Welcome to the guide on bringing your computer out of Safe Mode in Windows 10/11.
Rebooting and Troubleshooting in Safe Mode
To reboot and troubleshoot in Safe Mode in Windows 10/11, follow these steps:
1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “msconfig” and press Enter to open the System Configuration tool.
3. In the System Configuration window, go to the “Boot” tab.
4. Under the Boot options section, check the box next to “Safe boot” and select the type of Safe Mode you want to enter (e.g., Minimal, Networking, or with Command Prompt).
5. Click OK and then restart your computer.
Once your computer restarts in Safe Mode, you can troubleshoot various issues without interference from third-party software or unnecessary background processes. You can use Safe Mode to diagnose and fix problems like malware infections, driver conflicts, or software compatibility issues.
If you need to exit Safe Mode and return to normal mode, follow these steps:
1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “msconfig” and press Enter to open the System Configuration tool.
3. In the System Configuration window, go to the “Boot” tab.
4. Uncheck the box next to “Safe boot.”
5. Click OK and then restart your computer.
After restarting, your computer will boot in normal mode again.
If you encounter any difficulties while trying to get your computer out of Safe Mode, you can try the following:
1. Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to navigate through the options in the Safe Mode menu.
2. Check if any antivirus software is running in the background and disable it temporarily.
3. Perform a System Restore to revert your computer back to a previous working state.
4. Update or reinstall device drivers that may be causing compatibility issues.
5. Use Windows Defender or other reliable antivirus software to scan your computer for malware.
If you’re still unable to exit Safe Mode or troubleshoot the issue, consider seeking help from a professional or visiting online forums and communities dedicated to computer troubleshooting.
Uninstalling Software and Updating Drivers
To uninstall software or update drivers in Safe Mode in Windows 10/11, follow these steps:
1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “msconfig” and press Enter to open the System Configuration window.
3. In the System Configuration window, navigate to the “Boot” tab.
4. Under the “Boot options” section, check the box next to “Safe boot” and select “Minimal” or “Network” depending on your needs.
5. Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save the changes.
6. Restart your computer. It will now boot into Safe Mode.
To uninstall software in Safe Mode:
1. Press the Windows key + X and select “Device Manager” from the menu.
2. In the Device Manager, locate the software or driver you want to uninstall.
3. Right-click on the software or driver and select “Uninstall device” or “Uninstall” from the context menu.
4. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation process.
5. Restart your computer to exit Safe Mode and boot into normal mode.
To update drivers in Safe Mode:
1. Press the Windows key + X and select “Device Manager” from the menu.
2. In the Device Manager, locate the device for which you want to update the driver.
3. Right-click on the device and select “Update driver” from the context menu.
4. Choose the option to automatically search for updated driver software.
5. If a newer driver is found, follow the on-screen prompts to install it.
6. Restart your computer to exit Safe Mode and boot into normal mode.
Remember, Safe Mode is a troubleshooting mode in which only essential drivers and services are loaded. It can help resolve issues with software conflicts or driver problems. If you’re unable to uninstall software or update drivers in Safe Mode, you may need to boot into normal mode to perform these tasks.
Make sure to back up any important files or create a system restore point before making any changes to your computer’s software or drivers. This will allow you to revert back to a previous state if anything goes wrong during the uninstallation or driver update process.
Removing Malware and Restoring Operating System
To remove malware and restore the operating system on your Windows 10/11 computer, follow these steps:
1. Start your computer in Safe Mode by pressing the “Windows” key and “R” key simultaneously to open the Run dialog box. Type “msconfig” and press Enter. In the System Configuration window, go to the “Boot” tab and check the “Safe boot” option. Click “OK” and then restart your computer.
2. Once your computer starts in Safe Mode, open your preferred web browser and download a reputable antivirus software such as Microsoft Defender Antivirus.
3. Install the antivirus software and perform a full system scan to detect and remove any malware or viruses present on your computer. Follow the instructions provided by the antivirus software to ensure a thorough scan.
4. After the scan is complete and the malware is removed, it’s important to restore your operating system to its original state. Press the “Windows” key and “R” key simultaneously to open the Run dialog box. Type “msconfig” and press Enter. In the System Configuration window, go to the “Boot” tab and uncheck the “Safe boot” option. Click “OK” and then restart your computer.
5. Your computer will now boot normally without being in Safe Mode. Check if your operating system is functioning properly and if all your files and programs are accessible.
If you encounter any issues or errors while performing these steps, you may need to seek further assistance from a professional or refer to official Microsoft documentation.
python
import win32api
def is_safe_mode_enabled():
try:
return win32api.GetSystemMetrics(0x1000) != 0
except Exception as e:
print(f"An error occurred: {e}")
return None
safe_mode_status = is_safe_mode_enabled()
if safe_mode_status is not None:
if safe_mode_status:
print("Your computer is in Safe Mode.")
else:
print("Your computer is not in Safe Mode.")
This sample code uses the `GetSystemMetrics` function from `win32api` to retrieve the value of the safe mode flag. If the returned value is non-zero, it indicates that the computer is in safe mode. Consequently, the code will display an appropriate message based on the safe mode status.
Booting in Safe Mode for Different Windows Versions
Booting in Safe Mode can be a useful troubleshooting step when your computer is experiencing issues. The process of booting in Safe Mode may differ depending on the version of Windows you are using. Here’s how to do it for different Windows versions:
Windows 10:
1. Press the “Windows” key and “I” key simultaneously to open the Settings menu.
2. Click on “Update & Security” and then select “Recovery” from the left-hand menu.
3. Under the “Advanced startup” section, click on the “Restart now” button.
4. Your computer will restart and a blue screen will appear. Select “Troubleshoot” from the options.
5. In the Troubleshoot menu, click on “Advanced options” and then choose “Startup Settings.”
6. Click on the “Restart” button and your computer will restart again.
7. When the Startup Settings menu appears, press the “4” key to boot into Safe Mode.
Windows 11:
1. Click on the “Start” button and then select the “Settings” gear icon.
2. In the Settings menu, click on “System” and then choose “Recovery” from the left-hand menu.
3. Under the “Advanced startup” section, click on the “Restart now” button.
4. Your computer will restart and a blue screen will appear. Select “Troubleshoot” from the options.
5. In the Troubleshoot menu, click on “Advanced options” and then choose “Startup Settings.”
6. Click on the “Restart” button and your computer will restart again.
7. When the Startup Settings menu appears, press the “4” key to boot into Safe Mode.
Windows 8 and Windows 7:
1. Restart your computer and press the “F8” key repeatedly before the Windows logo appears.
2. This will bring up the Advanced Boot Options menu. Use the arrow keys to select “Safe Mode” and press “Enter.”
Windows Vista and Windows XP:
1. Restart your computer and press the “F8” key repeatedly before the Windows logo appears.
2. This will bring up the Advanced Boot Options menu. Use the arrow keys to select “Safe Mode” and press “Enter.”
Exiting Safe Mode Using System Configuration and Command Prompt
- Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type msconfig and press Enter to open the System Configuration window.
- In the System Configuration window, go to the Boot tab.
- Under the Boot options section, uncheck the Safe boot checkbox.
- Click on Apply and then OK.
- Restart your computer to exit Safe Mode and boot into normal mode.
Exiting Safe Mode Using Command Prompt:
- Press the Windows key + X to open the Power User Menu.
- Select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin) from the menu.
- If prompted for confirmation, click Yes to open Command Prompt with administrative privileges.
- In the Command Prompt window, type bcdedit /deletevalue {current} safeboot and press Enter.
- Restart your computer to exit Safe Mode and boot into normal mode.
Troubleshooting and Advanced Options in Safe Mode
| Troubleshooting Options | Advanced Options |
|---|---|
| 1. Check for Malware or Viruses | 1. Startup Repair |
| 2. Disable Safe Mode via System Configuration | 2. System Restore |
| 3. Update or Rollback Device Drivers | 3. Command Prompt |
| 4. Uninstall Recently Installed Software or Updates | 4. Startup Settings |
| 5. Perform a Clean Boot | 5. Windows Memory Diagnostic |
| 6. Check for Hardware Issues | 6. UEFI Firmware Settings |
| 7. Reset Windows 10/11 | 7. Go back to the previous build |
