Applications

How To: Start Windows In SafeMode

Are you looking for a way to start your version of Windows in safe mode but don’t know how? It’s really quite simple actually but for those users who are still fairly new to the computer world, you will find this guide quite helpful.

There is a number of reasons you can have to start your computer in safe mode, maybe you want to remove traces of a virus or spyware, maybe delete an undeletable file or simply for troubleshooting and diagnostic purposes.

What Is Safe Mode?

Safe Mode is a diagnostic mode used by a few operating systems including Windows and Mac to use the basic functions of your system and isolate any problem you may have.Since only the most basic files will be loaded, you will be able to delete any file that might be using some of your normal mode system files to harm your PC.Your resolution in safe mode will change since it will load a standard video driver and you won’t have internet access unless you choose the right option,see below:

Safe Mode Boot Options: (XP & Vista)

A few people have said once they enter the boot options they get confused and don’t know which one to choose from, I’ll try and briefly explain one by one.

» Safe Mode – This option uses a minimal set of device drivers and services to start Windows.

» Safe Mode with Networking – This option uses a minimal set of device drivers and services to start Windows together with the drivers that you must have to load networking (internet).

» Safe Mode with Command Prompt – This option is the same as Safe mode, except that Cmd.exe starts instead of Windows Explorer, this one is selected if you plan to use the Command Prompt (DOS) window.

» Enable VGA Mode – This option starts Windows in 640 x 480 mode by using the current video driver (not Vga.sys). This mode is useful if the display is configured for a setting that the monitor cannot display.

» Last Known Good Configuration – This option starts Windows by using the previous good configuration.

» Directory Service Restore Mode – This mode is valid only for Windows-based domain controllers. This mode performs a directory service repair.

» Debugging Mode – This option turns on debug mode in Windows. Debugging information can be sent across a serial cable to another computer that is running a debugger. This mode is configured to use COM2.

» Enable Boot Logging – This option turns on logging when the computer is started with any of the Safe Boot options except Last Known Good Configuration. The Boot Logging text is recorded in the Ntbtlog.txt file in the %SystemRoot% folder.

» Starts Windows Normally – This option starts Windows in its normal mode.

How To Start Windows 95 In Safe Mode:

» Restart the computer.

» Just after the POST (Power-on self-test) diagnostics and memory count, start pressing the F8 key

» On the Startup Menu, choose Safe Mode

How To Start Windows 98/Me In Safe Mode:

» Restart the computer.

» Just after the POST (Power-on self-test) diagnostics and memory count, start pressing the F8 key

» On the Startup Menu, choose Safe Mode

or you may use the System Configuration Utility Method.

» While in Normal mode, Close all programs.

» Click Start, Run and type MSCONFIG in the box and click OK

» In the System Configuration Utility, on the General Tab, click the Advanced Button

» In the Advanced Troubleshooting Settings dialog box, check Enable Startup Menu. Click OK. Click OK again when the System Configuration Utility reappears.

» You will be prompted to restart the computer. Click Yes. The computer will restart in Safe mode.

» When you are finished with troubleshooting in Safe mode, open MSCONFIG again and uncheck “Enable Start-up Menu” under the Advanced Menu, then click OK and restart your computer.

How To Start Windows 2000 In Safe Mode:

» If the computer is running, shut down Windows, and then turn off the power.

» Wait 30 seconds, and then turn the computer on.

» When you see the black-and-white Starting Windows bar at the bottom of the screen, start tapping the F8 key. The Windows 2000 Advanced Options Menu appears.

» Ensure that the Safe mode option is selected. In most cases, it is the first item in the list and is selected by default.

» Press Enter. The computer then begins to start in Safe mode.

» When you are finished with all troubleshooting, close all programs and restart the computer as you normally would.

How To Start Windows Windows XP In Safe Mode:

» If the computer is running, shut down Windows, and then turn off the power.

» Wait 30 seconds, and then turn the computer on.

» Start tapping the F8 key. The Windows Advanced Options Menu appears. If you begin tapping the F8 key too soon, some computers display a “keyboard error” message. To resolve this, restart the computer and try again.

» Ensure that the Safe mode option is selected.

» Press Enter. The computer then begins to start in Safe mode.

» When you are finished with all troubleshooting, close all programs and restart the computer as you normally would.

To use the System Configuration Utility method:

» Close all open programs.

» Click Start, Run and type MSCONFIG in the box and click OK.

» The System Configuration Utility appears, On the BOOT.INI tab, Check the “/SAFEBOOT” option, and then click OK and Restart your computer when prompted.

» The computer restarts in Safe mode.

» Perform the troubleshooting steps for which you are using Safe Mode.
When you are finished with troubleshooting in Safe mode, open MSCONFIG again, on the BOOT.INI tab, uncheck “/SAFEBOOT” and click OK to restart your computer.

How To Start Windows Vista In Safe Mode:

» If the computer is running, shut down Windows, and then turn off the power.

» Wait 30 seconds, and then turn the computer on.

» Start tapping the F8 key. The Windows Advanced Options Menu appears. If you begin tapping the F8 key too soon, some computers display a “keyboard error” message. To resolve this, restart the computer and try again.

» Ensure that the Safe mode option is selected.

» Press Enter. The computer then begins to start in Safe mode.

» When you are finished with all troubleshooting, close all programs and restart the computer as you normally would.

How To Start Windows In Safe Mode On A Multiboot System:

» Use this method ONLY if you have two or more operating systems on your computer.

» If the computer is running, shut down Windows, and then turn off the power.

» Wait 30 seconds, and then turn the computer on.

» When the Boot loader menu (list of the available operating systems) appears, use the arrow keys on the keyboard to select the version Windows that you want

» Press Enter, and then immediately begin tapping the F8 key. The Windows Advanced Options menu appears.

» Scroll to and select the Safe mode menu item, and then press Enter.

Also Read:

• How To:Delete Files That Can’t Be Deleted
• How To: Add Safe Mode To Your Boot Options
• How To: Boot Windows XP Faster
• 1. Optimizing Windows Startup Tasks
• How To: Customize The Look Of Your Start Menu In Vista

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