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How To Boot A Computer In Safe Mode


This is the official information from Microsoft and covers Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows 2K and Windows XP. The relevant Knowledge Base articles from Microsoft's web site have been referenced. Please see these for more detail.

Windows 95:

Method 1: By pressing F5 at the "Starting Windows 95" message.
Method 2: By pressing F8 at the "Starting Windows 95" message, and then choosing Safe Mode from the Windows 95 Startup menu.


Windows 98:

Method 1: Restart your computer. While your computer restarts, press and hold the CTRL key until the Windows 98 Startup menu is displayed. Select the Safe Mode menu option from the Startup menu, and then press Enter.
Method 2: Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Information. On the Tools menu, click System Configuration Utility. Click Advanced, and then click to select the Enable Startup Menu check box. Click OK, click OK, and then restart your computer when you are prompted to do so. Select the Safe Mode menu option from the Startup menu, and then press Enter.
Method 3: Restart your computer in MS-DOS Mode. From a command prompt type "win /d:m" without the quotation marks.


Windows Me:
To start Windows Me in Safe mode, press and hold down the CTRL key while you restart your computer, and then choose Safe Mode on the Windows Me Startup menu.


Windows 2000:
Restart your computer, and when the Boot menu appears, press F8. When the Windows Advanced Options menu appears, select an option, and then press Enter. When the Boot menu appears again, with the words "Safe Mode" displayed in red at the bottom, select the installation you want to start, and then press Enter.


Windows XP:
Restart your computer and start pressing the F8 key on your keyboard. When the Windows Advanced Options menu appears, select an option, and then press Enter. When the Boot menu appears again, and the words "Safe Mode" appear in blue at the bottom, select the installation that you want to start, and then press Enter.