Tips for Windows XP Safe Mode

Safe Mode in Windows XP is designed to help users troubleshoot startup and system problems. There are actually three versions of Safe Mode. Depending on your problem, you can choose one over another. Safe mode starts your computer with essentially a minimum of functionality, not load all the drivers or the system that allows you to make changes.

If the computer does not boot, it gives an error message or simply hangs up, the first step in troubleshooting is to try to enter Safe Mode. When the computer is booting, pressing the F8 key, it displays the Windows Advanced Options menu. The first three options are their modes of security:

Safe Mode

The most basic version, but nothing lodes minimal processes

Safe Mode with Networking

This version allows access to the network and the Internet is connected

Safe Mode with Command Prompt

This version will put you in the MSDOS mode in a command line

The main purpose of Safe Mode is to avoid problems with the boot startup applications, video or other hardware drivers, and spyware or malware. You can change settings to stop the offending applications or drivers to load, delete the files that would normally be in use (if the file is opened is usually locked and can not delete it) or make changes to the system.

When Windows XP was launched in Safe Mode was designed to address problems of video and other hardware drivers. Safe mode uses the most basic configuration of video (640 x 480 and 16 colors) and a generic VGA.sys.

The first option would also charge a minimum of system processes that can remove the startup application.
If you still can not boot in safe mode will probably have problems with your startup files, and you must use the Recovery Console to deal with any file replacement.

If you need access to new versions or updates to hardware drivers, the second option safe mode allows you to connect to the Internet to download and install these files. This can also be a good option if you have some malware or adware on your system that prevents you (when it boots normally and the program starts to offend) access to anti-virus or malware software to remove these programs. One of the favorite tricks of these programs is to make it impossible to access any software known to remove them.

The third option for Safe Mode, which starts at an MSDOS prompt, you can run the utilities in MSDOS mode. Most of the advanced settings of the system and programs that will run diagnostics in this mode. Since many of the key system files are not loaded, you can delete and replace files in MSDOS.

Warning, if you have a USB keyboard and mouse, Safe Mode does not load the USB device drivers. If you have a new computer (eg 2007 and forward), the computer BIOS may have the ability to mount any USB devices automatically. If your computer comes with a USB mouse and keyboard is a good indication of his bios perform the function of automatic loading of USB devices. You can go into your BIOS settings make sure legacy USB is enabled. Or you can borrow a mouse and keyboard if this option is not available.

You can also access a utility called MSCONFIG from the start menu in Safe Mode using the Run command. MSCONFIG has the diagnostic capability to run at startup (only minimum charges) or selective startup. This can be useful to get to be able to boot in normal mode. And that means that if you do not have a copy of important data files, the first thing. Current backups give you the absolute position fall. Make sure you have a current backup of critical data files before doing anything else. That is their first priority.

Once you have a current backup, you can try the following methods to get back up and running on your computer in normal mode.

If you know where the files of all adware or malware, you can easily remove to stop the automatic loading when the computer starts up. You need to be careful when deleting files in MSDOS mode, if you accidentally delete a file required for starting or running critical processes of the system, the computer may not reboot. Always be careful and be sure you know that the file is not deleting a system file.

Many times you simply start your computer in Safe Mode and then reboot loading problems can be eliminated. I can not tell you why, it works only about 25% of the time. If there is a file that can not be closed properly or exited the correct boot sequence, Windows XP has a clean boot in safe mode and can be the reason that corrects minor problems boot.

One of the best hopes of quick fixes often in Safe Mode is a system restore. System Restore is a utility under System Tools. If you click Start, All Programs, Accessories, then System Tools, System Restore will see the selection. You want to pick a restore point that is well before the time of their current problems started. If some rogue software is installed, is to restore the computer to a point before the installation.

You should also run any ant-virus, malware or adware, or root kit removal software wherever possible in a safe manner. This keeps the software to prevent or stop offending any of elimination. Many new versions of these programs have a rogue to protect freedom of choice that may prevent the removal of software running in normal mode.

Safe Mode in Windows XP can help you solve many problems start. Always boot in safe mode first and try to determine if your problem is with any boot files or device drivers. It's the best first step in any troubleshooting startup issues.

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