The Windows operating system is a circuitous structure that hosts a lot of processes. As you lot add and remove hardware and software, issues or conflicts can occur, and in some cases it tin get very tedious to pinpoint the source. However, Windows provides a basic tool that simplifies the search for the culprit.

Windows Condom Way is a boot option to offset your computer in a limited country. Only bones files and drivers absolutely necessary to run the operating organisation are loaded. Graphic drivers are among the dispensable ones and do not load, hence Safe Manner looks rather bleak. Generally, Safe Mode is a boot choice used to troubleshoot issues in Windows.

This commodity explains how to beginning in prophylactic style with Windows and why you would want to. Annotation that you will demand an Administrator business relationship in order to log into Safe Mode.

How To Start Windows In Prophylactic Mode

F8 key [Windows 95 Through Windows seven]

The standard method to start Windows in Rubber Mode is by pressing the F8 primal during Windows boot.

  1. Restart or plough on the computer.
  2. As the computer starts listing installed hardware, get-go to repeatedly (and gently) tab the F8 key.
  3. If you missed the correct time point, start over.
  4. You lot will know that it worked when you are redirected to Avant-garde Boot Options.
  5. Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to select Safe Fashion from the options.
  6. Press Enter on your keyboard to kicking into Rubber Style.
how to start in safe mode

System Configuration Utility [Windows 98 Through Windows seven]

If y'all seem to miss the right moment to hitting the F8 key, you tin use the System Configuration Utility to initiate a boot into Safe Mode before yous restart your computer.

  1. Go to > Start.
  2. In Windows 98 through XP open the > Run dialogue. In Windows Vista and 7 type into the search field.
  3. Type 'msconfig' into the respective field and hit enter.
  4. The Organization Configuration Utility will launch. Switch to the > Boot tab.
  5. Under > Boot options, check the > /SAFEBOOT or > Safe kicking option and select > Minimal or > Network.
windows safe mode

Warning: Practice not use the System Configuration Utility if you lot suspect your machine is infected with malware! The malware could decadent registry keys required to kicking into Safe Mode and this in plough could cause your computer to be stuck in a deadly circle. The /SAFEBOOT value added to the kicking.ini would cause your reckoner to continuously boot into Safe Manner, but due to corrupted registry keys information technology would not be able to, leading to a reboot into Safe Manner and no style out.

A super thorough Windows Safety Style Tutorial tin be plant at Bleeping Figurer. It features detailed instructions and screenshots for unlike Windows versions, from Windows 95 through Windows vii. It also describes a fix for the above described 'mortiferous boot circumvolve'.

When & Why To Use Safe Manner

Safe Manner can be used to find out whether issues are caused by installed software or drivers, or whether essential components of your operating arrangement are damaged.

If the problems you experienced previously disappear as soon as you boot into Safety Mode, information technology's safe to assume that a piece of software or a driver installed on your computer is causing the bug. It could still be anything from a driver or software conflict to malware. Only at least yous know nil essential is broken, for instance your figurer hardware.

Most malware tin merely be removed in Rubber Mode. The reason is that the sneaky piece of software volition thwart every attempt you make to remove information technology. In Safe Fashion, nevertheless, malware typically is not loaded and hence cannot forestall you from getting rid of it.

When Windows won't boot normally at all, you are forced to use Safe Fashion. In this case, it'due south your final resort to fixing your operating system.

How To Use Safe Way

Do the problems occur while Windows is booting? Possibly a software or service launches at startup and causes trouble. Kicking into Prophylactic Fashion with network back up or download Autoruns for Windows utility on another computer, copy the .exe file to your reckoner, launch it in Safe Way, and examine the list. Disable suspicious programs. Alternatively, y'all can use > Kickoff > Run > MSCONFIG and examine the list of programs in the > Startup tab.

Do you feel crashes and BSOD? Did the bug occur after you installed hardware drivers? Go to > Control Panel > Device Manager and remove the recently installed hardware.

Reversing your nigh recent changes didn't solve the problems? If bachelor, try to use a system restore point. It automatically rolls back your organization to a functional country. Y'all tin access the System Restore Utility from Safe Mode. This article on Windows seven News & Tips explains how to use the Windows vii Organization Restore. This Microsoft Support commodity covers the Windows XP System Restore.

Do you suspect malware? Consult with Remove-Malware.com for a listing of tools to remove malware. Run these tools in Prophylactic Style or equally instructed.

how to start in safe mode

A very useful and detailed guide explaining the Windows XP Safe Fashion and how to employ it for troubleshooting can exist found on PCStats [Broken URL Removed].

Conclusion

Windows Safe Mode is a simple but effective troubleshooting tool that allows you to access a mildly or severely corrupted operating system in a very basic state. When booting into Safe Mode, you avoid hardware or software conflicts because most components are not loaded. You lot likewise circumvent bug caused by programs that have planted themselves into autorun, for example adware or malware.

Nevertheless you have total access to the Control Panel, so you can remove drivers, uninstall software, and stop programs and services from launching at startup. Rubber Way should be your first finish when y'all of a sudden run into typical Windows problems, like a slow or freezing arrangement, random crashes, or dramatic kick issues.

What is your success rate in troubleshooting and fixing issues using Condom Style? Has it ever helped you out of a bad mess?

Image credits: Ilin Sergey

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About The Writer

Tina Sieber (847 Articles Published)

While completing a PhD, Tina started writing about consumer technology in 2006 and never stopped. Now also an editor and SEO, you tin can discover her on Twitter or hiking a nearby trail.

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