$\"Advanced$ <\/p>\n

Advanced Options Menu in Windows XP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Usually, you can choose from 3 options: Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking and Safe Mode With Command Prompt:<\/p>\n

Safe Mode<\/li>\n

Safe Mode with Networking<\/li>\n

Safe Mode with Command Prompt<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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:<\/p>\n
$\"Advanced$ <\/p>\n
Advanced Options Menu in Windows Vista<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Windows 7 is the same:<\/p>\n
$\"Advanced$ <\/p>\n
Advanced Options Menu in Windows 7<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Windows 8 has the same options, but the interface is different:<\/p>\n
$\"Startup$ <\/p>\n
Startup Settings screen in Windows 8<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
And the Windows 10 screen is slightly different\u00a0as well:<\/p>\n
$\"Startup$ <\/p>\n
Startup Settings screen in Windows 10<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Options<\/h3>\n
The Safe Mode of Windows has 3 options available:<\/p>\n
\n
Safe Mode.<\/strong> This is the most used option. It gives you a minimal set of devices, drivers and services to run Windows<\/li>\n
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>\n
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>\n<\/ul>\n
How to boot into Safe Mode<\/h2>\n
To boot into Safe Mode, you need to press the F8<\/kbd> key while your Windows is booting, but before the logo appears.<\/p>\n
For Windows 8 and Windows 10, the combination of Shift<\/kbd> and F8<\/kbd> keys might work, but it work for computers with UEFI\/EFI.<\/p>\n
For Windows-specific steps, follow the steps below.<\/p>\n
Safe Mode in Windows XP<\/h3>\n
For Windows XP to start in Safe Mode, follow these steps:<\/p>\n
\n
Reboot your computer. It’s recommended to remove all external cables and media and leave only the essentials: monitor, keyboard, mouse etc.<\/li>\n
Press the F8<\/kbd> key as your Windows starts, before the Windows XP logo appears<\/li>\n
The Windows Advanced Options Menu<\/strong> should now appear<\/li>\n
Choose Safe Mode<\/strong><\/li>\n
Hit Enter<\/kbd><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/p>\nAdvanced Options Menu in Windows XP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Safe Mode in Windows Vista<\/h3>\nFor Windows Vista to start in Safe Mode, follow these steps:<\/p>\n \nRemove all CDs, DVDs or USBs from your computer. Make sure you don’t have any printers, scanners etc. connect<\/li>\n Reboot the computer<\/li>\n Press 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 Enter<\/kbd>.<\/li>\n At the Advanced Boot Options<\/em>, use the arrows keys to select Safe Mode<\/strong><\/li>\n Press Enter<\/kbd><\/li>\n Login in as an administrator, if prompted to do so<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/p>\nAdvanced Options Menu in Windows Vista<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Safe Mode in Windows 7<\/h3>\nThe steps to boot a Windows 7 system into Safe Mode are similar to those of Windows Vista:<\/p>\n \nRemove any peripherals from your computer<\/li>\n Restart your computer<\/li>\n Press the 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>\n Select Safe Mode<\/strong> using the arrows keys and press Enter<\/kbd><\/li>\n If prompted to do, login as an administrator<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/p>\nAdvanced Options Menu in Windows 7<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Safe Mode in Windows 8, 8.1 and Windows 10<\/h3>\nFor Windows 8 or Windows 10 to boot into Safe Mode, follow these steps if you can boot into Windows:<\/p>\n \nRestart the computer<\/li>\n Press F8<\/kbd> or Shift<\/kbd> + F8<\/kbd> during the boot, but before the Windows logo appears<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nIf F8 or Shift + F8 doesn’t work, go to Windows 8 – F8 key not working<\/a> or follow the alternative instructions below:<\/p>\n \nBoot into Windows<\/li>\n Press the <\/span><\/kbd> and R<\/kbd> keys to open Run<\/strong><\/li>\n Type msconfig<\/code><\/li>\n Click the Boot Tab<\/li>\n At the Boot options<\/strong> section, check the Safe Boot<\/strong> checkbox and the Minimal<\/strong> checkbox<\/li>\n Click OK<\/strong><\/li>\nRestart the computer. If prompted by the System Configuration window, click Restart<\/strong> – not Exit without Restart.\n<\/p>\nBoot options menu in Windows<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n Another method is the combination of Shift<\/kbd> and Restart<\/kbd> keys at the login window:<\/p>\n\nBoot 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>\n Press the Power button<\/li>\n While holding the Shift<\/kbd> key, click Restart<\/strong><\/li>\n At the Choose an option<\/em> screen, select Troubleshoot<\/strong><\/li>\n Select Advanced options<\/li>\n Select Startup Settings<\/li>\n Click Restart<\/strong><\/li>\n Your computer may restart and open the Startup Settings screen automatically<\/li>\nPress the F4<\/kbd> key to boot into Safe Mode. For the other 2 options of Safe Mode, press F5<\/kbd> to boot into Safe Mode with Networking or press F6<\/kbd> to boot into Safe Mode with Command Prompt<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/p>\nWindows Startup Settings screen<\/p>\n<\/div>\n It is also possible to\u00a0use the installation CD\/DVD to boot into Safe Mode:<\/p>\n\nInsert the disc in the optical drive<\/li>\n Reboot the system<\/li>\n Press any key to boot from the CD\/DVD<\/li>\n Choose a keyboard layout<\/li>\n Click Repair your computer<\/strong><\/li>\n Click Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings<\/li>\n Click Restart<\/strong><\/li>\n The computer should restart with the Startup Settings screen automatically<\/li>\nPress F4<\/kbd> to boot into Safe Mode. Press F5<\/kbd> to boot into Safe Mode with Networking. Press F6<\/kbd> to boot into Safe Mode with Command Prompt.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/p>\nWindows 8 Setup Screen<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Diagnostic tools in Safe Mode<\/h2>\nYou can run various diagnostic tools in Safe Mode.<\/p>\n System Restore<\/h3>\n\nBoot into Safe Mode<\/li>\n Go to Start<\/li>\n Click All Programs<\/strong><\/li>\n Go to Accessories<\/strong><\/li>\n Click System Tools<\/strong><\/li>\n Click System Restore<\/strong><\/li>\n Enter the administrator password, if you are prompted to do so<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nFor more details on System Restore, follow our guide Windows System Restore<\/a>.<\/p>\n Device Manager<\/h3>\nFollow these instructions on how to open and edit configuration in Device Manager while in Safe Mode:<\/p>\n\nBoot your Windows into Safe Mode<\/li>\n Click Start<\/strong><\/li>\n Click Control Panel<\/strong><\/li>\n Click System and Maintenance<\/strong><\/li>\n Click Device Manager<\/strong><\/li>\nEnter an administrator password, if prompted to do so<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/p>\nDevice Manager in Windows Vista<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 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.<\/p>\nEvent Viewer<\/h3>\nFollow these instructions on how to open Event Viewer while in Safe Mode:<\/p>\n\nBoot into Safe Mode<\/li>\n Click Start<\/strong><\/li>\n Click Control Panel<\/strong><\/li>\n Click System and Maintenance<\/strong><\/li>\n Click Administrative Tools<\/strong><\/li>\nDouble-click on Event Viewer<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\nCommand Prompt<\/h3>\nFollow these instructions on how to open Command Prompt while in Safe Mode:<\/p>\n\nBoot into Safe Mode<\/li>\n Click Start<\/strong><\/li>\n Click All Programs<\/strong><\/li>\n Click Accessories<\/strong><\/li>\n Click Command Prompt<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/p>\nCommand Prompt screen<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Troubleshoot<\/h2>\n Safe Mode not working<\/h3>\nIf you can’t boot into Safe Mode, consider the following tips:<\/p>\n \nCheck if you have a Keyboard Support USB option in BIOS. If so, make sure it’s Enabled not Disabled.<\/li>\n If you have a keyboard with F-lock functionality, make sure it’s Off<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nIf 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):<\/p>\n \nBoot into Windows<\/li>\n Click Start<\/strong><\/li>\n Click Run<\/strong><\/li>\n Type msconfig<\/code><\/li>\n Click OK<\/strong><\/li>\n Go to the Boot<\/strong> tab (or Boot.ini for Windows XP users)<\/li>\n Check the Safe Boot checkbox (or the \/SAFEBOOT for Windows XP users)<\/li>\n Click OK<\/strong><\/li>\n Click Restart<\/strong><\/li>\n Wait for your Windows to automatically start in Safe Mode<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/p>\nMsconfig screen in Windows<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Windows 8, 8.1 and 10 users can open Run by pressing the <\/span><\/kbd> and R<\/kbd> keys.<\/p>\n If you can’t boot into Windows to run msconfig, you can use the original installation disc or Easy Recovery Essentials<\/a> to run Command Prompt and run chkdsk and bootrec commands.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n For more information on chkdsk, read our guide: chkdsk<\/a>. For more information on Bootrec, read our guide: Bootrec<\/a>.<\/p>\n The instructions for Windows XP are:<\/p>\n \nInsert the installation CD in the optical drive<\/li>\n Restart your computer<\/li>\n At the “Press any key” message, press any key to make sure you boot from the CD<\/li>\n Press R at the Windows Options menu to open Recovery Console<\/strong><\/li>\n Enter the administrator password<\/li>\nWhen Command Prompt appears, type this command:\nchkdsk C: \/r<\/pre>\nReplace C:<\/code> with the letter of the drive where Windows XP is installed<\/li>\n Press Enter<\/kbd><\/li>\nYou can also run the equivalent of bootrec found in Vista, 7, 8 for Windows XP, the bootcfg:\nbootcfg \/rebuild<\/pre>\n<\/li>\nPress Enter<\/kbd><\/li>\nWhen done, type exit<\/code>, press Enter<\/kbd> and restart the computer<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/p>\nWindows XP setup screen<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The instructions for Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 are:<\/p>\n\nInsert the original installation disc<\/li>\n Reboot your computer<\/li>\n Press any key to boot from the installation media: CD, DVD or USB drive<\/li>\n Click Repair your computer<\/strong><\/li>\n Select your operating system<\/li>\n Click Command Prompt<\/strong><\/li>\nRun these commands in order and press Enter<\/kbd> after each:\nchkdsk \/r\r\nbootrec \/FixBoot\r\nbootrec \/FixMbr<\/pre>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/p>\nWindows 7 setup screen<\/p>\n<\/div>\n If you don’t have an original installation disc, you can run Command Prompt from Easy Recovery Essentials:<\/p>\n \nDownload Easy Recovery Essentials<\/a><\/li>\n Burn the ISO Image. Follow our instructions on how to burn a bootable ISO image<\/a>. If you’d like to have a recovery USB instead, follow our instructions on how to make a recovery USB<\/a>.<\/li>\n Boot into Easy Recovery Essentials<\/li>\n Select Launch Command Line<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\nWindows 8, 10 – F8 key not working<\/h3>\nIf 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\u00a0optimized to boot very quickly.<\/p>\n To enable the F8<\/kbd> key, follow these steps:<\/p>\n\nOpen the Command Prompt<\/li>\n If you’re logged into Windows, click to run it as an administrator<\/li>\nType this command:\nbcdedit \/set bootmenupolicy legacy<\/pre>\n<\/li>\nPress Enter<\/kbd><\/li>\nA success message should appear:\nThe operation completed successfully.<\/pre>\n<\/li>\nRestart your computer<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/p>\nBcdedit utility results screen<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 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):<\/p>\n \nInsert the disc in the optical drive and restart the computer<\/li>\n Press any key to boot from the disc<\/li>\n Choose a keyboard layout<\/li>\n Click Next<\/strong><\/li>\n Click Repair your computer<\/strong><\/li>\n Click Troubleshoot<\/strong><\/li>\n Click Advanced options<\/strong><\/li>\n Click Command Prompt<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\nIf you don’t have the installation disc, use Easy Recovery Essentials to have access to Command Prompt:<\/p>\n \nDownload Easy Recovery Essentials<\/a><\/li>\n Burn the ISO Image. Follow our instructions on how to burn a bootable ISO image<\/a>. If you’d like to have a recovery USB instead, follow our instructions on how to make a recovery USB<\/a>.<\/li>\n Boot into Easy Recovery Essentials<\/li>\n Select Launch Command Line<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\nMore Information<\/h2>\nSupport Links<\/h3>\n\nEasy Recovery Essentials for Windows<\/a> – our repair and recovery disk.<\/strong> \n \nIt’s an easy-to-use and automated diagnostics disk. It’s available for Windows 8<\/a>, Windows 7<\/a> and Windows Vista<\/a>. It’s also available for Windows XP and Windows Server.<\/p>\nRead more at Windows Recovery Disks<\/a>.\n<\/li>\n The NeoSmart Support Forums<\/a>, member-to-member technical support and troubleshooting.<\/li>\n Get a discounted price on replacement setup and installation discs: Windows XP<\/a>, Windows Vista<\/a>, Windows 7<\/a>, Windows 8<\/a>, Windows 10<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nApplicable Systems<\/h3>\nThis Windows-related knowledgebase article applies to the following operating systems:<\/p>\n \nWindows XP (all editions)<\/li>\n Windows Vista (all editions)<\/li>\n Windows 7 (all editions)<\/li>\n Windows 8 (all editions)<\/li>\n Windows 8.1 (all editions)<\/li>\n Windows 10 (all editions)<\/li>\n Windows Server 2003 (all editions)<\/li>\n Windows Server 2008 (all editions)<\/li>\n Windows Server 2012 (all editions)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"This guide explains how to boot into Safe Mode for the following Windows versions: Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 About the Safe Mode 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":508,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2490","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3SlTq-Ea","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/neosmart.net\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2490","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/neosmart.net\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/neosmart.net\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neosmart.net\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/508"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neosmart.net\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2490"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/neosmart.net\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2490\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5463,"href":"https:\/\/neosmart.net\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2490\/revisions\/5463"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/neosmart.net\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2490"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}

Options<\/h3>\nThe Safe Mode of Windows has 3 options available:<\/p>\n

Diagnostic tools in Safe Mode<\/h2>\nYou can run various diagnostic tools in Safe Mode.<\/p>\n

Event Viewer<\/h3>\nFollow these instructions on how to open Event Viewer while in Safe Mode:<\/p>\n

Command Prompt<\/h3>\nFollow these instructions on how to open Command Prompt while in Safe Mode:<\/p>\n

Troubleshoot<\/h2>\n

Windows 8, 10 – F8 key not working<\/h3>\nIf 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\u00a0optimized to boot very quickly.<\/p>\nTo enable the F8<\/kbd> key, follow these steps:<\/p>\n

More Information<\/h2>\n

Diagnostic tools in Safe Mode<\/h2>\n
You can run various diagnostic tools in Safe Mode.<\/p>\n