How to start Windows in Safe Mode

What is Safe mode?

Its a troubleshooting/diagnosis option in Windows that starts your computer in a limited state with only the essential drivers, services and files needed to boot Windows. Network and Video drivers are not loaded in safe mode. That’s the reason you see a low desktop resolution in safe mode.

There are  3 ways to start Safe Mode:

1. Safe Mode (The default one with no internet)
2. Safe Mode with Networking (the one with internet)
3. Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

People usually get rid off their Spywares in this mode. So this manual troubleshooting and fixing is the option for manual eradication of spyware as only the bare minimum files are loaded in this mode and lets you delete files easily which are unable to delete in the normal mode.

How to start Windows Xp in Safe mode?

1. Press F8 before the Windows Xp Splash screen(see image below) shows up.

2. The Windows Advanced Options Menu is loaded.

3. Use keyboard arrow keys to select the type of Safe mode you want – default or with networking or just the command prompt. Click Enter.

4. Now the Windows Xp will start in Safe mode.

How to start Windows Vista in Safe mode?

1. Start pressing F8 as soon the computer starts, to open the Advanced Options Menu.

2. Use keyboard arrow keys to select the type of Safe mode you want – default or with networking or just the command prompt. Click Enter.

3. Now the Windows Vista will start in Safe mode.

How to start Windows 7 in Safe mode?

1. Start pressing F8 as soon the computer starts, to open the Advanced Options Menu.

2. The first option is “Repair your computer”, “Safe Mode” is from the second option. Use keyboard arrow keys to select the type of Safe mode you want – default or with networking or just the command prompt. Click Enter.

3. Now the Windows 7 will start in Safe mode.

Note: When you have Multiple Windows to boot, select the Windows version you want to enter into using the arrow keys on the “Boot Loader Menu” and start pressing F8 key to open the Advanced Options Menu.

Using the System Configuration Utility for Windows Xp

1. Click Start, Run and type MSCONFIG in the open box and click OK
2. The System Configuration Utility opens up, On the BOOT.INI tab, Check the “/SAFEBOOT” option, and then click OK and Restart your computer when prompted.
3. The computer restarts in Safe mode.
4. Perform the troubleshooting steps for which you are using Safe Mode.
5. 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 in normal mode.

Using the System Configuration Utility for Windows Vista/Windows 7

1. Open up start menu > run, and type in msconfig and hit the enter key.
2. Select the Boot tab, and then check the box for “Safe boot” and make sure the radio button below is set to “Minimal”. Minimal is equivalent of the default safe mode in Advanced Options Menu.
   
3. After you press the OK button, you’ll be asked if you want to Restart now or wait until later. Press Restart now to restart your computer in safe mode immediately, or press wait until later, the next boot will take you into safe mode.
4. After starting into the safe mode, the “safe mode” text is placed corners of the screen,it also opens up the safe mode page from the help file in Windows 7 or Vista.

 

Note:  To Turn Safe Mode Back Off

Once you are done troubleshooting whatever you were working on, to turn safe mode off and go back to normal mode. Just open up msconfig the same way as above, and then on the Boot tab and uncheck the “Safe boot” checkbox.