Read, how to boot Windows Safe Mode... Let's consider the standard methods, using a recovery disc or using a specific keyboard shortcut. If the operating system does not load or malfunctions for one of many possible reasons, then sometimes the only way to get it back to work and gain access to your data is to boot the computer in Safe Mode and fix errors with it.
Windows 10 Safe Mode
If you have already been using Windows 10 for some time, then you probably noticed that the old ways of booting a computer in Safe Mode no longer work. Those. pressing F8 or Shift + F8 during system boot will no longer be able to boot the operating system in Safe Mode. But that doesn't mean that Windows 10 no longer has Safe Mode... Just to download it, you need to go through other procedures. Let's take a closer look at them.
When you enter Windows 10 Safe Mode, the operating system loads the minimal interface and only the most essential services and drivers that are necessary for the system to function.
Method 1: Using the System Configuration tool (msconfig.exe)
The easiest way to boot into Safe Mode Windows 10 is with a tool. Many users know it by its executable name: msconfig.exe.
To run this tool, you need to open the window "Run" (keyboard shortcut Windows + R) and enter in it msconfig.
Also, System configuration can be launched using the search box near the menu button Start... It is enough to enter in it.
In the tool window that opens, go to the tab Downloads, and in the section select Safe mode.
After that, the system will offer to restart the computer for the changes to take effect. You can continue to work on the computer without rebooting or restart it, after which it will automatically boot into Safe Mode.
Method 2: Restart the computer by pressing the Shift key (Shift + Restart)
Another way with which you can run Safe mode Windows 10 is to restart your computer while holding down the Shift key. To do this, open the menu Start, press the button Shutdown and hold down the Shift key and select.
Also, this combination can be used from the lock screen.
/ Extra options.
In the window Additional parameters select
Windows 10 will notify the user that the system can be restarted to launch additional options, one of which is Safe mode... Click the button Reboot.
After the system reboots, select with which parameters you want to boot the system. To boot the system into Safe Mode there are three options (F4 - F6).
Method 3: Boot using a recovery drive
A tool for creating recovery discs is available in Windows 10.
Boot Windows 10 using the recovery drive you created this way. After that, the system will prompt you to select a keyboard layout, then select the menu Troubleshooting / Extra options... Further actions are the same as those described in the previous section.
Method 4: Special boot options
Although there are several ways to boot Windows 10 in Safe Mode, this method will be the most correct - provided that the operating system that needs to be loaded into Safe Mode fully functional.
It's pretty simple to do this:
- Open up Parameters
- Go to Update and security / Recovery
- In section Special download options press the key Reboot now
- After that, Windows 10 will restart and offer to select one of the menu items. Please select Troubleshooting / Extra options.
- Next, follow the steps described in Method 2
The described methods of loading the operating system into Safe Mode are relevant for both Windows 10 and Windows 8.1. Starting with these Windows versions Safe mode has ceased to be a function that only IT specialists use in their work. Now this is just another of the functions of the operating system that is available to every user, and with which the user can effortlessly
Safe mode (English - Safe Mode) - diagnostic mode in which all unnecessary drivers and Windows functions are disabled. It is used to troubleshoot PC problems. You just need to run Safe Mode and fix the errors, after which the PC will work as it should again.
When might you need to enter Safe Mode? For example, to solve a problem when.
Also in this way you can remove viruses, reset your password, fix errors (including the blue screen of death), restore the system, etc.
There are several ways. Plus, they differ slightly depending on which operating system you have. Therefore, below we will consider all the available ways to enter Windows Safe Mode.
How to enter Windows Safe Mode: 2 universal ways
There are 2 universal methods that work on all versions of Windows - XP, 7, 8 and 10. In addition, they are the most simple. Let's start with them.
Login via msconfig utility
The first way is through a special utility. To do this, you need to follow a simple instruction:
- Press Win + R (the button between "Ctrl" and "Alt") and enter the word "msconfig".
- In the new window, select the "Download" tab, indicate the desired OS and put the checkbox in the "Safe Mode" item. There are a couple of sub-items here - it is recommended to choose either "minimal" (standard) or "network" (in this case, there will be access to the Internet).
- Click "OK" and restart your PC - now it will turn on in safe mode.
When you fix the errors, do not forget to return the computer to normal startup mode! This is done in the same way - using the msconfig utility (only now you need to uncheck the box).
There is a small nuance here: in this way you can enable Safe Mode in Windows only if your OS boots normally. If you can't even load the desktop, then use the second method.
Login with F8
This method is suitable for those whose PC or laptop does not turn on (the desktop does not load, the monitor goes blank, etc.). In this case, do the following:
- Turn on your PC (or laptop) and immediately press the F8 key repeatedly until the menu appears (in some cases, you need to press Shift + F8).
- If the Windows logo appears or the screen goes out, you did not succeed. Wait for the system to fully boot, then restart your PC and try again.
- When you do everything correctly, a menu will open, where, using the arrows, select the "Safe Mode" item (the best option).
P.S. This method doesn't work on Windows 10! This feature has been disabled by the developers.
Special boot options for Windows 10
If Windows starts, then you need to do the following:
What if Windows 10 won't start? If the PC boots before the login screen, then the "Special boot options" can be opened in another way. To do this, click on the power button icon (in the lower right corner), hold down Shift and select the "Restart" item.
We use a disk or flash drive
This is the most reliable way to boot Windows 10 in Safe Mode. But in this case, you need a DVD or (they can be burned on any PC or laptop).
Plug in a USB or insert a disc, load them (), and then do the following:
- After loading, press Shift + F10.
- After opening the command line, enter - bcdedit / set (default) safeboot minimal.
- Then close it and restart your PC. It will turn on.
To return to normal PC startup, write the following on the command line: bcdedit / deletevalue (default) safeboot.
This can be done in the same way (or as administrator ) .
You can also enable mode in Windows 8 in 4 different ways.
The first two are detailed at the beginning of the article. The other two are quite similar to the options that are suitable for Windows 10, but we will still look at them in more detail to make it easier for you to navigate.
Diagnostic tools
So, the first way is to activate the buffer format (only suitable if the OS is working properly). To do this, do the following:
The PC will start in Safe Mode, and you can carry out the necessary manipulations.
Boot from disk or USB stick
And another simple option for starting Safe Mode in Windows 8 is through a bootable USB flash drive or DVD with Windows files. The procedure is as follows:
- Plug in a USB stick (or disk) and boot from the media.
- A window for setting the date and time will appear - click "Next".
- When the installation window opens, select the "System Restore" item. As a result, a diagnostic screen will appear (it is slightly different from the previous option).
- Then select the items: Diagnostics - Add. parameters - Command line.
- In a new window, write: bcdedit / set globalsettings and press Enter.
- After eliminating all errors, write the line in the command editor - bcdedit / deletevalue (globalsettings) advancedoptions. This will disable the transition to the diagnostic screen when the OS is turned on.
- Close it and click "Continue".
- After rebooting, the system will offer to choose a boot method - click F4. The PC will now turn on in safe mode.
How to be on Windows 7 and XP
You can enter Safe Mode in Windows 7 or XP using one of the universal methods described at the beginning of this article. The first option is suitable in cases where the OS is working normally, and the second - if the PC or laptop does not turn on.
It should be noted that the operating system is in no way tied to the BIOS. It also doesn't matter what brand of laptop you have - Samsung, Asus, Lenovo, HP, Acer, LG, etc.
What if Safe Mode won't launch?
Sometimes a PC or laptop will stubbornly refuse to enable Safe Mode. The reason is banal - viruses damaged the Windows registry. In situations like this, there are only 2 options:
- recovery of the PC (rollback of the system to the checkpoint);
- installation of special programs.
The best, of course, will be the first method - restoring the computer from a checkpoint. If you have not saved them (for example, disabled), then there will only be an option with installing programs for restoring the Windows registry. In this case, you can use the free Safe Mode Repair or SafeBootKeyRepair.
You can launch the System Configuration utility using the built-in search taskbar. Just enter your request and click on the very top row in the search results. In the window that appears, go to the "Download" tab and check the "Minimum" item. Confirm your choice by clicking on the "OK" button. You will see a dialog box asking if you want to restart your computer right now. With your consent, Windows 10 will boot into Safe Mode.
Method 2. Command line
Experienced users should remember that you can boot the system in safe mode by holding down the F8 key when starting the computer. However, in Windows 10, this feature was disabled to speed up system startup. To fix this "improvement", you only need to enter one command at the command line.
- Right-click on "Start" on the taskbar and select "Command Prompt (Admin)" from the menu that appears.
- Enter the following command in a Command Prompt window: bcdedit / set (default) bootmenupolicy legacy
- Press Enter. Close the terminal window and restart your computer. Now, when you press the F8 key during system startup, the boot method selection dialog should appear again.
If in the future you want to return everything as it was, then this can be done using the following command:
Bcdedit / set (default) bootmenupolicy standard
Method 3. Special boot options
This method does not require any tricks from you and seems to be on the surface. However, how many can boast of having discovered this useful feature on their own in the jungle of Windows 10 settings? So I decided to include this loading method in the article too.
So, open the "Start" menu, click on the "Settings" link, and then proceed to the address: "Update and Security" → "Recovery" → "Special boot options". Click on the "Restart Now" button. You will then be taken to the Select Action screen. It offers three options, of which we are interested in the "Diagnostics" item.
On the next screen, click the "Advanced Options" button, and then "Boot Options". At the end of this long path, we are waiting for the desired option called "Enable Safe Mode". By the way, this journey can be significantly shortened by simply holding the Shift key while clicking the Shut Down command in the Start menu.
What is Safe Mode? This is a kind of diagnostic mode that allows you to identify problems with your computer. Here are a couple of examples. Let's say you decided to reinstall Avast! Antivirus. To do this, you must first remove the program from your computer. Although it is easy to do this, you will have to remove a lot of "tails", so it is better to use a special utility that can be downloaded on the official website - it will do everything for you, but you need to run it through safe mode. Or another example: you "picked up" a banner on your desktop. Where should you first go to try to get rid of it? That's right, in Safe Mode. Today you will learn how to do this, good, we will not take much of your time.
How to enter Safe Mode on windows XP, Vista and 7?
On all three of these operating systems, the procedure is completely the same, except in small nuances. What do you need to do? Just restart your computer and as soon as it starts to boot, periodically press the F8 key. In modern computers this key is used, so difficulties should not arise. In front of you you will see a black screen with a menu in which you must select one item (it is highlighted in red).
After the system boots, a message like this will appear:
Click on the "Yes" button and wait a little while the system is fully loaded.
Safe Mode for Windows 8
In fact, this operating system is not much different from the previous ones, but there are some nuances here. After you have restarted your computer, together with the F8 key, you must also hold down Shift. After that, you will see the system recovery menu in front of you, which must be enabled by clicking the See advanced repair options button.
The next step is to click on the Troubleshoot button. This is how it looks:
Once in the new menu, click on Advanced Options.
Now Windows Startup Settings.
And finally, click on the small Restart button located in the right corner, as in the screenshot.
Now all that remains is to wait until Windows restarts and select Safe Mode from the already familiar menu.
As you can see, nothing complicated. The main thing is to practice a little and then you can perform all these actions with your eyes closed.
Safe Mode for Laptops
This is not the case with laptops. Each model can use its own key to enter Safe Mode. For example, the most commonly used buttons are F2, F5, F8, or F12. On some models, usually from Toshiba, you can try pressing F10 or even Esc.
Alternatively, you can use boot disks that allow you to enter the system into safe mode. To do this, the bootable disc must be written either to an optical disc or to a USB stick. True, it is unlikely to boot on its own, so you need to make sure that the media is launched first. To do this (as a rule, you need to press the Delete key) and in the 1st Boots Device section select your flash card.
If you can't get into safe mode
If you can't get into Safe Mode, then most likely this is due to the presence of viruses on your computer. Try using antivirus utilities to get rid of the malicious files.
There are situations when the user cannot get into the system (for example, a banner pops up on the desktop and all actions are blocked) or in Safe Mode. In such cases, only using a boot disk can help.
Sometimes this is due to problems in the. To solve this problem, you can find files with the .reg resolution created for a particular OS in runet. However, no one can provide any guarantees that they will work.
Many users who have switched to Windows 10 from Windows 7 (bypassing the eighth version) are at a loss: why did the developers remove the safe mode from the system? Previously, as it was: I pressed F8 before starting "Windows" - and booted into safe. Now it doesn't work.
In fact, no one thought to deprive us of such a useful tool. And there are even more opportunities to download it than there were. Let's see how to enter Windows 10 Safe Mode and what to do if it won't open.
the easiest way to boot your computer into Safe Mode is to press the Shift key along with the "" button on the Start menu or at the logon screen.
After the restart, we will be offered a choice of 3 actions:
- Continue working in Windows 10 - return to normal mode, from which we just exited.
- Turn off computer.
- Perform troubleshooting. Even if we haven't broken anything yet, this item should be selected.
In the next menu, select the section " Extra options».
Later - " Boot options».
To enter safe mode, you must restart the machine again. Let's click on the next screen button ""
After the restart, another menu will open - the last one. In it, we have to choose one of three types of safe mode: simple or minimal (the minimum required set of system components will be loaded), with support for network drivers (will allow us to access the Internet) and command line (in the form of a command console interface without a graphical shell).
Each item has a specific key associated with it. It should be pressed to move to the desired environment.
Special download options in the Settings app
The second method is no more difficult than the previous one. Just a little longer.
- Go to Start and open the system utility “ Parameters».
- Click " Update and security».
- Go to the group " Recovery"And near the item" Special download options"In the right half of the window, click" Reboot now».
Windows restarts and the monitor displays the same menu with a blue background as shown above. You already know what to do next.
Boot Configuration in System Configuration (MsConfig) Application
With the application " system configuration»Many are familiar from previous Windows releases. This is one of the administration components with which you can control the computer's startup. Including - switch it to safe mode.For a quick access to the utility, press the Windows + R combination on the keyboard or run the application " Execute»From the Start menu. Enter the name of the application executable file in it - msconfig, and click OK.
". The list “ Boot options"Check the box next to" Safe Mode"And select the desired start type with the radio button -" Minimum"(Simple)," Net"(With loading network drivers) or" Another shell»(Interface in the form of a command console). Click OK.In the window with the offer to restart the PC now click "".
After setting the "Safe Mode" flag in the MsConfig utility, the computer will start in it by default. To restore normal boot (normal mode), you must uncheck the box.
Use this method only if you are sure that safe mode works. Otherwise, you have every chance of getting an unbootable car!
BootSafe program
Free program BootSafecreated in order to make it as easy as possible for the user to switch between different Windows boot modes. It has only one window, 4 switches and a couple of buttons.The switches are designed to set the type of boot of the operating system. Including:
- normal mode (normal startup);
- safe mode minimal (minimal safe);
- safe mode with networking (network);
- safe mode width command prompt only.
Button " Configureonly"Saves the setting for later computer startup, and" RestartWindows"- immediately reboots it into the selected mode.
Using BootSafe before you make sure Safe Mode is working has the same consequences as checking a check box in Msconfig!
Command line
You can also switch between Windows 10 boot modes using the command line. This method will help you out not only when the graphical shell malfunctions, but also when the system completely restarts, since the command console is among the tools of the recovery environment.We looked into the Windows 10 recovery environment when we opened Safe Mode by rebooting with the Shift key pressed. If you have forgotten what it looks like, please scroll up this page.
So, to boot the machine in one of the safe mode options, type the necessary instruction into the command line (launched with administrative rights):
- Minimal (simple) safe mode : bcdedit /set (current)safebootminimal
- With network driver support: bcdedit /set (current)safebootnetwork
- With a console interface: first the first command in this list, then - bcdedit /set (current)safebootalternateshellyes
To restart the computer immediately, in the same window, follow one more instruction - shutdown /r /t 0
As in the previous cases, all 3 commands determine the way Windows starts by default, that is, the system will boot in the specified mode all the time. To cancel the setup and return to normal boot, follow these instructions: bcdedit / deletevalue (current) safeboot.
If you switched to the command line interface, in addition run the command bcdedit /deletevalue (current)safebootalternateshell.
How to bring back the menu of different boot options
If you want to regain the ability to quickly switch to safe mode by pressing F8 before starting the system, as it was in Windows 7, execute the following instruction in the console:bcdedit / set (default) bootmenupolicy legacy
The window for additional ways to boot Windows 10 will look the same as in the "seven":
However, due to the fact that the duration of launching the "ten" compared to the "seven" has noticeably decreased, it will be extremely difficult to catch this menu. After all, the time interval when the system reacts to pressing F8 has also decreased several times.
I don't know about you, but I don't really like this method. Modern computers with GPT disks boot up in seconds. On them it is impossible to have time to press any key before the start of "Windows", since it starts almost simultaneously with turning on the machine. In this case, there is another solution: we can make the menu open itself and not close until you tell it what you want to download.
You will need the command line again to enable this option. Follow the instructions in it:
bcdedit /set (globalsettings)advancedoptionstrueand reboot.
Before each new start of Windows 10, you will see the following picture:
However, this menu is already familiar to you. To enter normal mode, you will have to press Enter each time, in safe mode - F4, F5 or F6.
Experimenting? Did not like? Then we will return everything to its place. To mark the first command (black screen of additional startup options, as in Windows 7), execute the following instruction:
bcdedit / set (default) bootmenupolicy standard
To mark the second one (Windows 10 startup options on blue screen), do another one:
bcdedit /deletevalue (globalsettings) advancedoptions
After restarting the PC, no extra menus will open.
How to restore Windows 10 Safe Mode if it doesn't work
The reasons for the failure to boot a computer or laptop in safe mode are various "tweaks" to speed up or decorate Windows, as well as user experiments with the system registry. The registry contains the keys responsible for starting the safe mode. Even their partial damage leads to the fact that the latter stops opening, while the normal one continues to work properly.Safe mode keys are stored in a registry key HKLM / SYSTEM / CurrentControlSet / Control / SafeBoot... This section has two subsections: Minimaland Network.I think you understand what each of them is responsible for. When you select the minimum (normal) safe mode, the system reads data from the first. When choosing the option with loading network drivers - from the second. An additional parameter, AlternateShell, is responsible for opening the command line interface instead of the explorer; Windows takes the rest from the Minimal section.
The fact that all safe mode parameters are stored in one place, and are not scattered throughout the registry, allows them to be easily and quickly restored in case of damage. To do this, you will need a copy of them, made on another, serviceable PC with Windows 10 of any version.
How to get it:
- Start Registry Editor ( RegEdit.exe) in a "healthy" system. For this, it is convenient to use the system application " Execute».
- Find the above-mentioned branch (HKLM / SYSTEM / CurrentControlSet / Control / SafeBoot), right-click on the SafeBoot folder and select the command “ Export».
- Save the file under any name without changing the default extension (.reg), and then transfer it to the "sick" system.
After clicking OK in the confirmation window, the SafeBoot keys are imported into the system and Safe Mode will resume its work.
That's all. Happy experiments!
