Safe mode helps you diagnose problems. If a symptom does not reappear when you start in safe mode, you can eliminate the default settings and minimum device drivers as possible causes. If a newly added device or a changed driver is causing problems, you can use safe mode to remove the device or reverse the change. In safe mode, you have access to only basic files and drivers (mouse, monitor, keyboard, mass storage, base video, default system services, and no network connections). You can choose the Safe Mode with Networking option, which loads all of the above files and drivers and the essential services and drivers to start networking, or you can choose the Safe Mode with Command Prompt option, which is exactly the same as safe mode except that a command prompt is started instead of the graphical user interface. You can also choose Last Known Good Configuration, which starts your computer using the registry information that was saved at the last shutdown. Follow the instructions below to Start Safe Mode for your specific version of Windows.
Windows 2000
Note: You should print these instructions before continuing. They will not be available after you shut your computer down in step 1.
• Click Start, click Shut Down, and then, in the drop-down list, click Shut down.
• When you see the black-and-white Starting Windows bar at the bottom of the screen, start pressing the F8 key on the keyboard. The Windows 2000 Advanced Options Menu appears.
• Use the arrow keys to highlight the appropriate safe mode option, and then press ENTER.
• The computer then begins to start in Safe mode.
• After finished with all troubleshooting, close all programs and restart the computer in normal mode.
Windows XP
Note: You should print these instructions before continuing. They will not be available after you shut your computer down in step 1.
• If the computer is running, click start, and then click turn off the Computer.
• In the Shut Down Windows dialog box, click Restart, and then click OK.
• Start pressing 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.
• Use the arrow keys to highlight the appropriate safe mode option, and then press ENTER.
• The computer then begins to start in Safe mode.
• After finished with all troubleshooting, close all programs and restart the computer in normal mode.
Windows in Dual Boot system
Use this method ONLY if you have multiple operating systems installed on your computer.
• If the computer is running, shut down Windows, and then turn off the power
• 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 to boot.
• Press Enter, and then immediately begin tapping the F8 key. The Windows Advanced Options menu appears.
• Use the arrow keys to highlight the appropriate safe mode option, and then press ENTER.
• The computer then begins to start in Safe mode.
Windows Vista
• Turn the computer on or Restart the computer
• Start pressing the F8 key. The Windows Advanced Boot 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.
• Use the arrow keys to highlight the appropriate safe mode option, and then press ENTER.
• The computer then begins to start in Safe mode.
• After finished with all troubleshooting, close all programs and restart the computer in normal mode.
