Windows 8.1 turning on. Entering Safe Mode
You can solve many problems in the operation of the operating system by starting it in “safe mode”. In Windows 8.1, pressing the F8 (or Shift+F8) key when starting the computer will not work to enter “safe mode”. To do this you will have to use other methods.
1. If the operating system boots (the easiest way):
Open the shutdown menu and hold down the button Shift select with the mouse. You can also do this on the command line:
shutdown /r /o /t 0
This will open the system recovery menu. We sequentially select the following menu items: "Diagnostics" - "Extra options" - "Boot Options". In the window "Boot Options" must be pressed "Reboot". Next, select the required boot mode. For example: F4- to start safe mode.
After this, Windows 8.1 will boot into “safe mode”.
2. If the operating system does not boot (using the recovery disk):
When the installed operating system does not boot, you need to boot from the recovery disk. After selecting one of the keyboard layouts, you need to select the following menu items sequentially: "Diagnostics" - "Extra options" - "Command line" and enter the command:
bcdedit /set (globalsettings) advancedoptions true
After successfully executing the command, you need to close the command prompt window and click "Continue".
After these changes, each system boot will involve selecting a boot mode. To remove it, you need to enter the command in the same way:
bcdedit /deletevalue (globalsettings) advancedoptions
Since the Windows 8 interface has been significantly redesigned compared to previous iterations of the system, entering Safe Mode requires additional clarification. In this article we will look at different ways to do this, and also learn how to add safe mode to the boot list to speed up access.
How to enter safe mode on Windows 8
For the fastest possible startup, the eighth version of the popular OS has reduced the interrupt wait time, during which you need to press the F8 key (to open a menu with a selection of boot options). On powerful modern computers, the user may simply not have time to react to a hotkey. Therefore, we will simplify this action slightly:
- With Windows 8 turned on, press “Win+X”;
- select “Command Prompt” with administrator rights from the list;
- in the console that opens, write bcdedit /set (default) bootmenupolicy legacy;
- Press “Enter”, sending the command for execution.
This combination will “return” the usual entry into safe mode, which is familiar with Windows 7. To switch back to the control type preinstalled in Windows 8, enter bcdedit /set (default) bootmenupolicy standard at the command line.
Entering Windows 8 Safe Mode using hotkeys
If it’s easy for you to get to the action selection menu on Windows 8 using hot keys, feel free to use the Shift+F8 combination. Next, to get into safe mode:
- select “Diagnostics”;
- go to “Download options”;
- Click on “Reboot”;
- when the computer reboots, you will see a screen with various options to choose from;
- Among them we find the line “Enable safe mode” (you can select “with command line support” or without it).
Launching Safe Mode from a running Windows 8
If the OS is working properly, it’s easy to enter safe mode from the G8 already turned on. For this:
- press Win+R;
- in the line that appears, write msconfig, click “Ok”;
- in the “System Configuration” window, select the “Download” tab (at the top);
- click on Windows 8;
- Below, among the startup options, leave the checkboxes next to the items “Safe Mode” -> “Minimal”;
- on the “Charms” panel go to “Options” -> “Change parameters” -> “General”;
- select “Special boot options” -> “Restart now”.
How to enter safe mode if Windows 8 does not work
In this case, it is also possible to get into safe mode; you only need a disk with the distribution kit of the installed OS:
- boot from it, select the interface language;
- On the next screen, click “System Restore”;
- select the OS, then “Command Line”;
- a console will open in which we write bcdedit /set (current) safeboot minimal;
- reboot.
Not the safest, but no less effective method is to enter safe mode by emergency shutdown (relevant in cases where nothing else helps). To use it, unplug your PC from the outlet; for a laptop, hold down the power button until it turns off completely. The next time you turn on Windows 8, you will see a menu where you will have the option to enter Safe Mode.
How to enter safe mode in Windows 8!?
Safe boot mode of the operating system is an option to load the minimum required number of functions and software.
When you log in using Safe Mode, labels appear in the corners of the screen.
This is used to diagnose system problems. The absence of a problem when running in safe mode allows you to exclude essential services from the suspected causes.
Also, a large number of problems can be resolved only from .
There are several options available to initiate system startup in this format. This can be done using either a simple keyboard shortcut or a bootable optical/flash drive.
Method #1: Keyboard shortcut during boot
This option is known to most confident users of earlier versions of the OS who know how to enter safe mode windows 8 while loading.
It consists of several quick presses of “F8” before the system boots.
In some cases you will need to use “Shift + F8”. As a result, a screen should appear with a list of download options.
Using the arrow buttons, select “Safe Mode” and confirm your selection with the “Enter” key.
In the latest version of the operating system, this option may not be compatible on all PCs.
If you cannot use the combination of buttons mentioned above, then you should take the following actions:
After these manipulations, loading can be done using hot keys.
The described method will help answer the question of how to enter Windows 8 safe mode on an HP laptop.
Method #2: OS Configuration Tool
To call the utility to configure operating system settings, you will need to press “Win + R”. This action will open a execution line in which you will need to enter “msconfig”.
After pressing “Enter” or “OK” the settings window will appear directly. In it you need to open the “Download” tab.
At the bottom of the window, in the “Boot Options” field, you must select the “Secure Boot” and “Minimum” items.
After agreeing to all the above settings, you will be prompted to reboot.
It can be confirmed, or it can be postponed. This will allow the computer to apply the settings after the first OS restart.
Note! The system will always boot in Safe Mode until the user deselects the boot options. After fixing problems, it is important not to forget to return the settings to normal.
Method No. 3: Diagnostic tools
If you need to activate the buffer format of a running OS, then it is better to use the following method. To do this, you will need the “Options” button on the sidebar.
Then you will need to select “Shutdown” and, while holding down the “Shift” button, click on the “Restart” item.
These steps will launch the diagnostic screen. On the “Select Action” screen, click on “Diagnostics”.
In the Diagnostics window, you will need to open Advanced Settings.
On this screen, you need to select the “Download Options” option.
Here you will see a list of conditions under which the OS will boot. After familiarizing yourself with the parameters, you need to click the “Restart” button.
In the next step, the diagnostic program will present several boot options. The selection is made using the “F1-F9” keys.
The list requires a fourth item, that is, you will need to press F4.
After these manipulations, the computer will boot into safe mode and you can perform the necessary actions.
Some users think: “how to enter Windows 8 safe mode through BIOS?”
So this is impossible to do, because the BIOS is not connected to the OS.
Method #4: Bootable optical or removable disk
This is the most effective way to enter Windows 8.1 safe mode if the system does not start. You don't need to boot your system to use it.
You will need to prepare the appropriate media with installation files.
Then you will need to connect a removable disk (insert the optical drive) and boot from it.
In the window for setting the time and date, you will need to click “Next”. Then, when the installation window loads, you need to click on “System Restore”.
This will bring up the diagnostic screen. It was already used in one of the previous methods, but this one is somewhat different from the previous one.
In the “Select an action” section, click on the “Diagnostics” item.
Then, on the “Diagnostics” screen, select “Advanced Settings”.
On the next screen you need to select an item that will launch the command line.
A window will appear where you need to enter the following: bcdedit / set globalsettings and confirm the command using the “Enter” button on the keyboard.
After troubleshooting, you will need to write the following line in the command editor: “bcdedit /deletevalue (globalsettings) advancedoptions”.
This will cancel the transition to the diagnostic screen during boot.
Then the command line can be closed. Then select “Continue”.
Rebooting the system will lead the user to the already familiar diagnostic screen with a selection of options using the “F1-F9” keys. After pressing “F4” the system will boot into safe mode.
One of the methods described above will certainly help for both PCs and laptops.
Therefore, the question of how to enter Windows 8 safe mode on an Asus laptop or how to enter Windows 8 safe mode on a Lenovo laptop does not make sense, because the OS does not differ from the brand of hardware.
Disclaimer: this article was published on our website two years ago. However, the methods described in it then partially stopped working. At the moment, the article has been updated and relevant, everything written below has been tested on Windows 8.1 Updated.
I’ll tell you about three ways to boot into safe mode:
- Using the system shutdown menu - works when the system boots at least to the user selection screen;
- Through the msconfig utility - it works only if it is possible to run it;
- Using a system recovery disk is a more labor-intensive method and will help those whose G8 does not boot.
1. Boot into safe mode by shutting down the system
This is the easiest and fastest option. It works regardless of whether the user is logged into their account or not. Hover your mouse over the system shutdown menu, and while holding the Shift key, select “Reboot.”
After a short wait, the system recovery menu will open. An alternative way to launch this menu is to type the following command on the command line:
Here we are interested in the “Diagnostics” section. We go along the path “Diagnostics” - “Advanced options” - “Boot options”.
At the exit, we will be greeted by a boot options window with a detailed description of what we will get after restarting Windows.
Click “Restart” and select the key corresponding to the desired one from the proposed parameters:
- F4 - to start safe mode;
- F5 - to start safe mode with loading network drivers;
- F6 - similar, only with command line support.
As a result, Windows 8.1 will boot into safe mode.
To return to normal Windows operation, simply reboot the system.
2. Entering safe mode through the system configuration utility
You can get into safe mode in another way, which requires logging into your Windows 8 account. To launch configuration settings, open the search, enter and run the utility.
Switch to the “Boot” tab and check the box next to Safe Mode.
You can also select the type of safe mode:
- Minimal is normal safe mode;
- The other shell is safe mode with command line support;
- Network is a safe mode that loads network drivers.
After selecting the desired download option, click Ok and restart your computer. As a result, it will automatically boot into Safe Mode.
If you restart your computer again, it will go into safe mode again, and it will stay that way forever. To return to normal system boot, open msconfig and uncheck the box, click Ok, and reboot the system.
3. Using a recovery disk
The two methods shown above allow you to start safe mode while the system is running. But what to do if Windows 8 does not load at all and the Shift+F8 key combination does not work? In this case, you will need a recovery disk, which you, as a prepared user, created in advance. No? Then you need to create it and act according to the scheme described below.
Creating a Windows 8 recovery disk is very simple - the standard package of the "eight" includes a creation utility. We launch it and act as directed by the program, everything is very simple and intuitive (the process of creating a bootable flash drive can be seen in the video at the end of the article). The only requirement for the disk/flash drive is that the media must hold at least 256 MB of data.
So you have a recovery disk. You need to boot from it and select one of the proposed keyboard layouts. After this, follow the path “Diagnostics” - “Advanced options” - “Command Line” (you will not see a direct link to boot the system in safe mode).
Select the command line and enter:
bcdedit /set (globalsettings) advancedoptions true
After receiving a message about a successful operation, close the command line and select “Continue”.
The long-awaited menu appears before us.
We select what we need and load.
There is one point: after the steps described above, Windows 8 will always offer this menu when booting. To return to normal boot mode, enter the following command on the command line:
bcdedit /deletevalue (globalsettings) advancedoptions
We looked at three ways to launch the command line under Windows 8.1. I hope that they will help you bring a crashed system back to life or troubleshoot problems that have arisen.
Finally, a video that shows everything that is written in this article, only more briefly.
Subscribe to our channel on Youtube. See you!
Despite the fact that Windows operating systems are developing at a rapid pace, increasing reliability and stability, sometimes situations may arise when the computer cannot boot normally.
However, you can try to start the system in a minimal environment mode, when only the most necessary services and a limited set of device drivers are functioning, sufficient to diagnose and eliminate possible malfunctions.
This mode is called "Safe".
For example, here is a screenshot of the task manager in safe mode.
It can be seen that only 19 processes are running, opening 4482 descriptors (pointers to different files).
And here is a screenshot of the normal operation of the same system immediately after a restart.
Already 33 processes and more than 12 thousand descriptors. Obviously, in the event of probable software failures, booting the system in safe mode will be much easier.
How to Boot into Safe Mode on Windows 8
There are various ways to boot your system into Safe Mode.
Method one.
1. When finishing work, hold down the key Shift and select “” without releasing Shift;
Or you can right-click on the “Windows” icon and select “ Shutdown -> »
2. In the menu that appears, select “ Diagnostics»;
3. In the section " Diagnostics" choose " Extra options»;
4. In the additional parameters section, enter “ Boot Options»;
5. Select the item “ Reboot»;
6. After the reboot, we see a menu with various boot options, which can be selected by pressing the F1-F9 keys, respectively.
Here we are interested in items with safe mode. This is normal safe mode, starting the system in a minimal environment; – safe mode with loading network drivers. In this case, we will have access to the network adapter (standard driver) and we can diagnose the network, access files and even access the Internet - safe mode with command line support. When we select this mode, a command line window will open in which we can perform diagnostics and administration using control commands.
(For example, the command " chkdsk C: /f" will run a file system check on drive C: with error correction).
Method two.
1. With the system running, press the key combination
2. In the launched program, go to the “” tab and select the download options “ Safe mode" In addition to the boot parameter, you can specify the mode option (see the previous method, here “Other shell” means “...with command line support...”, “Network” - “... with loading network drivers...”).
3. Reboot. The system will boot in the specified mode. This setting is disabled through the same utility (the “Safe Mode” checkbox is unchecked);
Method three.
If we are not able to login. In this case, we will need a system recovery disk, which needs to be made in advance (if you have free time and a USB flash drive, then spend it now on creating such a disk, it will help save data in the future).
1. In order to create a recovery disk, you need to use a special utility (you can find it by searching for the phrase “Creating...”);
To the warning that the data will be destroyed, respond in the affirmative by clicking the “Create” button. First make sure that there is no important data on the flash drive; it will be erased.
2. Boot the computer from the USB drive created in the previous step. Booting from a USB device must be enabled in the BIOS in the Boot section (it may look different: Boot options/Boot order/Boot priority, names may differ in BIOSes from different manufacturers).
3. In the automatic recovery window that appears after clicking on the “Advanced options” button, we will see the already familiar menu (from the first method). Further actions do not differ from those described earlier.
Method four.
If suddenly we did not create a recovery disk in advance, then there is another option to start the computer in safe mode - use the Windows 8 installation disk.
1. Install the Windows 8 boot disk into the CD drive and reboot (you may need to set boot priority from the CD/DVD device in the BIOS).
2. The system will prompt you to press any key to continue booting from the disk, press any key (for example, spacebar);
3. We will see the boot disk menu, the appearance of which depends on the author of the assembly that compiled the disk. Select “Recovery Environment 8.1”
6. On the command line itself, we can run the following command:
> bcdedit /set (globalsettings) advancedoptions true
7. Now close the command line and restart the computer. The system will prompt us with boot options every time we boot.
You can disable this system behavior with the following command on the command line:
> bcdedit /deletevalue (globalsettings) advancedoptions
So, we have as many as four ways to load safe mode in the operating system; which one to choose depends on the situation and the available equipment. In any case, remember that getting into safe mode is not a problem. The most important thing is to take comprehensive measures aimed at eliminating the malfunction. But this topic is beyond the scope of the article.