XP Pro - difference between Safe Mode and Clean Boot?

[NickStiven]

My IBM ThinkPad T20 with XP Pro SP2 has started to hang on startup at the XP Pro splash screen. The machine works in Safe Mode. I tried to carry out a fully Clean Boot as described in

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353

but it still hangs.

I thought a fully Clean Boot would be the same as starting in Safe Mode, but presumably not. Can anyone tell me the difference, please? Perhaps knowing the answer would indicate what's going wrong, so I can make a simple change somewhere before I am forced to re-install or repair my XP Pro installation.

 

[linney]

Safe Mode is similar to a clean boot: they both disable non-essential programs and services. Safe Mode also disables non-essential drivers.

HOW TO: Verify Unsigned Device Drivers in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q308/5/14.asp

Run the System File Checker program from the Run Box by typing.....Sfc /Scannow in it and have your XP CD handy.

 

[NickStiven]

Thanks, I'll try that. If drivers are at fault, I suspect a Power Management driver may be the problem - we'll see.