Windows 7: Safe Mode

   Information

Safe mode is a troubleshooting option for Windows that starts your computer with a minimal set of drivers and services. This will show you how to start Windows 7 in Safe Mode.

   Tip

To Log on to a Different User Account in Safe Mode:
If you would like to change the user account that Safe Mode is currently logged on to, then Log Off while in Safe Mode and select another user account to log on to back in Safe Mode. If you do not have another user account, then you can enable the built-in Administrator account while in Safe Mode to have available when you log off.

   Warning

If you do a System Restore when the computer is in safe mode, you cannot undo the restore operation. However, you can run System Restore again and choose a different restore point if one exists.

OPTION ONE

Through Advanced Boot Options

1. Boot into the Advanced Boot Options screen.

2. Use the arrow keys to select Safe Mode and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

3. When finished in Safe Mode, you can restart the computer from the Start Menu to go back to the normal boot mode.

OPTION TWO

Through System Configuration (msconfig)

1. To Start Windows 7 in Safe Mode

   Warning

This will set Windows 7 to start into Safe Mode until you set it back to the normal boot mode in step 2 below.

A) Open the Start Menu, then type msconfig in the search box and press Enter.

B) If prompted by UAC, click on Yes.

C) Click on the Boot tab. (See screenshot below)

D) Select Windows 7 at the top, check Safe boot, and dot Minimal.

E) Click on OK and restart the computer.

F) The computer will now restart and start Windows 7 into Safe Mode.

2. To Start Windows 7 Back in Normal Mode

A) Open the Start Menu, then type msconfig in the search box and press Enter.

B) If prompted by UAC, click on Yes.

C) Click on the Boot tab. (see screenshot below)

D) Select Windows 7 at the top, and uncheck Safe boot.

E) Check the Make all boot settings permanent box.
NOTE: You can still make changes to msconfig later if you want despite the warning. I will confirm it.

F) Click on OK, and restart the computer.

G) The computer will now restart and start Windows 7 in normal mode.

OPTION THREE

Using BCDEDIT Command in a Command Prompt

1. Open either a elevated command prompt or a command prompt at boot.

2. In the command prompt, type the command below and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Under the Windows Boot Loader sections, make note of the identifier value (ex: {current}) for the OS description (ex: Windows 7) that you want to use in steps 4, 5, or 6 below.

bcdedit /enum

3. Do either step 4, 5, or 6 below for what you would like to do.


4. To Start in Safe Mode

A) In the command prompt, type the command below and press enter.
NOTE: Substitute identifier in the command below with the actual value or long GUID number to the right of identifer in the command used from step 2.

bcdedit /set {identifier} safeboot minimal

For example: If I wanted to have Windows 7 boot into Safe Mode using the values in the screenshot under step 2, I would type this command below and press Enter.

bcdedit /set {current} safeboot minimal

B) Go to step 7.

5. To Start in Safe Mode with Networking

A) In the command prompt, type the command below and press enter.
NOTE: Substitute identifier in the command below with the actual value or long GUID number to the right of identifer in the command used from step 2.

bcdedit /set {identifier} safeboot network

For example: If I wanted to have Windows 7 boot into Safe Mode with networking using the values in the screenshot under step 2, I would type this command below and press Enter.

bcdedit /set {current} safeboot network

B) Go to step 7.

6. To Start Windows 7 back in Normal Mode

A) From step 2, look for the identifier (ex: {current}) for the OS description (ex: Windows 7) under a Windows Boot Loader section that has the safeboot value in it.

B) In the command prompt, type the command below and press enter.
NOTE: Substitute identifier in the command below with the actual value or long GUID number to the right of identifer in the command used from step 2.

bcdedit /deletevalue {identifier} safeboot

For example: If I wanted to have Windows 7 not boot into Safe Mode anymore, I would type this command below and press Enter.

bcdedit /deletevalue {current} safeboot

7. Restart the computer.