What is covered:

• Using the F8 or Ctrl Key
• Using the Command Prompt
• Using the System Configuration Utility (Windows 98)
• Returning to Normal Mode
• What to Do When You Can't Start in Safe Mode

To start Windows 95 in Safe Mode using the F8 key:

• Choose Start > Shut Down > Restart the Computer.
• When you see the message, "Starting Windows 95. . . ," press the F8 key. (The "Starting Windows 95. . . " message appears on a black screen immediately before the Windows startup screen.)
• Choose Safe Mode from the Windows startup menu. (Do not select Safe Mode with Network Support.)
• Click OK in the Desktop dialog box that indicates Windows 95 is running in Safe Mode. If "Safe Mode" does not appear in each corner of the Desktop, repeat steps 1 through 3.

Note: On some systems, pressing the F8 key does not bring up the Windows startup menu. This could be caused by special startup values that are set in the Msdos.sys file, a read-only system file in the root of the computer's boot drive. This file contains an Options section that lets you tailor the startup process. For example, the BootDelay setting determines how quickly you must press F8 after the Starting Windows message appears. The default setting is 2 seconds (i.e., BootDelay=2). The BootKeys setting enables the startup option keys (F5, F8, etc.). However, if the value is set to 0, (i.e., BootKeys=0) the startup option keys will not function.

To start Windows 98 in Safe mode using the Ctrl key:

• Press the Ctrl key and choose Start > Shut Down > Restart the Computer.
• Release the Ctrl key when you see the Desktop dialog box that indicates Windows 98 is running in Safe Mode.

Note: If Windows does not start up in Safe Mode, the Ctrl key may be mapped to other system functionality. Use the command prompt or the System Configuration Utility to start Windows 98 in Safe Mode if this occurs (for instructions, see the steps below).

To start Windows 95 or Windows 98 in Safe mode from the command prompt:

• Select Start > Shut Down > Restart the Computer in MS-DOS Mode.
• Navigate to the disk containing the Windows folder (e.g., C:\).
• Type "win /d:m" without the quotation marks and then press Enter.

Using the System Configuration Utility (Windows 98)

• Choose Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Information.
• Choose Tools > System Configuration Utility.
• On the General tab, select Diagnostic Startup - Interactively Load Device Drivers and Software
• Click OK, and restart Windows by clicking Yes in the System Settings Change dialog box.
• At the Microsoft Windows 98 Startup Menu, choose option 3, Safe Mode, then press Return.
• Click OK in the Desktop dialog box that indicates Windows 98 is running in Safe Mode.

Note: If you use this utility to start in Safe Mode, you must also use it to restart in Normal mode. See instructions below.

Returning to Normal Mode:

If you used the F8 key, the Ctrl key, or the command prompt to start in Safe Mode, simply restart the computer to return to Normal Mode. If you used the System Configuration Utility to start in Safe Mode, you must use this utility to return to Normal Mode.

Returning to Normal Mode after using the System Configuration Utility:

• Choose Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Information.
• Choose Tools > System Configuration Utility.
• On the General tab, Select Normal Startup - Load Device Drivers and Software.
• Click OK, and restart Windows by clicking Yes in the System Settings Change dialog box.
• At the Microsoft Windows 98 Startup Menu, choose option 3, Safe Mode, then press Return.
• Click OK in the Desktop dialog box that indicates Windows 98 is running in Safe Mode.

To start Windows XP/ Vista in Safe Mode:

• Start with a powered down computer then turn the computer on.
• After the first blank screen, while the computer is booting press F8 repeatedly to trigger the “Windows Advanced Options Menu”
• Within the menu use the keyboard to select “Safe Mode” and the press enter.
• The computer then will load in Safe Mode. If you have multiple operating systems choose the operating system you would like to boot in safe mode by using the arrow keys on the keyboard. Press enter to boot in safe mode.
• Log into the Administrator account. If you don’t have a password for this account leave the password blank and proceed to login.
• When you receive the message to proceed in Safe Mode click yes. (If you click No it will direct you to do a System Restore.)
• When finishes running safe mode close all programs, and power-down the computer. The computer will then run normally.