Enable and Use Safe Mode in Windows 8

Introduction

In this article we are explaining how to enable and use Safe Mode in Windows 8. When we installed the Windows 8 Developer Preview, some problems were generated. If we want to boot into Safe Mode to try and fix the problem then Windows 8 does not enable Safe Mode, we must manually enable it.

How to enable, use and disable Safe Mode in Windows 8

Step 1

First of all we have to move to the Start screen window in Windows 8. Then move the cursor to the bottom-right of the window screen and click the search box which is helpful to search in Windows 8. In the search box type "cmd" and press Enter. Right-click on "cmd.exe" in the results list.

Step 2

A check mark displays next to cmd.exe and an Advanced icon displays in the lower-right corner of the screen. Click the Advanced icon and select Run as administrator from the popup menu.

 

Step 3

Then, if the user account control dialog box displays, click "yes" to continue.

 

Step 4

When the command prompt opens, then type in the following command:

bcdedit /enum /v

 

Step 5

Enter the following at the command prompt, with a space at the end. DO NOT press Enter yet.

bcdedit /copy

Step 6

Then right-click on the windows boot loader and select mark.

 

Step 7

Highlight the identifier, including the brackets, and press Enter to copy it.

 

Step 8

Then right-click on the window and select paste.

 

Step 9

The identifier is pasted into the command on the command prompt line. Type a space after the identifier and finish the command with the following:

/d "Windows 8 Developer Preview (Safe Mode)"

 

Step 10

After this process close the command prompt.

Step 11

Search for "msconfig.exe" in the search box. We don't need to run it as administrator.

 

Step 12

To get Safe Mode to start, select Windows 8 Developer Preview (Safe Mode) in the list and then select the Safe boot check box. Accept the default Minimal option below the check box. Safe Mode should start automatically when you reboot.

 

Step 13

The following dialog box displays, asking if you want to restart. Click "Restart" to reboot your computer immediately.

 

Step 14

Sometimes, Safe Mode may not automatically start. Instead, you may see the following screen displayed when the computer restarts. Select the Windows 8 Developer Preview (Safe Mode) option to start in Safe Mode.

 

Step 15

Windows boots directly into the Desktop view rather than the Metro UI screen view. The Windows Help and Support window also displays, providing information about Safe Mode.