Device Manager - Open During Installation of Windows 8

How to Open Device Manager During Installation of Windows 8 and 8.1


information   Information
This tutorial will show you how to open Device Manager and disable trouble devices during the installation of Windows 8 or 8.1.

This can help solve problems during installation such as hanging and crashing due to a problem device.

For example: If your graphics card is what's causing the issue, then you could disable it in Device Manager during installation to causeWindows to use the default 'Standard VGA Adapter'. Once you have finished the installation and booted to your desktop, you could then download and install the latest video drivers to have your graphics card work properly afterwards.




Here's How:

1. Boot from your retail Windows 8/8.1 installation DVD/USB, and do the usual steps 1 to 9 in either tutorial link below while installing Windows.
OR​

2. When installation is ready to do it's first restart, wait or click/tap on Restart now, and boot from the Windows 8/8.1 installation DVD/USB again. (see screenshot below)

warning   Warning
:busted: It's important that you boot from your Windows installation media again after restarting, and do not let the installation setup continue for now.


Device_Manager-1.jpg

3. When you see Windows Setup after booting from your installation DVD/USB again, press the Shift + F10 keys to open a command prompt at boot. (see screenshot below)
Device_Manager-1A.png

4. In the command prompt, type bcdedit, and press Enter. Under the Windows Boot Loader section, make note of the identifier value (ex: {default}) for the OS description (ex: Windows 8.1) that is the same one listed for the default (ex: {default}) under the Windows Boot Manager section. (see screenshot below)
Device_Manager-2.jpg

5. In the command prompt, type the command below, and press Enter to set to boot the installation into safe mode. (see screenshot above)

Note   Note
Substitute identifier in the command below with the actual value or long GUID number to the right of identifer in the command used from step 4.


bcdedit /set {identifier} safeboot minimal
For example: To have this Windows 8.1 installation boot into Safe Mode using the values in the screenshot under step 4, I would type this command below and press Enter.​
bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal


6. Restart the computer to boot into safe mode.


7. When the computer restarts, you will get a warning that "Windows cannot complete installation in Safe Mode...". (see screenshot below)

  • DO NOT click on OK or press Enter for this warning. Just ignore it for now.
  • Press the Shift + F10 keys to open a command prompt at boot.
Device_Manager-3.jpg

8. In the command prompt, type compmgmtlauncher, and press Enter to open Computer Management. (see screenshot below)
Device_Manager-4.jpg

9. In the left pane of Computer Management, click on Device Manager. You can now disable (not uninstall) any device that you believe is causing the failure to boot. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: It may take a few seconds before Computer Management opens.
Device_Manager-5.jpg

10. When finished, close Device Manager. (see screenshot above)

11. In the command prompt, type bcdedit, and press Enter. Under the Windows Boot Loader section, make note of the identifier value (ex: {current}) for the OS description (ex: Windows 8.1) that is the same one listed for the default (ex: {current}) under the Windows Boot Manager section. (see screenshot below)
Device_Manager-6.jpg

12. In the command prompt, type the command below, and press Enter to set to boot the installation into normal mode again. This is to undo step 5 above. (see screenshot above)

Note   Note
Substitute identifier in the command below with the actual value or long GUID number to the right of identifer in the command used from step 4.


bcdedit /deletevalue {identifier} safeboot
For example: To have this Windows 8.1 installation boot back into normal mode using the values in the screenshot under step 11, I would type this command below and press Enter.​
bcdedit /deletevalue {current} safeboot

13. Close the command prompt, and click on OK for the warning to restart the computer and continue the installation. (see screenshots below steps 7 and 8 above)

14. If you disabled the correct problem device, then installation setup will hopefully continue until Windows 8 or 8.1 is finished installing. If not, then repeat this tutorial until you disable the correct problem device.
Device_Manager-7.jpg


That's it,
Shawn


 

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