On Mon, 24 May 2021 19:05:48 +0200, R.Wieser wrote:

Brandon

Windows XP boots right to the Windows splash screen without
giving me the chance to access anything with the F8 key or any
other key.

Normally the apperance of that splash screen is the moment you should press
F8. You can also try to keep tapping F8 while the booting is going on (even
before the splash screen).

Anybody got an idea of how to fix this puzzlemenet?

Another possibility seems to be is to force SafeBoot by changing Boot.ini.
See the below link for how to do it.

https://www.askvg.com/how-to-boot-wi...s-boot-loader/

Hope that helps.

Regards,
Rudy Wieser

I already have done all that key tapping stuff. It doesn't open the
boot menu anymore.

All that config deal does is bring up Safe Mode, which is fine if one
needs it. What I need is my boot menu back with all the other choices,
such as the computer booting from various devices and other choices.

I really don't want to fool around with stuff that I don't understand,
and that config menu is full of ripe opportunities for turning my comp
into a doorstop. )

Tnx for trying to help, but I'm just going to keep things the way the
are for now. If something goes south and I definitely need that boot
menu with its choices, I'll bring the box into the neighborhood
computer repair shop. Won't be the first time I had to do that. Matter
of fact, they're the ones who made the box quite a few years ago.

Tnx again.