windows safe mode

Windows 95 Users
Windows 98 / ME Users
Windows 2000 Users
Windows XP Users
How to get out of Safe Mode

Windows 95 Users
To get into Windows 95 safe mode as the computer is booting when you hear either a beep or when you see the message "Starting Windows 95" press your F8 key on the top of your keyboard. If done properly you should get into the Windows 95 Startup menu similar to the following screen. In this menu choose option 3 by pressing the 3 key and press enter.

Windows 98/Me To use the System Configuration Utility to start Windows 98/Me in Safe mode

Close all open programs.
Click Start > Run.
In the Run dialog box, type msconfig and then click OK.
On the General tab, click Advanced
Windows Me will look a bit different than the picture below.
In the Advanced Troubleshooting Settings dialog box, check Enable Startup Menu, and then click OK.
Click OK again when the System Configuration Utility reappears.
When you are asked to restart the computer, click Yes.
When the Windows 98 (or Me) Startup Menu appears, select Safe Mode and press Enter.

The computer restarts with Windows in Safe mode. (This can take several minutes.) When you are finished working in Safe mode, use the System Configuration Utility to start Windows 98/Me in normal mode.

To use the System Configuration Utility to start Windows Me in normal mode

Finish what you need to do in Safe mode.
In the section "To use the System Configuration Utility to start Windows 98/Me" above, repeat 1-6, but in step 5, uncheck Enable Start-up Menu.
Close all programs, and restart the computer.

To use the F8 key to start Windows 98/Me in Safe mode

Restart the computer.
As the computer restarts, press and hold down the F8 key until the Windows 98/Me Startup menu appears.
When the Windows 98 (or Me) Startup Menu appears, select Safe Mode and press Enter.

Windows starts in Safe mode. (This can take several minutes.)

Windows 2000 / XP Users
Windows 2000
The F8 key is the only way to get into Safe mode.

To use the F8 key to start Windows 2000 in Safe mode

Restart the computer.
When you see the black-and-white Starting Windows bar at the bottom of the screen, start tapping the F8 key.
In the Windows 2000 Advanced Options Menu, select Safe mode if it is not selected.
If it is not selected, use the arrow keys to select it.
Press Enter.

Windows starts in Safe mode. (This can take several minutes.)

Windows XP
We recommend that you use the System Configuration Utility to get into Safe mode, however, the F8 key can also be used.

To use the System Configuration Utility, you must log on to Windows XP with an Administrator account.

To use the System Configuration Utility to start Windows XP in Safe mode

Close all open programs.
Click Start > Run.
In the Run dialog box, type msconfig and then click OK.
In the System Configuration Utility, on the BOOT.INI tab, check /SAFEBOOT.
Click OK.
When you are asked to restart the computer, click Restart.

The computer restarts in Safe mode. (This can take several minutes.) When you are finished working in Safe mode, use the System Configuration Utility to start Windows XP in normal mode.

To use the System Configuration Utility to start Windows XP in normal mode

Finish what you need to do in Safe mode.
In the section "To use the System Configuration Utility to start Windows XP" above, repeat steps 1-7, but in step 4, uncheck /SAFEBOOT.
Close all programs, and restart the computer.

To use the F8 key to start Windows XP in Safe mode

Restart the computer.
Some computers have a progress bar that refers to the word BIOS. Others may not let you know what is happening.
As soon as the BIOS loads, begin tapping the F8 key on your keyboard. Do so until the Windows Advanced Options menu appears.
If you begin tapping the F8 key too soon, some computers display a "keyboard error" message. If this happens, restart the computer and try again.
Using the arrow keys on the keyboard, select Safe mode and then press Enter.

How do I get out of safe mode?
From Windows Safe Mode click Start / Shutdown and restart the computer. This should start the computer automatically back into Normal Mode.
Note: Many users believe that they are still in safe mode because the colors or video may not look correct. Unless in the corners of the screen it says "Safe Mode" you are not in safe mode.
If you are rebooting the computer and it is rebooting back into Safe Mode (it does say "Safe Mode" in each of the corners). It is likely another problem exists with Windows preventing it from loading into Normal Windows.

Windows Safe mode