How to Start Windows 7 in 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.
EXAMPLE: Safe Mode
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 an
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.
That's it,
Shawn