If you've installed a criminally faulty driver or program, and Windows won't bootperhaps greeting you with a black screen (symbolizing thick smoke) instead of the Windows logoyou can invoke the Windows
startup menu to recover from catastrophe. This menu takes a little fancy fingerwork to bring up.
To use the startup menu:
1. Restart your computer.
2. When the computer startup messages finish (and before the Windows XP screen appears), tap the F8 key repeatedly until the Windows Advanced Options menu appears (Figure 19.35 ).
If you have a dual-boot system, use the arrow keys to select the OS that you need; then press Enter.
3. Use the arrow keys to select a startup option; then press Enter.
Table 19.3 lists the most appropriate options.