How to boot into Safe Mode and What it means

In Safe Mode, your computer is running with non-core components disabled which makes it easier to fix potential errors or remove various software that, in normal conditions, can’t be fixed or removed.

If you boot into Safe Mode, you can use various diagnostic tools:

1. System Restore
2. Various settings for your Windows version
3. Device Manager, where you can update and remove devices and drivers from your computer
4. Event Viewer
5. System Information, where you can view information about the hardware
6. Command Prompt
7. Registry Editor


Usually, you can choose from 3 options: Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking and Safe Mode With Command Prompt:


Safe Mode: This is the most used option. It gives you a minimal set of devices, drivers and services to run Windows

Safe Mode with Networking: This loads the same devices, drivers and services as the Safe Mode option with the additional drivers necessary to load networking.

Safe Mode with Command Prompt: This option loads the same drivers and services as the Safe Mode option, but loads Command Prompt (cmd.exe) instead of Windows Explorer (graphical interface)


How to boot into Safe Mode

To boot into Safe Mode, you need to press the F8 key while your Windows is booting, but before the logo appears.

For Windows 8 and Windows 10, the combination of Shift and F8 keys might work, but it work for computers with UEFI/EFI.