Quite often, in order to eliminate problems that arise in a Windows system, it may be necessary to load in the so-called Safe Mode or Safe Mode. Not all users are aware of the ways to launch it, believing that this can be a menu called by the F8 key at system startup. Note that on systems with a rank higher than Windows 7, this option has no effect. Read about how to start safe mode on different systems and in different ways. At least to all those who work with the eighth and tenth versions of the system, knowledge of several proposed techniques will come in handy. Separately, the issue of returning the classic download option will be raised. But more on that later.
What is safe mode and what is it for?
First, some theoretical information about what constitutes a system boot in this mode. It is believed that safe mode is a kind of diagnostic tool that allows you to load a workable system to eliminate many problems.
Quite often, it is used to fix problems with drivers or to remove viruses that, in the normal state of Windows, even anti-virus scanner programs do not remove. Viruses affect files, programs or system components, which in turn refer to device drivers, and when you start in this mode (standard type), almost all drivers turn off and become inaccessible. Thus, the effect of the virus on the system is limited quite strongly. Sometimes this startup option is also used to delete files and folders that cannot be deleted, which for some reason are blocked in a normally loaded system, and not even because the user does not have access rights.
Possible options for starting the system
Let us leave the question of how to start Windows in safe mode, but look at what the boot options might be. There are only three of them: standard mode, mode with network driver support and mode with command line support.
In the first case, the system starts, so to speak, with limited capabilities. Even the screen has a completely different resolution than what was set. This is only due to the fact that some drivers and system settings during such a load are not available.
The second option is intended for those cases when it is necessary to use the network identification of the computer or access to the Internet, for example, to restore the system in online mode using the DISM tool. In the third case, the command line is intended precisely to eliminate problems that cannot be corrected in the normal state of the system or when using the first two options. And it is this console with the entered commands that is sometimes the only tool that even allows you to restore a normal start of the system in case of partial damage to the bootloader or boot sectors and recordings on the hard disk.
How to start safe mode of Windows versions below the tenth?
Actually, in all systems, except the latest versions in the form of the eighth and tenth modifications, as already mentioned, after checking the devices in the primary BIOS, the F8 key is used (the classic version).
Please note that sometimes a single, double or long press on the button does not work, so in some cases you have to press the key seven or eight times. However, these are trifles. In the start menu that appears, use the arrows on the keyboard to select the desired start option and press the enter key.
Using system configuration
In the matter of how to start safe mode in a running system, there should also not be any special difficulties. To access such settings, it is enough to call the configuration section (msconfig in the "Run" menu), and on the download tab, check the box next to the corresponding line, simultaneously marking the minimum load.
This option, by the way, is perfect for the eighth or tenth version. After the restart, the mode and can be used with all the ensuing consequences.
How to run the 10th modification in safe mode?
With the tenth version, the situation is somewhat more complicated. Since the F8 key does not work in it, you have to use methods different from the classical one.
The simplest technique to solve the problem of how to start the safe mode of Windows 10 (or 8) is to reboot the system through the start menu with the Shift key held down. The blue window with the choice of action in the tenth version will appear immediately, and in the eighth - at restart.
Here the diagnostic section is used and the transition to additional settings and boot parameters is carried out.
After the restart, the menu for selecting the option to start the system appears on the screen. Safe mode corresponds to 4-6 points to select its type. Unlike previous systems, the arrow buttons can not be used here, and use a conventional mouse.
In some cases, the question of how to start safe mode on Windows 8 can be solved by using the Shift + F8 combination, but due to the system loading too fast, it is not always possible to manage to press both buttons at the same time, except in very rare cases.
For the tenth modification of the system, one more method can be applied. How to start Windows 10 in safe mode? To do this, you can use the options menu, in which the update and security section is selected, after which the transition to the recovery point is carried out, and the immediate reboot button is pressed. After that, the same blue screen will appear in which you can select the desired action.
Is it possible to return the classic start through F8 in Windows 10?
It is somewhat unclear why developers had to create so many difficulties for users. Nevertheless, if anyone does not know, returning to the usual menu, for the call of which you can use the F8 key, can be quite simple.
To do this, run the command line as administrator and enter the combination bcdedit / set {current} bootmenupolicy legacy in it. After executing the command at restart, the classic way to call the start menu of the boot will work again, and it will have the same appearance of a black window as before, but not of the blue screen installed in the last three versions of Windows by default when using only their tools to access the parameters necessary for the user .
Brief summary
Here is a brief summary of how to start safe mode. As we can see from the latest versions of the system, in particular, the eighth and tenth modifications, there are quite a lot of options here, in contrast to the fact that previously only one main method was used (although it is possible to enable safe start in systems with a lower class through the configurator). But in general, it seems that there should not be any difficulties in the question considered.