Published by

**Brink** · 22 Jan 2008

How to Start Vista in Safe Mode

Information

Safe mode is a troubleshooting option for Windows that starts your computer with a minimal set of drivers and services. If an existing problem does not reappear when you start in safe mode, you can eliminate the default settings and basic device drivers as possible causes.

Note

If your computer automatically starts in safe mode without prompting, a problem with your computer might be preventing Vista from starting normally. If you think the cause of the problem might be a recently installed program or device, then try using System Restore. See: How to Do a System Restore in Vista

Tip

CHANGE SAFE MODE USER ACCOUNT LOGON:
If you would like to change the user account that Safe Mode is currently logged on with, then Log Off while in Safe Mode and select another user account to logon 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.

EXAMPLE: Safe Mode

METHOD 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)
NOTE: The computer will now start Vista in Safe Mode after you logon.

3. When done in Safe Mode, Restart the computer from the Start Menu to go back to the normal boot mode.

METHOD TWO

Through System Configuration (msconfig)

1. To Start Vista in Safe Mode
WARNING: This will set Vista to start into Safe Mode all the time until you set it back to the normal boot mode in step 2 below.

A) Open the Start Menu.

B) In the white line (Start Search) area, type msconfig and press Enter.

C) Click on Continue in the UAC prompt.

D) Click on the Boot tab. (See screenshot below)

E) Check Safe boot and dot Minimal.

F) Click on OK and restart the computer.
NOTE: The computer will now start Vista in Safe Mode after you logon.

2. To Start Vista Back in Normal Mode
WARNING: Before you can leave Safe Mode, you will need to set msconfig to start Vista back in normal mode.

A) Open the Start Menu.

B) In the white line (Start Search) area, type msconfig and press Enter.

C) Click on the General tab. (See screenshot below)

E) Dot Normal startup.

F) Click on OK and restart the computer.
NOTE: The computer will now start Vista in normal mode after you logon. If not, then make sure that Safe boot is unchecked and check Make all boot settings permanent (only stays checked until you OK or Apply is checked) and click OK in the screenshot below step 1. You can still make changes to Msconfig later if you want despite the warning. I will confirm it.

METHOD THREE

Using BCDEDIT Command in a Command Prompt

1. Open either a 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

Related Tutorials

**vistachuck** · 06 Jul 2008

what should I do when loading windows files comes up? It shows what all loaded and says please wait.

**Brink** · 06 Jul 2008

Hello Chuck,

Welcome to Vista Forums.

Well, I suppose you would wait until it finished loading to the log on screen or desktop.

Did you have a problem with it loading or anything? Any error messages?

Shawn

**vistachuck** · 07 Jul 2008

yes it did have an error. my computer froze up and I turned it off at the switch {the on /off botton}. when I did this and tried to start it back up it went to the error page. now I can't get my windows to load up at all!!!

**Brink** · 07 Jul 2008

Chuck,

I would recommend doing a System Restore using a restore point dated before the problem. Method Two in this tutorial will show you how to do one from boot since you cannot get Vista to startup.

System Restore - How to

Hope this helps,
Shawn

**vistachuck** · 07 Jul 2008

It says {microsoft, windows version 6.0 {built 6001: service pack 1} 2 system processors [ 2047 mb memory] multiprocessor kernel
this system is booting in safemode- directory services repair. what should I do now?

I don't have a recovery dvd by the way.

**Brink** · 07 Jul 2008

This tutorial will show you how to create a Recovery Disc so that you can use it to do a System Restore from the post above.

Create a Recovery Disc

Hope this helps,
Shawn

**vistachuck** · 07 Jul 2008

I did {directory sevices restore mode} in advance boot mode and the wording up above is what I got.

**Brink** · 07 Jul 2008

What was the error message that you received?

Do you have a option of Start Windows Normally to select? If so select it to allow it to boot to Vista.

**vistachuck** · 07 Jul 2008

it went to windows error recovery. that has safe mode and safe mode with networking safe mode with command prompt, last know good configuration{advanced} that last one is start windows normally.

I selected start windows normally
and the microsoft corporation things is up with the green light going across the box. it just stays there and does nothing.

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