Booting to Safe Mode in Windows XP

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Booting to Safe Mode in Windows XP

Posted on October 10th, 2007 by Jason

Booting to Safe Mode can be a very effective method of troubleshooting a system. Safe Mode allows only essential files and drivers to be used. An example of why you would need Safe Mode is; If you have installed a new hardware device and upon rebooting your system it will not start. If you can get into Safe Mode you will be able to remove the offending hardware device from your system and allow your system to boot normally.

If there are damaged, deleted or corrupt system files involved, Safe Mode may not be an option. You may need to use the Recovery Console for help.

To boot in to Safe Mode:

1. Go to Start>> Turn off computer>> Restart.
2. When the message “Please select the operating system to start” appears, press F8.
3. Using the arrow keys, highlight the appropriate Safe Mode option, then press Enter.

Note: If your system is a dual-boot or multi-boot system, choose the appropriate installation using the arrow keys, then press Enter.

Alternate method:

1. Go to Start>> Run. Type in: msconfig [Enter]
2. Select the BOOT.INI tab
3. Check the box titled “/SAFEBOOT”
4. Click Apply and then exit the Configuration Utility.

Windows will now be configured to restart in Safe Mode and will continue this way until you uncheck the /SAFEBOOT box.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 10th, 2007 at 1:11 pm and is filed under Computer, Hardware, Windows XP. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

3 Responses to “Booting to Safe Mode in Windows XP”

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October 2007 Popular Tips for PcTipsBox | PCTipsBox on 01 Nov 2007 at 9:13 am #

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Rich on 27 Apr 2008 at 12:45 pm #

I am having physical memory problems. When I run a normal boot, a blue screen appears after a while saying I have to free up memory. I ran msconfig and am running only necessary items.
Anything I can do from safe mode?