How to restart Windows in Safe Mode

Posted on June 10, 2008 at 5:30 am

Looking for a way to get into Safe Mode for Windows? If you’re not able to boot your computer normally, you have to enter safe mode, a diagnostic mode for Windows where you can troubleshoot problems that prevent normal booting.

In Safe Mode, Windows only loads the most essential services and drivers in order for it to run. All other normal Windows settings and start up programs are stopped in order to allow the user to fix the problem with their computer.

In this guide, I am going to explain how you can get into Safe Mode in both Windows XP and Windows Vista. Note that if you installed a driver or just recently made a configuration change to your computer, you may want to try the “Last Known Good Configuration” before going into safe mode.

Last Known Good Configuration loads the last working version of Windows. However, if it replaced each time you log into the computer, so if a problem has occurred, make sure to try this option BEFORE logging into the computer again.

Also note that there are 3 types of Safe Mode, so read the descriptions below to figure out which one is best for you.

Safe Mode – The basic option that loads Windows with a GUI interface and is usually what most people should choose when troubleshooting their computer.

Safe Mode with Networking – If you need access to the Internet or the network while in Safe mode, then this is the option to choose. This mode is useful when you need to fix a problem that requires an Internet connection so you can get updates, drivers, or other files to help fix your problem.

Safe Mode with Command Prompt – This mode will load with just the MS DOS command line prompt. Useful if you need to run a DOS command like fixboot or chkdsk.

How to get into Safe Mode in Windows 2000/XP/Vista

To get into the Safe Mode in Windows 2000 / XP / Vista, re-boot the computer and then press and hold the “F8 Key” which will then bring up the “Windows Advanced Options Menu“. Scroll down to “Safe Mode” using the arrow keys and press Enter.

windows safe mode

Note that sometimes if you press and hold the F8 key, some computers will start to beep annoyingly, so in that case, simply tap the F8 continuously during the boot up period.

If you are still not able to get into Safe Mode, you can try to kill the power on the computer to turn it off and then turn it back on. If Windows shuts down unexpectedly, it will usually bring up the Advanced Boot Options menu automatically.

Now you can hopefully fix the problem with your computer! You can get out of safe mode by just restarting the computer. If you’re in the command prompt, you can exit safe mode by typing in Exit. Good luck!

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» Filed Under Computer Tips

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Comments

12 Responses to “How to restart Windows in Safe Mode”

  1. pki said on : June 10th, 2008 at 6:53 am

    you gave very good information about safe mode , safe mode is very important thing not everybody knows it , but after this post everybody will know about it.


  2. Keith Dsouza said on : June 10th, 2008 at 12:17 pm

    Quite a useful tip, many people may not even be aware of this even though they have used computers for quite some time.


  3. Obi said on : February 11th, 2009 at 10:17 am

    Thanks a load.i really needed this info.helped me remove an annoying virus


  4. Horace said on : December 13th, 2009 at 12:36 am

    This information also works for Windows 7. I’m glad Microsoft did not change that between versions. There are a few more options in the Advanced Boot Options for Windows 7, but otherwise it’s pretty much the same. Thanks.


  5. Walter said on : January 7th, 2010 at 1:38 am

    Hi, I have a “Page_Fault_in_nonpaged_area”. I used all Windows advance options suggested to do above, it always go back to a blue screen indicating same error. I add RAM a couple of month ago, system was running fine. No other changes. Any other advice? Thank you


  6. Ivan said on : January 13th, 2010 at 3:33 pm

    Great tutorial! I have a Dell machine and needed to restart the PC in safe mode in order to remove a bad driver! Thank goodness for this!


  7. Netty said on : February 3rd, 2010 at 3:48 am

    Thanks for this article! I had to explain this to someone and didn’t have time. I sent them your article on getting into Safe Mode and they were able to do it! Thanks!


  8. Audrey said on : March 2nd, 2010 at 12:03 pm

    Tried to open in safe mode, but will not. what next?


  9. Robert said on : March 8th, 2010 at 11:33 pm

    I can’t even get the screen where I can choose whether or not I want to start in Safe Mode or regular. I just get a blue screen right after turning on my computer and the Dell logo comes up! What do I do? I’ve tried pressing F8 right at the startup.


  10. Allision said on : March 9th, 2010 at 11:13 pm

    I am trying to get into safe mode on my Windows 7 machine, but it goes halfway showing a list of a bunch of files and then it just stops and doesn’t do anything. What to do?


  11. costa said on : June 11th, 2010 at 5:57 pm

    Quando entrei no modo de segurança ficou com letras maiores. Como voltar ao modo normal com o menu iniciar e bordas “azul escuro” . obrigado.


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    April 23rd, 2009 at 5:33 am
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