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#1
My computer automatically boots in safe mode without prompt...and more
First some background.
Last weekend my laptop (Lenovo U460) started overheating and crashing. It has run loud and hot since I bought it, and this model has a known issue with the video adapter that makes it crash if it is set to the highest performing mode. I realized yesterday that one of the vents on the bottom of the laptop was clogged with dust, so I used canned air to blow it out, and blew into the other intake and outlet vents, and got rid of lots of dust. It has run much quieter and cooler today, but has still crashed once, I think from overheating. I don't know if this has anything to do with the problem that cropped up today, but there it is.
Now a little more background.
A few months ago my neighbor reinstalled Windows for me. Last Friday as I was leaving work I shut down my computer and it installed a dozen or so updates.
Today something strange happened: Java ran an update, and then Windows 7 Service Pack 1 was installed, followed by about 140 updates. When I check for updates it now says it is up to date. I don't know why the Service Pack wasn't already installed, but after the service pack installed (and before the other updates installed) my computer started booting up in safe mode -- at least that's what it looks like. The resolution is much rougher, and my second monitor won't work. But I'm able to open Microsoft Office programs and use the internet and everything.
I was hoping that after all of the updates it would boot up in normal mode again, but no such luck. It doesn't give a prompt for me to choose what mode to boot in; it just goes straight to this safe mode. This is killing my productivity at work and I am up against some hard deadlines.
Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Let me know what other info you need.