To boot to Safe Mode with Command Prompt:

1. Restart the computer.

2. After the basic input/output system (BIOS) has finished loading, but before the Windows XP splash screen appears, press the <F8> key.

3. When the Windows Advanced Options menu appears, select Safe Mode with Command Prompt from the menu and then press the <Enter> key.

   	Note:
   	If the Windows Advanced Options menu does not appear, restart the system and try this step again.

    

4. Log into the system as administrator to display the Windows Safe Mode command prompt.

To run System Restore from a command prompt, follow these steps:

1. Turn the computer on.

2. Press the <F8> key when prompted.

3. Use the down arrow key on the keyboard and select Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

4. Press the <Enter> key on the keyboard.

5. Log in as the administrator or as a user with administrator rights.

6. At the command prompt, type C:\Windows\system32\restore\rstrui.exe, and then press the <Enter> key. If Windows XP has been reinstalled to a different location on this system, change C:\Windows to the new path.

7. Follow the instructions on the screen to restore your computer to a previous, functional state.

Visit the Dell Community Forums to find out what others in the Dell user community are saying. The Dell Community Forums provide a place for Dell users to discuss support topics, to learn, and to help each other. Use the message boards to post questions and answers.