Solved Boot windows 8 in safe mode when you cant boot normally.

HamzaUmar

New Member
Messages
7
Location
Islamabad
hi,
I recently installed a rogue video driver that was meant for win vista x64 on my win 8 x64 as i was having problem with the default one. It gave a warning that the os is not supported. But i ignored it and forced installed it through device manager. The screen blinked as usual when installing a video driver. But then i noticed that it was blinking infinitely without any display. Now i cant boot normaly as it starts blinking after boot screen without any display. I can remove the driver in safe mode but i have tried f8 it doesnt work. How can i boot into safe mode?
Sorry for mistakes i am typing this from an old java phone. Thanks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Microsoft(R) Windows 8 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inc. Optiplex(TM) GX620
    CPU
    Intel(R) Pentium(TM) D 925 3.0 GHz
    Motherboard
    Dell Inc. 0ND237
    Memory
    Samsung DDR2 2 GB 300 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel(R) 82945g Express Chipset Family 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Integrated SoundMAX Digtal Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell Inc. E153FP LCD Monitor (Single)
    Screen Resolution
    1024x768
    Hard Drives
    Seagate(R) 160 GB SATA
    PSU
    250-300 W
    Case
    Dell Inc. Genuine
    Cooling
    N/A
    Keyboard
    Standard USB Keyboard
    Mouse
    Standard USB Mouse
    Internet Speed
    1 Mbps
    Browser
    Opera Software(R) Opera(TM) browser
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky Lab(R) PURE(TM) 3.0
Try SHIFT - F8 during BOOT sequence. It should let you in safe mode and there you can uninstall that driver. Vide0 drivers are not active in safe mode.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
Thanks for replying. I have tried Shift + f8. It doesn't work. I have researched on this issue and from that i can conclude that windows 8 and 8.1 listens for boot interrupts just for few nano seconds and this makes almost impossible for a user to send a command into that time frame. Looks like the only option left is to get a windows 8 repair disc or its original installation disc as it gives the access to advanced boot menu. Please share any other suggestions if you have.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Microsoft(R) Windows 8 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inc. Optiplex(TM) GX620
    CPU
    Intel(R) Pentium(TM) D 925 3.0 GHz
    Motherboard
    Dell Inc. 0ND237
    Memory
    Samsung DDR2 2 GB 300 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel(R) 82945g Express Chipset Family 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Integrated SoundMAX Digtal Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell Inc. E153FP LCD Monitor (Single)
    Screen Resolution
    1024x768
    Hard Drives
    Seagate(R) 160 GB SATA
    PSU
    250-300 W
    Case
    Dell Inc. Genuine
    Cooling
    N/A
    Keyboard
    Standard USB Keyboard
    Mouse
    Standard USB Mouse
    Internet Speed
    1 Mbps
    Browser
    Opera Software(R) Opera(TM) browser
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky Lab(R) PURE(TM) 3.0
Thanks for replying. I have tried Shift + f8. It doesn't work. I have researched on this issue and from that i can conclude that windows 8 and 8.1 listens for boot interrupts just for few nano seconds and this makes almost impossible for a user to send a command into that time frame. Looks like the only option left is to get a windows 8 repair disc or its original installation disc as it gives the access to advanced boot menu. Please share any other suggestions if you have.
If you can boot with an 8/8.1 disk or usb you can try with this to enable safe mode: bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy legacy
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
Looks like the only option left is to get a windows 8 repair disc or its original installation disc as it gives the access to advanced boot menu.

edit: link
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo G580
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-3230M
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, standard user account
    Other Info
    UEFI firmware (BIOS) embedded Windows 8 product key.
@countMIKE Thanks.
---
@genet You mean I can't access Advanced Boot Options from the recovery or installation setup? Then I think I can use the 'bcedit' command to enable F8. I would go and get the recovery or installation disc on a bootable pendrive on monday. Just need to access safe mode somehow.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Microsoft(R) Windows 8 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inc. Optiplex(TM) GX620
    CPU
    Intel(R) Pentium(TM) D 925 3.0 GHz
    Motherboard
    Dell Inc. 0ND237
    Memory
    Samsung DDR2 2 GB 300 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel(R) 82945g Express Chipset Family 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Integrated SoundMAX Digtal Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell Inc. E153FP LCD Monitor (Single)
    Screen Resolution
    1024x768
    Hard Drives
    Seagate(R) 160 GB SATA
    PSU
    250-300 W
    Case
    Dell Inc. Genuine
    Cooling
    N/A
    Keyboard
    Standard USB Keyboard
    Mouse
    Standard USB Mouse
    Internet Speed
    1 Mbps
    Browser
    Opera Software(R) Opera(TM) browser
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky Lab(R) PURE(TM) 3.0
You mean I can't access Advanced Boot Options from the recovery or installation setup?

Yes.

For example, you can get the selected "Refresh your PC", "Reset your PC" and "System Restore", but you can't start safe mode from the Startup Settings screen (formerly Advanced Boot Options), because you will not have the Startup Settings option if you booted from Windows installation media, system repair disc or recovery USB flash drive.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo G580
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-3230M
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, standard user account
    Other Info
    UEFI firmware (BIOS) embedded Windows 8 product key.
@genet What about cmd? Will I be able to use the 'bcedit' command to enable F8 from there?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Microsoft(R) Windows 8 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inc. Optiplex(TM) GX620
    CPU
    Intel(R) Pentium(TM) D 925 3.0 GHz
    Motherboard
    Dell Inc. 0ND237
    Memory
    Samsung DDR2 2 GB 300 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel(R) 82945g Express Chipset Family 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Integrated SoundMAX Digtal Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell Inc. E153FP LCD Monitor (Single)
    Screen Resolution
    1024x768
    Hard Drives
    Seagate(R) 160 GB SATA
    PSU
    250-300 W
    Case
    Dell Inc. Genuine
    Cooling
    N/A
    Keyboard
    Standard USB Keyboard
    Mouse
    Standard USB Mouse
    Internet Speed
    1 Mbps
    Browser
    Opera Software(R) Opera(TM) browser
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky Lab(R) PURE(TM) 3.0
If you booted from a Windows 8/10 installation media or recovery USB flash drive, then you will not be able to boot into Safe Mode from the Advanced options screen, because you will not have the Startup Settings option (see screenshots below).

Advanced options without Startup Settings.png

Advanced options with Startup Settings.png

Tip   Tip
But if you can at least get to the Windows 8/10 logon screen, then you can start Safe Mode, see the instructions at this link. -> link


If Windows 8/10 does not start: How to boot into Safe Mode from the Windows 8/10 installation media or recovery USB flash drive.

- Start the computer from the Windows 8/10 installation media.
- Select Repair your computer (see screenshot below) > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.

Safe Mode 1.png

-or-

- Start the computer from the Windows 8/10 recovery USB flash drive.
- Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt (see screenshot below).

Safe Mode 2.png

Run one of the following commands:

- Safe Mode (see screenshot below):

bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal

- Safe Mode with Networking:

bcdedit /set {default} safeboot network

Safe Mode 3.png

Close the Command Prompt window and select "Continue - Exit and continue to Windows 8/10" (see screenshot below).

Safe Mode 4.png

You are now in Safe Mode (see screenshot below).

Safe Mode 5.png

Windows will continue to start in Safe Mode every time you reboot unless you undo what you did.

- Open the "Command Prompt (Admin)" (see screenshot below).

Safe Mode 6.png

- Run the following command (see screenshot below):

bcdedit /deletevalue {default} safeboot

Safe Mode 7.png

- Restart the computer.

Other instructions.

- How to create a bootable Windows 10 USB flash drive or DVD. -> link
- How to download and clean install Windows 8.1 -> link
- Here is info about UEFI Boot Mode (installing using the GPT partition style) and Legacy BIOS Boot Mode (installing using the MBR partition style). -> link
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo G580
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-3230M
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, standard user account
    Other Info
    UEFI firmware (BIOS) embedded Windows 8 product key.
@genet Thank you dear for helping out. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Microsoft(R) Windows 8 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inc. Optiplex(TM) GX620
    CPU
    Intel(R) Pentium(TM) D 925 3.0 GHz
    Motherboard
    Dell Inc. 0ND237
    Memory
    Samsung DDR2 2 GB 300 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel(R) 82945g Express Chipset Family 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Integrated SoundMAX Digtal Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell Inc. E153FP LCD Monitor (Single)
    Screen Resolution
    1024x768
    Hard Drives
    Seagate(R) 160 GB SATA
    PSU
    250-300 W
    Case
    Dell Inc. Genuine
    Cooling
    N/A
    Keyboard
    Standard USB Keyboard
    Mouse
    Standard USB Mouse
    Internet Speed
    1 Mbps
    Browser
    Opera Software(R) Opera(TM) browser
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky Lab(R) PURE(TM) 3.0
@genet Thank you dear for helping out. :)

Nice to help because at the same time, I also learned new things and I learned to write better English (my English writing is very poor, but my English reading is better).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo G580
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-3230M
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, standard user account
    Other Info
    UEFI firmware (BIOS) embedded Windows 8 product key.
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