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Original post : How to boot into Safe Mode in Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP.
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This guide explains <strong>how to boot into Safe Mode</strong> for the following Windows versions: <strong>Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 </strong>and<strong> 10</strong> [toc] <h2>About the Safe Mode</h2> In Safe Mode, your computer is running with non-core components disabled which makes it easier to fix potential errors or remove various software that, in normal conditions, can't be fixed or removed. If you boot into Safe Mode, you can use various diagnostic tools: <ul> <li>System Restore</li> <li>Various settings for your Windows version</li> <li>Device Manager, where you can update and remove devices and drivers from your computer</li> <li>Event Viewer</li> <li>System Information, where you can view information about the hardware</li> <li>Command Prompt</li> <li>Registry Editor</li> </ul> For more information on how to run these diagnostic tools, go to <a href="#Diagnostic_tools_in_Safe_Mode">Diagnostic tools in Safe Mode</a>. In Windows XP, the Windows Advanced Options Menu shows the Safe Mode option available: [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="980"]<img src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/05/windows-xp-advanced-options-screen.png" alt="Advanced Options Menu in Windows XP" width="980" height="500" /> Advanced Options Menu in Windows XP[/caption] Usually, you can choose from 3 options: Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking and Safe Mode With Command Prompt: <ul> <li>Safe Mode</li> <li>Safe Mode with Networking</li> <li>Safe Mode with Command Prompt</li> </ul> In Windows Vista, the equivalent of Windows Advanced Options Menu of Windows XP, the Advanced Boot Options, also lists the 3 options available for Safe Mode: [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/09/Advanced-Boot-Options-menu.png" alt="Advanced Options Menu in Windows Vista" width="1024" height="768" /> Advanced Options Menu in Windows Vista[/caption] Windows 7 is the same: [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/09/Windows-7-Advanced-Boot-Options.png" alt="Advanced Options Menu in Windows 7" width="1024" height="768" /> Advanced Options Menu in Windows 7[/caption] Windows 8 has the same options, but the interface is different: [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1025"]<img src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/09/Windows-8-Advanced-Boot-Options.png" alt="Startup Settings screen in Windows 8" width="1025" height="768" /> Startup Settings screen in Windows 8[/caption] And the Windows 10 screen is slightly different as well: [caption id="attachment_4990" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img class="wp-image-4990 size-full" src="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/09/Windows-10-Advanced-Boot-Options4.png" alt="Startup Settings screen in Windows 10" width="1024" height="768" /> Startup Settings screen in Windows 10[/caption] <h3>Options</h3> The Safe Mode of Windows has 3 options available: <ul> <li><strong>Safe Mode.</strong> This is the most used option. It gives you a minimal set of devices, drivers and services to run Windows</li> <li><strong>Safe Mode with Networking.</strong> This loads the same devices, drivers and services as the Safe Mode option with the additional drivers necessary to load networking.</li> <li><strong>Safe Mode with Command Prompt.</strong> This option loads the same drivers and services as the Safe Mode option, but loads Command Prompt (cmd.exe) instead of Windows Explorer (graphical interface)</li> </ul> <h2>How to boot into Safe Mode</h2> To boot into Safe Mode, you need to press the <kbd>F8</kbd> key while your Windows is booting, but before the logo appears. For Windows 8 and Windows 10, the combination of <kbd>Shift</kbd> and <kbd>F8</kbd> keys might work, but it work for computers with UEFI/EFI. For Windows-specific steps, follow the steps below. <h3>Safe Mode in Windows XP</h3> For Windows XP to start in Safe Mode, follow these steps: <ol> <li>Reboot your computer. It's recommended to remove all external cables and media and leave only the essentials: monitor, keyboard, mouse etc.</li> <li>Press the <kbd>F8</kbd> key as your Windows starts, before the Windows XP logo appears</li> <li>The <strong>Windows Advanced Options Menu</strong> should now appear</li> <li>Choose <strong>Safe Mode</strong></li> <li>Hit <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> </ol> [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="640"]<img src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/09/Windows-XP-Advanced-Boot-Options.png" alt="Advanced Options Menu in Windows XP" width="640" height="400" /> Advanced Options Menu in Windows XP[/caption] <h3>Safe Mode in Windows Vista</h3> For Windows Vista to start in Safe Mode, follow these steps: <ol> <li>Remove all CDs, DVDs or USBs from your computer. Make sure you don't have any printers, scanners etc. connect</li> <li>Reboot the computer</li> <li>Press <kbd>F8</kbd> as your computer start. You need to press this button before the Windows Vista logo appears.If you have more than 1 operating system, use the arrows keys to select which operating system you want to boot into Safe Mode and press <kbd>Enter</kbd>.</li> <li>At the <em>Advanced Boot Options</em>, use the arrows keys to select <strong>Safe Mode</strong></li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Login in as an administrator, if prompted to do so</li> </ol> [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/09/Advanced-Boot-Options-menu.png" alt="Advanced Options Menu in Windows Vista" width="1024" height="768" /> Advanced Options Menu in Windows Vista[/caption] <h3>Safe Mode in Windows 7</h3> The steps to boot a Windows 7 system into Safe Mode are similar to those of Windows Vista: <ol> <li>Remove any peripherals from your computer</li> <li>Restart your computer</li> <li>Press the <kbd>F8</kbd> key before the Windows 7 logo appears.If you have more than 1 operating system installed on the same computer, use the arrows keys to navigate and select which operating system you want to boot into Safe Mode.</li> <li>Select <strong>Safe Mode</strong> using the arrows keys and press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>If prompted to do, login as an administrator</li> </ol> [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/09/Windows-7-Advanced-Boot-Options.png" alt="Advanced Options Menu in Windows 7" width="1024" height="768" /> Advanced Options Menu in Windows 7[/caption] <h3>Safe Mode in Windows 8, 8.1 and Windows 10</h3> For Windows 8 or Windows 10 to boot into Safe Mode, follow these steps if you can boot into Windows: <ol> <li>Restart the computer</li> <li>Press <kbd>F8</kbd> or <kbd>Shift</kbd> + <kbd>F8</kbd> during the boot, but before the Windows logo appears</li> </ol> If F8 or Shift + F8 doesn't work, go to <a href="#Windows_8_8211_F8_key_not_working">Windows 8 - F8 key not working</a> or follow the alternative instructions below: <ol> <li>Boot into Windows</li> <li>Press the [winkey] and <kbd>R</kbd> keys to open <strong>Run</strong></li> <li>Type <code>msconfig</code></li> <li>Click the Boot Tab</li> <li>At the <strong>Boot options</strong> section, check the <strong>Safe Boot</strong> checkbox and the <strong>Minimal</strong> checkbox</li> <li>Click <strong>OK</strong></li> <li>Restart the computer. If prompted by the System Configuration window, click <strong>Restart</strong> - not Exit without Restart. [caption id="attachment_2493" align="alignnone" width="386"]<img class="wp-image-2493 size-full" src="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/09/msconfig-windows-8.png" alt="Boot options menu in Windows" width="386" height="133" /> Boot options menu in Windows[/caption]</li> </ol> Another method is the combination of <kbd>Shift</kbd> and <kbd>Restart</kbd> keys at the login window: <ol> <li>Boot into Windows until the login screen appears, but do not login as a user. If you don't have a login screen showing, boot into the system and click on Settings</li> <li>Press the Power button</li> <li>While holding the <kbd>Shift</kbd> key, click <strong>Restart</strong></li> <li>At the <em>Choose an option</em> screen, select <strong>Troubleshoot</strong></li> <li>Select Advanced options</li> <li>Select Startup Settings</li> <li>Click <strong>Restart</strong></li> <li>Your computer may restart and open the Startup Settings screen automatically</li> <li>Press the <kbd>F4</kbd> key to boot into Safe Mode. For the other 2 options of Safe Mode, press <kbd>F5</kbd> to boot into Safe Mode with Networking or press <kbd>F6</kbd> to boot into Safe Mode with Command Prompt</li> </ol> [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1025"]<img src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/09/Windows-8-Advanced-Boot-Options.png" alt="Windows Startup Settings screen" width="1025" height="768" /> Windows Startup Settings screen[/caption] It is also possible to use the installation CD/DVD to boot into Safe Mode: <ol> <li>Insert the disc in the optical drive</li> <li>Reboot the system</li> <li>Press any key to boot from the CD/DVD</li> <li>Choose a keyboard layout</li> <li>Click <strong>Repair your computer</strong></li> <li>Click Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings</li> <li>Click <strong>Restart</strong></li> <li>The computer should restart with the Startup Settings screen automatically</li> <li>Press <kbd>F4</kbd> to boot into Safe Mode. Press <kbd>F5</kbd> to boot into Safe Mode with Networking. Press <kbd>F6</kbd> to boot into Safe Mode with Command Prompt.</li> </ol> [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="610"]<img src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/06/windows-8-repair-your-computer-screen.png" alt="Windows 8 Setup Screen" width="610" height="430" /> Windows 8 Setup Screen[/caption] <h2>Diagnostic tools in Safe Mode</h2> You can run various diagnostic tools in Safe Mode. <h3>System Restore</h3> <ol> <li>Boot into Safe Mode</li> <li>Go to Start</li> <li>Click <strong>All Programs</strong></li> <li>Go to <strong>Accessories</strong></li> <li>Click <strong>System Tools</strong></li> <li>Click <strong>System Restore</strong></li> <li>Enter the administrator password, if you are prompted to do so</li> </ol> For more details on System Restore, follow our <a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/windows-system-restore/">guide Windows System Restore</a>. <h3>Device Manager</h3> Follow these instructions on how to open and edit configuration in Device Manager while in Safe Mode: <ol> <li>Boot your Windows into Safe Mode</li> <li>Click <strong>Start</strong></li> <li>Click <strong>Control Panel</strong></li> <li>Click <strong>System and Maintenance</strong></li> <li>Click <strong>Device Manager</strong></li> <li>Enter an administrator password, if prompted to do so</li> </ol> [caption id="attachment_2495" align="alignnone" width="810"]<img class="size-full wp-image-2495" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/09/windows-vista-device-manager.jpg" alt="Device Manager in Windows Vista" width="810" height="62" /> Device Manager in Windows Vista[/caption] You can use Device Manager and edit configurations only if you are logged in as an administrator. Changes that you do under a non-administrative account will apply to that user only. <h3>Event Viewer</h3> Follow these instructions on how to open Event Viewer while in Safe Mode: <ol> <li>Boot into Safe Mode</li> <li>Click <strong>Start</strong></li> <li>Click <strong>Control Panel</strong></li> <li>Click <strong>System and Maintenance</strong></li> <li>Click <strong>Administrative Tools</strong></li> <li>Double-click on <strong>Event Viewer</strong></li> </ol> <h3>Command Prompt</h3> Follow these instructions on how to open Command Prompt while in Safe Mode: <ol> <li>Boot into Safe Mode</li> <li>Click <strong>Start</strong></li> <li>Click <strong>All Programs</strong></li> <li>Click <strong>Accessories</strong></li> <li>Click <strong>Command Prompt</strong></li> </ol> [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="607"]<img src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/09/windows-xp-cmd-open.gif" alt="Command Prompt screen" width="607" height="321" /> Command Prompt screen[/caption] <h2>Troubleshoot</h2> <h3>Safe Mode not working</h3> If you can't boot into Safe Mode, consider the following tips: <ul> <li>Check if you have a Keyboard Support USB option in BIOS. If so, make sure it's Enabled not Disabled.</li> <li>If you have a keyboard with F-lock functionality, make sure it's Off</li> </ul> If the F keys don't work to boot into Safe Mode even after following the above tips, you can also run msconfig from within Windows (you need to boot into Windows first): <ol> <li>Boot into Windows</li> <li>Click <strong>Start</strong></li> <li>Click <strong>Run</strong></li> <li>Type <code>msconfig</code></li> <li>Click <strong>OK</strong></li> <li>Go to the <strong>Boot</strong> tab (or Boot.ini for Windows XP users)</li> <li>Check the Safe Boot checkbox (or the /SAFEBOOT for Windows XP users)</li> <li>Click <strong>OK</strong></li> <li>Click <strong>Restart</strong></li> <li>Wait for your Windows to automatically start in Safe Mode</li> </ol> [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="421"]<img src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/09/windows-xp-msconfig.png" alt="Msconfig screen in Windows" width="421" height="376" /> Msconfig screen in Windows[/caption] Windows 8, 8.1 and 10 users can open Run by pressing the [winkey] and <kbd>R</kbd> keys. If you can't boot into Windows to run msconfig, you can use the original installation disc or <a href="https://neosmart.net/EasyRE/">Easy Recovery Essentials</a> to run Command Prompt and run chkdsk and bootrec commands. chkdsk and bootrec utilities will attempt to fix any issues found on your hard drive or during the booting process of your Windows. After that, you can try again to boot into Safe Mode. For more information on chkdsk, read our guide: <a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/chkdsk/">chkdsk</a>. For more information on Bootrec, read our guide: <a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/bootrec/">Bootrec</a>. The instructions for Windows XP are: <ol> <li>Insert the installation CD in the optical drive</li> <li>Restart your computer</li> <li>At the "Press any key" message, press any key to make sure you boot from the CD</li> <li>Press R at the Windows Options menu to open <strong>Recovery Console</strong></li> <li>Enter the administrator password</li> <li>When Command Prompt appears, type this command: <pre>chkdsk C: /r</pre> Replace <code>C:</code> with the letter of the drive where Windows XP is installed</li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>You can also run the equivalent of bootrec found in Vista, 7, 8 for Windows XP, the bootcfg: <pre>bootcfg /rebuild</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>When done, type <code>exit</code>, press <kbd>Enter</kbd> and restart the computer</li> </ol> [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="636"]<img src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/05/windows-xp-r-recovery-console.jpg" alt="Windows XP setup screen" width="636" height="380" /> Windows XP setup screen[/caption] The instructions for Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 are: <ol> <li>Insert the original installation disc</li> <li>Reboot your computer</li> <li>Press any key to boot from the installation media: CD, DVD or USB drive</li> <li>Click <strong>Repair your computer</strong></li> <li>Select your operating system</li> <li>Click <strong>Command Prompt</strong></li> <li>Run these commands in order and press <kbd>Enter</kbd> after each: <pre>chkdsk /r bootrec /FixBoot bootrec /FixMbr</pre> </li> </ol> [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="800"]<img src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/10/Install-Now-Windows-7.jpg" alt="Windows 7 setup screen" width="800" height="600" /> Windows 7 setup screen[/caption] If you don't have an original installation disc, you can run Command Prompt from Easy Recovery Essentials: <ol> <li><a href="https://neosmart.net/EasyRE/">Download Easy Recovery Essentials</a></li> <li>Burn the ISO Image. Follow our instructions on <a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/creating-a-bootable-cd-or-dvd/">how to burn a bootable ISO image</a>. If you'd like to have a recovery USB instead, follow our instructions on <a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/easybcd/tips-and-tricks/easyre-recovery-usb/">how to make a recovery USB</a>.</li> <li>Boot into Easy Recovery Essentials</li> <li>Select <strong>Launch Command Line</strong><img src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/08/EasyRE-Home.png" /></li> </ol> <h3>Windows 8, 10 - F8 key not working</h3> If you use Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 and have a computer with UEFI/EFI, the F8 key would not work to boot into Safe Mode as Windows 8 and Windows 10 are optimized to boot very quickly. To enable the <kbd>F8</kbd> key, follow these steps: <ol> <li>Open the Command Prompt</li> <li>If you're logged into Windows, click to run it as an administrator</li> <li>Type this command: <pre>bcdedit /set bootmenupolicy legacy</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>A success message should appear: <pre>The operation completed successfully.</pre> </li> <li>Restart your computer</li> </ol> [caption id="attachment_4991" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img class="wp-image-4991 size-full" src="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/09/Windows10_Bcdedit.png" alt="Bcdedit utility results screen" width="1024" height="768" /> Bcdedit utility results screen[/caption] If you can't boot into Windows to run Command Prompt, you can open it from the installation disc (CD/DVD for Windows 8 and Windows 10; USB drive for Windows 8.1): <ol> <li>Insert the disc in the optical drive and restart the computer</li> <li>Press any key to boot from the disc</li> <li>Choose a keyboard layout</li> <li>Click <strong>Next</strong></li> <li>Click <strong>Repair your computer</strong></li> <li>Click <strong>Troubleshoot</strong></li> <li>Click <strong>Advanced options</strong></li> <li>Click <strong>Command Prompt</strong></li> </ol> If you don't have the installation disc, use Easy Recovery Essentials to have access to Command Prompt: <ol> <li><a href="https://neosmart.net/EasyRE/">Download Easy Recovery Essentials</a></li> <li>Burn the ISO Image. Follow our instructions on <a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/creating-a-bootable-cd-or-dvd/">how to burn a bootable ISO image</a>. If you'd like to have a recovery USB instead, follow our instructions on <a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/easybcd/tips-and-tricks/easyre-recovery-usb/">how to make a recovery USB</a>.</li> <li>Boot into Easy Recovery Essentials</li> <li>Select <strong>Launch Command Line</strong><img src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/08/EasyRE-Home.png" /></li> </ol> <h2>More Information</h2> [partial name="partial_moreinfo" versions="xp,vista,7,8,10,server2003,server2008,server2012"]