Force Windows to Boot Into Safe Mode Without Using the F8 Key
So you are reading instructions on some article that tells you to reboot into Safe mode. You ask how you do that, and are told to use the F8 key when the computer boots up. But you just can't seem to get the F8 key to work… so how do you boot into Safe mode?
There's an option in the well-known System Configuration utility that will let you force Windows to always boot into Safe mode… until you turn the option off.
Note: While this method is nothing new, I have to give credit to reader Larry for mentioning it in a comment and prompting this article. Thanks, Larry!
Force Windows to Boot into Safe Mode
Open up the start menu search or run box, and type in msconfig and hit the enter key.
Select the Boot tab, and then check the box for "Safe boot" and make sure the radio button below is set to "Minimal".
Once you hit the OK button you'll be asked if you want to Restart now or wait until later. Either way, the next boot will take you into safe mode.
Once you restart, you'll realize that you are in Safe Mode because it not only places that text in the four corners of the screen, but it even opens up the safe mode page from the help file in Vista.
Now you can work on getting rid of that spyware…
Turn Safe Mode Back Off
Once you are done fixing whatever you were working on, you'll probably want to turn safe mode off and go back to normal mode. Just open up msconfig the same way as above, and then on the Boot tab you'll uncheck the "Safe boot" checkbox.
This method especially helps if you need to repeatedly boot into Safe mode.
Note: Check the comments below for instructions that work on XP. Thanks PeopleGeek!
amazing site!! great tips!
Is this work with WinXP? (Looks like screenshots was made in vista)
In Windows XP Click on "Start"
Click "Run"
Type in "msonfig"
Select tab "boot.ini"
Select bootoption "/safeboot"
Thats it!!
@PeopleGeek
Thanks for the followup!
Being picky I know, but just in case anyone cuts and pastes from PeopleGeek note the typo in msconfig:
In Windows XP Click on "Start"
Click "Run"
Type in "msconfig"
Select tab "boot.ini"
Select bootoption "/safeboot"
Thanks - this is really useful as F8 does not work for me either
Hi,
The F8 key should work for everyone , for those it dont work for its just a matter of how you tap F8 while system boots, just slowly repeatdly tap and once you get it right you will know how next time, if you dont get it right the first time just perservere, it'll work,
Bruce
great artical…easy to understand…thanks
Some of the newer BIOS versions use the F8 key as a means to select "Boot Devices", not Safe Mode or other "Boot Options".
@John
You are absolutely right… makes it much more confusing for people, which is why I wrote this article =)
Another more desperate way to get Windows XP into "Safe Mode".
When XP is beginning to load, hold the computers "power" button in until the computer shuts down.
When you power on the computer again it should start up with an option screen asking if you would like to start windows normally or in safe mode.
Use the up and down arrows to select what mode you would like and then hit the "Enter" key.
-This should only be done as a last resort. This method of shutting off a computer leaves behind temp files and various log files-
thanks, this has helped a lot
now my machine can be used by my friends with very little fear
especially if they don't know how to turn it off
but i think its best to explain why it is so don't you think?