November 1, 2011

This month I want to cover starting your computer in safe mode.  Many of you have heard this phrase used, so I will attempt to explain what it is and how to use it.

Safe mode has been with Windows  through many versions now.  It is a troubleshooting tool used mostly by consultants, but it also a valuable tool for everyone.  What safe mode does is to start the computer with a minimum of drivers and core applications running because the computer won't start on it's own in the regular startup mode.  For instance, you may have downloaded a new driver, or downloaded a Windows update which didn't go as it should and then the computer would not start up normally.  Many times, if the computer refuses to start up normally, it is due to a driver or some hardware issue.

The first thing to do is unplug everything and then try restarting again.  If that doesn't work, watch the computer screen as it is starting up.  Most computers will have a manufacturer logo screen of some sort and may have some text saying something like "Hit F1 to enter setup".  This screen will only be on momentarily when you first turn the computer on.  This may take a few tries to get the timing right, so you may have to do this a few times in order to catch it at the correct time.  As soon as the initial logo screen disappears, tap the F8 key at the top of the keyboard about once every half second.  If you hit the key too fast, the computer buffer will fill up and it will beep, and if you hit it too late or too slow, it will go ahead and attempt to start up normally.  Even those of us who are experienced at this may have to try it two or three times in order to catch the computer at the right point.

If you catch it at the right time, you will get the screen shown below (your computer may not have the full list of options shown here, but the main options will still be on your system).

If, for instance, you downloaded a new driver, video, audio, etc. and that's when the computer stopped working, you can use the up/down arrow keys and select Last Known Good Configuration.  Then Windows will start up using the old driver and the computer will work OK.  This is usually the best option for novices to use, and most of the time it will resolve the problem.

If you really need to start in Safe Mode, use the arrow keys and select Safe Mode.  As Windows is starting up, it will be slower than normal and you will see things on the screen as it starts, similar to those shown below.

Once Windows loads you will see the next screen.

You can then click yes and do whatever you need to fix the problem which caused the trouble to happen.  For instance, you can uninstall the Windows update, uninstall the software you just installed, whatever it is that caused the problem, safe mode allows the computer to run so you can have a chance to undo the issue.