Booting Windows 8 in safe mode – how it works

Safe mode is a Windows operating mode that is intended for emergencies and is normally not required. If a computer is still able to boot in Windows 8 safe mode, system repairs can be performed, problematic device drivers removed, data rescued, and viruses cleared.

In this special mode, Windows starts in a basic version that only contains the bare essentials. This way, applications in the auto start-up directory and third-party drivers will not be loaded, as they may be the cause of problems. It’s possible that even manually installing a current graphics card driver causes significant stability problems or even complete system failures with a blue screen.

To use this mode, a separate start-up procedure is required. It ends with a desktop that differs from the normal user interface of Windows 8 due to its special appearance.

Microsoft offers a number of ways to boot Windows 8 in safe mode. Most methods can be accessed while running Windows. However, the special mode can also be launched if Windows completely crashes. In most cases, it’s opened via an intermediate instance. “System recovery with advanced start and repair options” offers extensive tools for troubleshooting, which include starting in safe mode.

First, move the mouse cursor to the top-right corner of the desktop. After a brief moment, the Charms bar will appear on the edge of the screen, which you can access with the mouse. Select the menu item “Settings”.

Three steps are required in the settings menu:

1. Click on the on/off symbol: a context menu will appear with the entries “Shut down” and “Restart”
2. Hold down the shift key on the keyboard
3. At the same time, click on “Restart” (the start procedure for safe mode will begin)

You can also access the restart options in the Windows login screen. Press the Windows symbol key and the letter “L” on the keyboard (WIN+L) at the same time and then follow the steps below:

1. Click on the on/off symbol in the login screen
2. Hold down the shift key on the keyboard
3. Click on “Restart” at the same time

You can also launch Windows 8 safe mode via the PC settings:

1. Press the key shortcut (WIN+I)
2. Click on “Change PC settings”
3. Click on “Update and recovery”
4. Click on the “Restart” button under “Recovery”

Another option is to access Windows 8 safe mode via the tile menu, also known as the Charms bar. The menu is launched using the Windows key (press once). Alternatively, you can click on the Windows symbol on the task bar at the bottom-left corner of the desktop:

In the Charms bar, you need to hold down the shift key and click on “Restart” at the same time:

2. Confirm with “OK” or the enter key

Using the run dialogue, you can also start the Windows system configuration and activate Windows 8 safe mode there:

1. Enter “msconfig.exe”
2. Click on “OK” or confirm with the enter key

Once you have left the standard Windows interface with one of the above access methods, the startup screen for the system recovery with the advanced start and repair options will appear after a brief moment. To reach the start settings for Windows 8 safe mode, proceed as follows:

1. Select option -> Troubleshoot
2. Troubleshoot -> Advanced options
3. Advanced options -> Startup settings
4. Startup settings -> Click on “Restart”
5. Startup settings -> Select safe boot mode (press number 4 on the keyboard for safe mode)

Before safe mode is launched, Windows 8 offers a number of options. You need to press option 4 for normal safe mode. This mode can also be launched with activated network drivers (option 5) to gain access to the internet or other computers. A startup with command prompt (option 6) allows commands to be entered directly into the command line (cmd.exe).

You do not necessarily need to open Windows 8 safe mode directly. In the “Advanced options” menu, you can first try to perform an automatic startup repair (this is also called “Start help” in some versions of Windows 8):

If this attempt to resolve the problem is unsuccessful, the system recovery allows you to return to the advanced options. After clicking on the button “Advanced options”, you can open Windows 8 safe mode via the following steps:

Troubleshoot -> Advanced options -> Startup settings.

Using an installation medium like the Windows DVD, you can launch Windows 8 relatively easily in safe mode. Here you need to click on “Next” in the start screen of the installation DVD and then on “Repair your computer”.

Next, select the menu item “Troubleshoot” in the system recovery screen and then “Advanced options”, where you can start the “Command Prompt” (cmd.exe).

After that, the PC will restart and launch in standard safe mode (safeboot minimal) without network drivers or the command prompt window, for example.

If the system still starts up, you can also use the bcdedit tool directly out of Windows 8. So starting from the DVD is not strictly necessary. Simply take the steps below:

1. Click on the Windows symbol in the task bar
2. Open the command prompt with administrator rights

Next, enter the bcdedit command shown above into the command line.