How to start your PC in Safe Mode

valuable tips from

PC Mobile Help

A division of PC Mobile, Inc.

 

For Windows XP and Vista:

  1. Print these instructions before continuing. They will not be available after you shut your computer down.
  2. Shut down your computer all the way.  In Vista, the shut down is in a side menu with a little arrow to the right in the start menu.
  3. Turn on the computer.  Start tapping the F8 key repeatedly until a menu comes up.
  4. Use the arrow keys to highlight the safe mode option, and then press ENTER. 
  5. If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot system, choose the installation that you need to access using the arrow keys, and then press ENTER.

For Windows 98 and Windows ME:

Method 1

  1. Restart your computer.
  2. While your computer restarts, press and hold the CTRL key until the Windows 98 Startup menu is displayed.
        NOTE: If you are using the EZDrive tool, press F8 instead of CTRL.
  3. Select the Safe Mode menu option from the Startup menu, and then press ENTER.

Method 2

  1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Information.
  2. On the Tools menu, click System Configuration Utility.
  3. Click Advanced, and then click to select the Enable Startup Menu check box.
  4. Click OK, click OK, and then restart your computer when you are prompted to do so.
  5. Select the Safe Mode menu option from the Startup menu, and then press ENTER.

Method 3

  1. Insert a non-bootable floppy disk in the floppy disk drive, and then restart your computer.
  2. When you receive the "Non-system disk or disk error. Replace and strike any key when ready" error message, remove the floppy disk from the floppy disk drive.
  3. Press F8, and then press F8. When you do this, the Windows 98 Startup menu is displayed.
  4. Select the Safe Mode menu option from the Startup menu, and then press ENTER.

Method 4

  1. Restart your computer in MS-DOS Mode.
  2. From a command prompt type "win /d:m" without the quotation marks.