trying to get out of safe mode boot up

After what seems like a successful install of Vista Service Pack 1, I find that the safe mode default has changed to Administrator: cmd.exe. As I have no knowledge of DOS I cant figure out what to type in the message line which starts C:\windows\system32\...... To get rid of this safe mode option, I have tried F8 on start-up; removal of battery; trying the plain safe mode option and even the normal windows option but everytime it loops back to to the adminstrator cm.exe screen for safe mode.

All I want is to be able to start windows normally. Who would have thought it has taken me over 9 hours to try and start up after the service pack install.

Thank you for your help, tech guys!

 

Try the repair option.

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial148.html

 

Thanks Rebon. Checked out the excellent site you suggested. However, OS came pre-installed so no distribution DVD backup disks.

Strangely the problem fixed itself on its own. I worked in the "safe mode -networking environment" for a period of time, shut down, waited overnight and in the morning the start-up took me straight into windows. Everything seems o.k.

Possible Reasons for this "fix" :

(1) My system may be set up so that the Windows Recovery environment loaded automatically

(2) by creating a higher resolution the graphic interface was able to start without the command prompt (cmd.exe).

(3) Disabling the "alternative" safe mode start (ie safe mode with command prompt). I cant remember which boxes or screens I opened to achieve this - its all a blur!

(4) After Vista Service Pack1 install, the computer needs to shut down/start-up a few times for it all to take effect.

Lesson learned: Unknown to me I had no system restore points - it was disabled!

Thanks again for your response. Much appreciated.