Windows Safe Mode 

Windows XP

To get into the Windows XP Safe mode, press and hold the "F8" key as the computer is booting. This should bring up the "Windows Advanced Options Menu" (as shown below) . Once in that menu, use your arrow keys to move to "Safe Mode" and press the "Enter" key once it is highlighted

Windows Advanced Options Menu

Please select an option:

Safe Mode

Safe Mode with Networking

Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Enable Boot Logging

Enable VGA mode

Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked)

Directory Services Restore Mode (Windows domain controllers only)

Debugging Mode

Start Windows Normally

Reboot

Return to OS Choices Menu

Use the up and down arrow keys to move the highlight to your choice.

Note: With some computers, if you press and hold a key as the computer is booting you may get a stuck key message. If this occurs, instead of pressing and holding the "F8 key", tap the "F8 key" continuously until you get the startup menu.

Trouble Getting into Windows XP Safe mode - you are unable to get into Windows XP Safe Mode If after several attempts, as the computer is booting into Windows, turn off your computer. When the computer is turned on the next time, Windows should notice that the computer did not successfully boot and give you the Safe Mode screen.

Windows Vista

To get into the Windows Vista Safe mode, press and hold the "F8" key as the computer is booting. This should bring up the "Windows Advanced Options Menu" (as shown below) . Once in that menu, use your arrow keys to move to "Safe Mode" and press the "Enter" key once it is highlighted

Choose Advanced Options for: Microsoft Windows Vista

Please select an option:

Safe Mode

Safe Mode with Networking

Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Enable Boot Logging

Enable low-resolution video (640x480)

Last Known Good Configuration (advanced)

Directory Services Restore Mode

Debugging Mode

Disable automatic restart on system failure

Disable Driver Signature Enforcement

Start Windows Normally

Description: Start Windows with only the core drivers and services. Use

when you cannot boot after installing a new device or driver.

Note: With some computers, if you press and hold a key as the computer is booting, you may get a stuck key message. If this occurs, instead of pressing and holding the "F8 key", tap the "F8 key" continuously until you get the startup menu.

Trouble Getting into Windows Vista Safe mode - you are unable to get into Windows XP Safe Mode If after several attempts, as the computer is booting into Windows, turn off your computer. When the computer is turned on the next time, Windows should notice that the computer did not successfully boot and give you the Safe Mode screen.

Windows 7

To get into the Windows Vista Safe mode, press and hold the "F8" key as the computer is booting. This should bring up the "Windows Advanced Options Menu" (as shown below) . Once in that menu, use your arrow keys to move to "Safe Mode" and press the "Enter" key once it is highlighted. 

Choose Advanced Options for: Microsoft Windows 7

Please select an option:

Safe Mode

Safe Mode with Networking

Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Enable Boot Logging

Enable low-resolution video (640x480)

Last Known Good Configuration (advanced)

Directory Services Restore Mode

Debugging Mode

Disable automatic restart on system failure

Disable Driver Signature Enforcement

Start Windows Normally

Description: Start Windows with only the core drivers and services. Use

when you cannot boot after installing a new device or driver.

Note: With some computers, if you press and hold a key as the computer is booting, you may get a stuck key message. If this occurs, instead of pressing and holding the "F8 key", tap the "F8 key" continuously until you get the startup menu.

Trouble Getting into Windows Vista Safe mode - you are unable to get into Windows XP Safe Mode If after several attempts, as the computer is booting into Windows, turn off your computer. When the computer is turned on the next time, Windows should notice that the computer did not successfully boot and give you the Safe Mode screen.

Windows 8

Method 1: SHIFT + Restart

1) Hold down either SHIFT key while tapping or clicking on Restart, available from any Power icon.

Tip: Power icons are available in Windows 8 from either the Settings charm or from the logon/lock screen.

Note: This method does not seem to work with the on-screen keyboard. You'll need to have a physical keyboard connected to your computer or device to open the Advanced Startup Options menu this way.

2) Wait while the Advanced Startup Options menu opens.

Method 2: PC Settings

1) Swipe from the right to open the charms bar.

Tip: If you have a keyboard, use WIN+I and then skip to Step 3.

2) Tap or click on Settings.

3) Tap or click on Change PC settings at the bottom of the charms bar.

4) Choose Update and recovery from the list of options on the left of the PC settings window.

Note: Prior to Windows 8.1, choose General instead and then skip to Step 6.

5) Choose Recovery.

6) Locate Advanced startup, at the bottom of the list of options on your right.

7) Tap or click on Restart now.

8) Wait through the Please wait message until Advanced Startup Options opens.

Method 3: Shutdown Command

1) Open Command Prompt in Windows 8.

Tip: Another option is to open Run if you can't get Command Prompt started for some reason.

2) Execute the shutdown command in the following way:

shutdown /r /o

Note: Save any open files before executing this command or you'll lose any changes you've made since your last save.

3) To the You're about to be signed off message that appears a few seconds later, tap or click on the Close button.

4) After several seconds, during which nothing seems to be happening, Windows 8 will then close and you'll see a Please wait message.

5) Wait just a few seconds more until the Advanced Startup Options menu opens.

Method 4: Boot From a Windows 8 Installation Media

1) Insert a Windows 8 DVD, or a flash drive with the Windows 8 installation files on it, into your computer.

Tip: You can borrow someone else's Windows 8 disc or other media if you need to. You're not installing or reinstalling Windows 8, you're just accessing Advanced Startup Options - no product key or license breaking required.

2) Boot from the disc or boot from the USB device, whatever your situation calls for.

3) From the Windows Setup screen, tap or click on Next.

4) Tap or click on the Repair your computer link at the bottom of the window.

5) Advanced Startup Options will start, almost immediately.

Method 5: Boot From a Windows 8 Recovery Drive

1) Insert your Windows 8 Recovery Drive into a free USB port.

Tip: Don't worry if you weren't proactive and never got around to creating a Recovery Drive. If you have another computer with Windows 8, or a friend with 

Windows 8 on his or her computer, see How To Create a Windows 8 Recovery Drive for instructions.

2) Boot your computer from the flash drive.

3) On the Choose your keyboard layout screen, tap or click on US or whatever keyboard layout you'd like to use.

4) Advanced Startup Options will begin instantly.

Method 6: Boot Directly to Advanced Startup Options

1) Start or restart your computer or device.

2) Choose the boot option for System Recovery, Advanced Startup, Recovery, etc.

Note: What this boot option is called is configurable by your hardware maker so the options mentioned are just some that are common. Whatever the name, it should be clear that what you're about to do is boot to Windows 8's advanced recovery features.

Important: The ability to boot directly to Advanced Startup Options isn't one that's available with a traditional BIOS. The computer will need to support UEFI and then also be configured properly to boot directly to the ASO menu.

3) Wait for Advanced Startup Options to begin.

Faulty Startup Method

If the above methods do not take you to the Advanced Options boot menu, you can try turning the computer off when it boots into Windows. Upon next restart, Windows will notice that the computer did not boot successfully and take you to the Advanced Options boot menu. Then, select a Safe mode option based on your need. This method is risky and should only be tried as a last resort. It could result in some files being deleted, which could make the Windows installation unusable.