How to Boot into Safe Mode in Windows XP / Vista / 7 / 8

Sometimes it’s necessary to Boot into Safe Mode in Windows to troubleshoot problems. It can help you perform advanced diagnostics and solve many serious problems, especially when starting normally is not possible.

Boot into Safe Mode with the F8 key

All Windows versions can be booted into Safe Mode by this method. Note that it is somewhat tricky to time this procedure and it may take several attempts.

1. Turn on or restart your computer.
2. Tap the F8 key repeatedly, tap, tap, tap
3. If a Windows logo or “Windows starting” appears, wait until Windows loads. Then restart the computer and try tapping  F8 again.
4. Once you are successful, a menu will appear with a number of boot options. Use an arrow key to navigate to “Safe Mode” and press the Enter key.

Trying to get to Safe Mode by using the F8 key can be frustrating and there is another way that uses the System Configuration Utility (msconfig).

How to Boot into Safe Mode in Windows XP

1. Open the Start menu and click “Run.”
2. In the Run box, enter “msconfig” (without quotes).
3. Click “OK.”
4. Select the tab “BOOT.INI.”
5. Place a check by the  /SAFEBOOT. Also click the radio button MINIMAL.
6. Click “Apply” and “OK.”
7. Restart the computer. The system should start in Safe Mode.

When finished using Safe Mode, open msconfig again and remove the check by /SAFEBOOT. Otherwise, you will continue to boot in Safe Mode whenever you re-start.

How to Boot into Safe Mode in Windows Vista/7

1. Click on Start.
2. Enter “msconfig” (without quotes) in the box labeled Start search (Vista) or Search programs and files (Windows 7).
3. Click the entry “msconfig” or “msconfig.exe” shown in the programs list.
4. Select the “Boot” tab.
5. In the “Boot options” section, check “Safe boot.” Also, make sure the radio button “Minimal” is selected.
6. Click “OK
7. Restart the computer to boot into save mode.

When you are finished with Safe Mode, go back to msconfig and remove the check by “Safe boot” that was applied in step 5 above.

How to Boot into Safe Mode in Windows 8

  1. From the metro UI select Desktop.
  2. Press the Windows key plus R in your keyboard.
  3. In the Run box, enter “msconfig” (without quotes).
  4. Select the “Boot” tab.
  5. In the “Boot options” section, check “Safe boot.” Also, make sure the radio button “Minimal” is selected.
  6. Click “OK
  7. Restart the computer boot into save mode.

When you are finished with Safe Mode, go back to msconfig and remove the check by “Safe boot” that was applied in step 5 above.

Video Tutorial:

Miguel

I started this tech blog back in 2011 as a place to write down processes I took to fix my client systems and network. Now I write some tips and tricks to help others with the tech issues that one might encounter.

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