REFERENCE NUMBER: CHSAFE
Getting into Windows Safe Mode.
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About:
Getting into Windows Safe Mode.
Additional Information:
See our safe mode definition page for a definition on this term as well as related definitions and pages.
Reason:
Users who may not be able to boot into normal mode may need to boot into safe mode bypassing normal windows settings and startup programs, allowing the user to fix his or her computer.
Solution:
Windows 95 Users
Windows 98 / ME Users
Windows 2000 Users
Windows XP Users
How to get out of Safe Mode
Unable to get into Safe mode see document CH000750
Windows 95 Users
To get into Windows 95 safe mode, as the computer is booting, when you either hear a beep or when you see the message "Starting Windows 95", press your F8 key on the top of your keyboard. If done properly you should get into the Windows 95 Startup menu similar to the below screen. In this menu choose option 3 by pressing the 3 key and press enter.
Microsoft Windows 95 Startup Menu
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1. Normal
2. Logged (\BOOTLOG.TXT)
3. Safe mode
4. Step-by-step confirmation
5. Command prompt only
6. Safe mode command prompt only
Enter a choice: 1
F5=Safe Mode Shift+F5=Command prompt Shift+F8= Step-by-step confirmation [N]
Windows 98 / ME Users
To get into Windows 98 / ME safe mode, as the computer is booting press and hold your "F8 key" on the top of your keyboard or press and hold the left or right Ctrl key as the computer is booting. If done properly you should get into the "Windows 98 / ME Startup Menu" similar to the below screen example. In this menu choose option 3 by pressing the 3 key and press enter.
Note: With some computers if you press and hold a key as the computer is booting you will get a stuck key message. If this occurs, instead of pressing and holding the "F8 key", tap the "F8 key" continuously until you get the startup menu.
Microsoft Windows 98 Startup Menu
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1. Normal
2. Logged (\BOOTLOG.TXT)
3. Safe mode
4. Step-by-step confirmation
5. Command prompt only
6. Safe mode command prompt only
Enter a choice: 1
F5=Safe Mode Shift+F5=Command prompt Shift+F8= Step-by-step confirmation [N]
Windows 2000 / XP Users
Tip: If you are running safe mode because you cannot get into Windows you may want to first try loading the last known good configuration. Additional information about this mode can be found on document CH000626.
To get into the Windows 2000 / XP Safe mode, as the computer is booting press and hold your "F8 Key" which should bring up the "Windows Advanced Options Menu" Use your arrow keys to move to "Safe Mode" and press your Enter key.
Trouble Getting into Windows 2000 or Windows XP Safe mode - If after several attempts you are unable to get into Windows 2000 or Windows XP safe mode as the computer is booting into Windows, turn off your computer. When the computer is turned on the next time Windows should notice that the computer did not successfully boot and give you the safe mode screen.