Windows Safe Mode option comes handy in diagnosis and repair of various software related problems or stability issues. Want to check if a driver update or a newly installed device is causing trouble in your Windows machine? Simply load your operating system in safe mode. Wondering how to start Windows XP in Safe Mode? Read on and find detailed steps on how to start a Windows XP computer in Safe Mode.
Steps to start Windows XP in Safe Mode:
- Press the Power/Start button of your computer. If your system is already running, Restart it.
- As soon as your computer starts or restarts press F8 button on your keyboard. Important: you must press F8 before Windows loads.
- If you correctly pressed F8 before loading of Windows XP, the Windows Advanced Options Menu will appear. It is a black screen with options like Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking and Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
- Select the Safe Mode option of your choice. Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to highlight the correct option.
- Press the Enter key on your keyboard. In case you system has multiple boot options, select the right installation and then press the Enter key.
That’s it! Wait few moments and allow Windows to start in Safe Mode.
Which safe mode option is right for you? Typical Safe Mode option loads only the basic files and drivers. For example: monitor, keyboard, mouse, mass storage, default system services etc. But no network connections are enabled. Safe Mode with Networking option loads all basic system files and drivers, plus services and drivers needed for networking. On the other hand, Safe Mode with Command Prompt option will load all basic files and drivers, but a command prompt will start instead of the Windows graphical user interface. So, select the right option in step 4 above and load Windows XP in Safe Mode.