Safe Mode

How to start the computer in Safe mode

As soon as you boot up your system at the manufacturer screen you need to strike the F8 key repeatedly until the boot screen appears. From there you choose to boot system in Safe Mode and continue. If for some reason this does not work for your system, you can also boot into safe mode by following the instructions listed below.

Safe mode is the Windows diagnostics mode. When you start the computer in Safe mode, only the specific components that are needed to run the operating system are loaded. Safe mode does not allow some functions, such as connection to the Internet. It also loads a standard video driver at a low resolution; therefore, your programs and the Windows desktop may look different than usual. In addition, the desktop icons may have moved to different locations on the desktop.

All Windows operating systems except Windows 3.1 and Windows NT can be started in Safe mode.

Notes:
This information is provided for your convenience. Safe mode is a function of the operating system. If you need additional help with starting the computer in Safe mode, please contact Microsoft or the computer manufacturer.
The main focus of this document is for operating systems that are supported by currently available Symantec software and that include the System Configuration Utility, which can be used to configure the system to start in Safe mode. For those that do not include the System Configuration Utility, and for other ways to start in Safe mode for those that do, we provide links to other documents.

Read the instructions for your operating system.

Windows 98 & ME

Windows 98/Me includes the System Configuration Utility. If you can start the computer normally into Windows, this is the easiest--and the recommended--way to restart the computer in Safe mode.

To configure the System Configuration Utility to start the computer in Safe mode:

1. Close all open programs.

2. Click Start, and then click Run. The Run dialog box appears.

3. As shown in this illustration, type msconfig and then click OK.

4. The System Configuration Utility, as shown in this illustration, appears. (It may look slightly different in Windows Me.) Click "Advanced."

5. The Advanced Troubleshooting Settings dialog box appears. Check Enable Startup Menu as shown here, and then click OK. Click OK again when the System Configuration Utility reappears.

6. You will be prompted to restart the computer. Click Yes. The computer will restart in Safe mode. (This can take several minutes.)

Note: When you are finished with all troubleshooting (in Safe mode) repeat these steps, but in step 5, uncheck "Enable Start-up Menu." Then close all programs and restart the computer as you normally would.

Windows 2000
Windows 2000 does not include the System Configuration Utility.

Note: Some IT departments or computer manufacturers may include the System Configuration Utility as part of a custom Windows 2000 installation. The version that they include may differ. Both the Windows 98/Me and the Windows XP versions will run on Windows 2000. (This is not supported by Microsoft.) If you can start Windows 2000 normally, and the System Configuration Utility is installed on your computer, follow the instructions for Windows 98/Me or XP (depending on your version). Otherwise, continue with the instructions in this section.

To start Windows 2000 in Safe mode:

If the computer is running, shut down Windows and then turn off the power.
Wait 30 seconds, and then turn the computer on.
When you see the black-and-white Starting Windows bar at the bottom of the screen, start tapping the F8 key. The Windows 2000 Advanced Options Menu appears.
Ensure that the Safe mode option is selected. In most cases, it is the first item in the list and is selected by default. (If it is not selected, use the arrow keys to select it.)
Press Enter. The computer will start in Safe mode. This can take a few minutes.
When you are finished with all troubleshooting, close all programs and restart the computer as you normally would.

Windows XP
Windows XP includes the System Configuration Utility. If you can start the computer normally into Windows, this is the easiest--and the recommended--way to restart the computer in Safe mode.

To configure the System Configuration Utility to start the computer in Safe mode:

Close all open programs.
Click Start, and then click Run. The Run dialog box appears.
As shown in this illustration, type msconfig and then click OK.
The System Configuration Utility appears, as shown in the following illustration. Check the "/SAFEBOOT" option, and then click OK.
You then see the prompt to restart the computer. Click Restart.

The computer restarts in Safe mode. (This can take several minutes.)

Note: When you finish with all troubleshooting (in Safe mode) repeat these steps, but in step 4, clear "/SAFEBOOT" and then close all of the programs and restart the computer as you normally would.

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