and an up to date (virus definitions) Anti-Virus full scan.
If Safe Mode is not accessible then you may want to consider a format and clean install by booting to your Windows (?) CD.