How to Reboot in Safe Mode
Previous versions of Windows enabled quick access to Safe Mode by pressing "F8" during startup, but Windows 8 buried this option beneath a long series of unintuitive choices. Microsoft implies this decision was necessitated by Windows 8's quick start-up time that doesn't offer a large enough window to press the required key combination. To reboot in Safe Mode, you now need to instruct Windows to launch the Startup Settings before you restart your computer
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1.
Press "Win-I" to view the Settings Charm. Alternatively, move your mouse to the top right corner of the screen and click "Settings" from the Charm bar.
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2.
Click "Change PC Settings," "General" and then "Restart Now" under the Advanced Startup section. Wait a few seconds for Windows 8 to prepare your computer.
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3.
Click "Troubleshoot | Advanced Options | Startup Settings | Restart" and wait several seconds for your computer to restart and load the boot menu.
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4.
Press "4" to reboot the computer in Safe Mode. Alternatively, press "5" to choose the Internet-capable "Enable Safe Mode With Networking" option or press "6" to choose the text-only "Enable Safe Mode With Command Prompt" option.
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5.
Log in to Windows 8 using an administrator account.
References
Tips
- If you don't have access to Windows, try pressing "Shift-F8" repeatedly while rebooting your system. Although not a reliable method, some users have had success in accessing the Advanced Boot Options screen with this method.
Writer Bio
C. Taylor embarked on a professional writing career in 2009 and frequently writes about technology, science, business, finance, martial arts and the great outdoors. He writes for both online and offline publications, including the Journal of Asian Martial Arts, Samsung, Radio Shack, Motley Fool, Chron, Synonym and more. He received a Master of Science degree in wildlife biology from Clemson University and a Bachelor of Arts in biological sciences at College of Charleston. He also holds minors in statistics, physics and visual arts.