Restarting Windows in Safe Mode *Applies to: Windows 98, 2000 and XP*
What is Safe Mode you ask? Well, Safe mode is
a way to restart the computer to allow you to correct some items that
might not be allowing the system to start up correctly. In this state
Windows will load the most generic hardware drives as possible and
will load the minimal items that it needs in memory to run. This
allows for troubleshooting hardware
issues which might be driver related or some new software install easier.
Step 1 -
Click on the Start button located in the Taskbar
area and select Shut Down (or Turn Off Computer).
Step 2 -
Windows 98 or 2000 users go to Step 2A. Windows XP
users go to Step 2B.
2A -
Select the Restart The
Computer? option from the Shutdown dialog box and click the Yes button.
2B -
Select the Restart option from the Turn Off
Computer dialog box.
Step
3 -
Windows 98 users go to Step 3A. Windows 2000 or XP
users go to Step 3B.
3A -
While the computer is restarting press and hold down
the Control (or CTRL) key. The menu will appear once the boot
cycle is complete.
On some computers you can use the Windows 2000 and XP method that is
talked about in Step 3B as well.
3B -
While the system is restarting and when the Starting
Windows ?? message appears on the screen, press the F8 key on the
keyboard to enter the Advanced Start Menu.
Step
4 -
Then use the arrow up and down keys to navigate the
menu. Select the Safe Mode option and press the ENTER key.
