Ask a new question

Safe mode in Win 10

Technical Level : Basic

Summary

If you have a problem with your PC, you can help troubleshoot it by starting it in safe mode. Safe mode starts Windows with a substantially reduced set of drivers and services. If when you boot in safe mode the problem does not happen you can assume that the basic operating system is OK and it is probably a third party driver or conflict between apps/

You need to enable safe mode BEFORE you have a problem because often you cannot access it when you do have a problem.

As with any modifications it is ALWAYS a good idea to back up your data or at least make a restore point.


Details

In order to add safe mode, safe mode with networking, and safe mode with command prompt You will need to do a few fairly easy things.

First you need to know what an elevated command prompt is and how to open it

Use the windows  key +"X" (or right click the start key) then click on Command prompt (Admin)

It should look like this and say "Administrator: across the top

You can add one or all three safe modes listed above.

1-If you want to simply add "safe mode"  copy/paste this into the elevated command prompt

bcdedit /copy {Current} /d “Windows 10 Safe Mode"      then hit enter


2-For "safe mode" with networking copy/paste this

bcdedit /copy {Current} /d “Windows 10 Safe Mode with Networking”      then hit enter

3-For "safe mode" with command prompt

bcdedit /copy {Current} /d “Windows 10 Safe Mode with Command Prompt”    then hit enter

When you have finished adding what you want, close the command prompt.

Next step, type win key +”R” (or right click the start button) and type msconfig and hit enter.  Go to the boot tab and click on the first item you added.

For safe mode

Click on minimal, set the timeout you want, click make make all boot settings permanent then click apply. 

For safe mode with networking

Click on network, set the timeout, make settings permanent, apply

For safe mode with command prompt

Click on alternate shell, set the timeout, make settings permanent, apply

When done click OK

You will see the following which you can safely ignore because the above steps are reversible so click YES

You will then be shown the following

If you followed the instructions correctly when you reboot you should see something like this (depends on which items you selected

If this wiki has proved helpful please click me too at the bottom of the wiki.

Other Wiki's you may be interested in

System file check (SFC)  Scan & repair System files

Email Systems... Differences explained
BugCheck Code 124

Backing up your important Outlook.com email data .

BCC101 Clock watchdog timeout Troubleshooting

Event Viewer What's going on in your computer?

Updating drivers

BCC116/7 Your video driver has stopped

HD Checking how to test yours

Driver View A very handy utility for examining drivers

Safe mode in win 10 (before you need it)

Outlook Mail (also known as Outlook on the web)


Co-Authored JMH3143/ ZigZag3143

449 people found this helpful

Was this article helpful?

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this article?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this article?

Thanks for your feedback.

* Please try a lower page number.

* Please enter only numbers.

* Please try a lower page number.

* Please enter only numbers.

Excellent sir,didn't knew this.Thank you for the information really helpful :)
Mark Yes below the post if it helped or resolved your problem

Opinions expressed are solely my own and do not represent the views or opinions of Microsoft.

5 people found this comment helpful

·

Was this comment helpful?

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this comment?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this comment?

Thanks for your feedback.

Thanks.  It is just the beginning, sort of a work in progress so if you have suggestions, etc feel free.
Cat herder
Windows Insider MVP
MVP-Windows and Devices for IT
http://www.zigzag3143.com/

4 people found this comment helpful

·

Was this comment helpful?

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this comment?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this comment?

Thanks for your feedback.

Well this is OK but for other articles of yours suggestions are locked :)
Mark Yes below the post if it helped or resolved your problem

Opinions expressed are solely my own and do not represent the views or opinions of Microsoft.

2 people found this comment helpful

·

Was this comment helpful?

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this comment?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this comment?

Thanks for your feedback.

Unfortunately we had to lock them because we were getting dozens of users who insisted on seeking help and in the case of the BSOD wiki they were leaving DMP files on the wiki as well.

If you have a suggestion feel free to use the email on my profile page.

Cat herder
Windows Insider MVP
MVP-Windows and Devices for IT
http://www.zigzag3143.com/

4 people found this comment helpful

·

Was this comment helpful?

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this comment?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this comment?

Thanks for your feedback.

ZigZag

I hope you won't be offended by the questions I will ask.

I am a "newbie" and not too computer literate, though literate enough to get here to ask questions.

I note in the "General Section" of the System Configuration there is a choice for

"Diagnostic Startup" [that will] load basic services only.

1. How does this procedure differ from your suggestions?

2. In the "boot" section there is a Timeout.

    What am I timing out?

    In your example it is set at 30, that is also the same number on my machinge.

Thank you for your reply.

Sag

3 people found this comment helpful

·

Was this comment helpful?

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this comment?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this comment?

Thanks for your feedback.

Thanks very much for the hard work you put in to this.  Too bad what F8 could do now takes the upgraded Windows 10 hack you kindly provided. Soon, it will be the smart ones like you that will finally build a people-friendly secure non0-stalking O/S.
The world ended when we claimed to be the intelligent species of the planet.

2 people found this comment helpful

·

Was this comment helpful?

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this comment?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this comment?

Thanks for your feedback.

Is this a change which is permanent every time you log-in (will see the safe boot screen)

or can it be called up like the old F8 trick on boot?

I know how to enable safe boot in Win10, but only when it's already functioning, which is rather defeating the object of being able to go into safe mode. We really need an entry into safe mode when the thing won't boot into windows, eg bad driver.

But have no idea what this part does:

bcdedit /copy {Current} /d “Windows 10 Safe Mode"

Can you explain why we need that too please?

Cheers mate, Appreciated

7 people found this comment helpful

·

Was this comment helpful?

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this comment?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this comment?

Thanks for your feedback.

Should I assume that, if one didn't do all the above, that there is no way to access Safe Mode when Window 10 refuses to start? Makes no sense at all, but not surprised that Microsoft would forget that when people can't get the car started, to get out and push it off the road so we can pop the hood and check it out.
Should I just leave the laptop with a non-responding Win 10 desktop where it is and get another one?
The world ended when we claimed to be the intelligent species of the planet.

10 people found this comment helpful

·

Was this comment helpful?

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this comment?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this comment?

Thanks for your feedback.

One annoying solution is to boot from the Win 10 Setup disc

and manufacturers don't supply one!

tyring to get to the hidden partition where there may or may not be a factory installed setup copy is also near impossible.

1 person found this comment helpful

·

Was this comment helpful?

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this comment?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this comment?

Thanks for your feedback.

bcdedit /copy {Current} /d “Windows 10 Safe Mode with Networking”

Does not work in Win 10 14971.

Question : is 'copy' supposed to be 'create'?

...and what is the '/d' for?

EDIT: No, copy was correct. 

I was using Power Shell and it puts a 'space' in front of bcdedit... so

I used CMD (admin) and everything worked as it should.

I now have all three in my boot start.

Thank you for your help, I appreciate it.

RRR

8 people found this comment helpful

·

Was this comment helpful?

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this comment?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this comment?

Thanks for your feedback.

* Please try a lower page number.

* Please enter only numbers.

* Please try a lower page number.

* Please enter only numbers.

 
 

Forum Article Info

Last updated November 24, 2023 Views 40,796 Applies to: