Windows 8.1 - Impossible to get into safe mode

arnoldlayne42

New Member
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3
I'd like to begin by saying, Windows 8.1 has been the worst OS I've ever worked with. Absolute worst.
HP DV6 6121tx


I was trying to get AMD drivers working properly so that FIFA would stop crashing. I read somewhere that installing the latest AMD Catalyst Beta with separate Intel drivers would work. I tried that, rebooted, and now I have a black screen after the Windows splash logo, with my mouse pointer visible if I move my mouse. So clearly something went wrong with the graphics driver installation.


No problem, I'll just simply boot into safe mode, uninstall the drivers, and experiment with some other drivers.
But no. F8 doesn't work, I know. Shift-F8 doesn't either. So I got my installation media, surely there would be a way to boot into safe mode with it!
Here's what I get.
IMG_20131120_052654.jpg



There's supposed to be a 'Startup Options' button here, but for SOME reason, it's not. I have no clue what to do. I cannot fathom HOW Microsoft managed to make booting into SAFE MODE such a puzzle for an end user.




Some more background: After a similar graphics driver adventure last week, I got into safe mode (phew), tried to uninstall AMD drivers. I got an error about how this the installer cannot run in safe mode (what?!). I tweak some registry key to get it working. It failed to uninstall properly. I rebooted, and then I was absolutely unable to get OUT OF safe mode. Nothing I did changed that, each and every time Windows booted to safe mode.


I can't remember the last time I had such a bad experience with a Microsoft product. Really.
I'm fully in with the idea of backing up files in my C: drive and simply installing regular Windows 8 over this. BUT I can't access my C: drive via Ubuntu because Windows has LOCKED that partition because of it's fast-boot nonsense.




ARGH.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    WIndows 8.1
Do you have a restore point to before this all started ?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
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    AMD K140 Cores 2 Threads 2 Name AMD K140 Package Socket FT1 BGA Technology 40nm
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    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
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Hi there
Installing BETA software is always going to be a risk - that's why it's called BETA software. If you want to play games or perform other functions on the latest OS you will inevitably get failures -- you should really WAIT until the relevant drivers and applications are available or run your "legacy" applications in a Virtual Machine -- these days a lot of Games will run very decently in a Virtual machine.

Reading the Forums here - W8.1 seems in general to be far superior to W8 and most people seem to be reasonably impressed with it.

If it doesn't work then just revert back to your previous OS - generalized statements like saying "It's the worst OS ever" won't help you get your problems solved -- most problems on W8.1 are solvable -- in the cases where they aren't then you just have to accept the fact that you'll have to wait until an upgrade comes out and stick with your previous OS. - Many people on these forums are running XP virtual machines because they have legacy hard or software that will NEVER work with windows 8 / 8.1. Does that make it (W8 / W8.1) a bad OS -- No.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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    Linux Centos 7, W8.1, W7, W2K3 Server W10
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    SSD's * 3 (Samsung 840 series) 250 GB
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"I'd like to begin by saying, Windows 8.1 has been the worst OS I've ever worked with. Absolute worst.
HP DV6 6121tx"

Perhaps you should re-examine your installation.

This man is a reputable blogger

[Did You Know] Ultimate List of Windows 8 Bugs and Goof-ups - AskVG

Read the posts and check out each one. You will find that 90% of them are no longer "bugs"
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Use several different computers during a day, so specs are irrelevant.
I understand what you guys are saying. I'm generally full of praise of Windows and loved using Windows 8.1 when it worked. What you guys need to understand is that my complain is NOT about the BETA software that made Windows unusable. It's about why I'm simply not able to get into safe mode! What cause my initial problem is entirely irrelevant. Getting into safe mode should be plain, simple and uncomplicated. I'm pretty sure no one will be able to explain why the 'Startup Options' (and hence the safe mode option) has disappeared from the screenshot in my post.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    WIndows 8.1
What Bumpkin said! He can also use BCDedit
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
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    2 GB/3GB
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    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
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    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
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    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
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    Works 550w
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    MSI "M-Box"
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    Water Cooled
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    Dell Keyboard
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    Microsoft Intellimouse
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    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
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    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
If you can get into log in screen press and hold shift key, right click on onscreen power button in bottom right hand corner and select restart- this should bring you up a menu - system restore is in advanced options
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
If I want to use safe mode in win 8 or 8.1 I go to start type msconfig and press enter. Then go to the boot tab and check safe mode, you can also choose which method of safe mode you want such as with command prompt or networking. Just remember to run msconfig again while in safe mode and uncheck it or it will boot back into it.
msconfig.jpg
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    Browser
    Firefox
bcdedit with timeout

After almost two days of trying to get into safe mode to fix a video driver issue, I agree with you, arnoldlayne42 , that it is a royal pain to get into safe mode.
My issue was that windows update installed a new intel video card driver, and then somehow thought it was my primary display adapter, even though it doesn't have output. (it was under optional updates, so it's my fault)

For other people who have had to "try" to press F8 at the appropriate time, or fight with UEFI bios.
You can use bcdedit to set up a 30 second timeout, off of your installation cd (from the command prompt)
I also turned on the "legacy" boot mode, which supposedly supports F8
For completeness, I'm putting both below


Code:
bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy legacy[COLOR=#3E3E3E][FONT=Segoe UI]
bcdedit /timeout 30[/FONT][/COLOR]

Then, you can boot into safemode as many times as you need to, until you have everything working correctly, and then change the timeout back to 0.

My present issues aside, I'm loving windows 8.1, with support for storage spaces, which are helping my archiving needs, by supporting external hard drive enclosures!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Window 8.1
After almost two days of trying to get into safe mode to fix a video driver issue, I agree with you, arnoldlayne42 , that it is a royal pain to get into safe mode.

I had to do a safe mode boot for the first time the other day to do a complete uninstall of Avira. It was a breeze. On logon screen, click on power button in lower right corner. Press Shift + Restart. Takes you to Troubleshoot screen. Click Advanced Options, select Safe mode boot w/wo networking. Done !
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
I may have been able to go into safe mode when it gives me the option to restart and press "4", but I'd changed my Bios options to "Fast Boot". (The option above fast boot which is even faster.) This lead to the keyboard not loading when prompted the option to press "4" to go into Safe mode.

I've had this issue since I've owned my PC, about 2 years now. If it updates Windows automatically, it gets stuck at 86% complete. So the other day I manually installed 80+ updates, and changed it to auto after as I thought it'd bypass this problem. Well I was wrong, and I'm getting stuck on the update(s) once again...

I only did the updates as it said I must do so before upgrading to Windows 10. I've literally tried everything to fix this issue the past year and a half. It's the biggest joke I've ever encountered, and I've gone through so many forums, calling places, ect.

Now I can't even change the "fast Boot" option since the keyboard does not load to do so! I'm screwed!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    11111111
Power down.
Remove power cord.
Open case and remove CMOS battery.
Press and hold the power button for 10 - 15 seconds.
Replace CMOS battery.
Plug in power cord.
Power up.

Settings should have been restored to default so keyboard should work again. If yes, go into BIOS Setup and load defaults then make any changes needed and save.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
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    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
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    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
My motherboard has an Ultrafast boot setting which won't boot to Safe Mode but the normal Fast Boot mode will boot to Safe Mode.

You don't need to do a full BIOS reset to enter the BIOS. Do the following from Windows:

  1. Hold down the Shift key while selecting Restart
  2. Select Troubleshooting
  3. Select Advanced Options
  4. Select UEFI Firmware Settings
  5. Select Restart

The PC then restarts and enters the BIOS. You might want to change your Fast Boot setting to a lower level so you can enter the BIOS on powering on your PC.

You can also enter Safe Mode (and other options) by following steps 1-3 above then selecting Start Up Options. See below for further options.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2758-safe-mode-add-windows-boot-manager-windows-8-a.html
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/27510-safe-mode-add-desktop-context-menu-windows.html
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2757-safe-mode-start-windows-8-a.html
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 64 bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Build
    CPU
    Intel i3570K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-77X-UD5H
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire R9 280X Toxic
    Sound Card
    Realtek on motherboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Viewsonic VP2770
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1440
    Hard Drives
    Intel 520 180GB SSD
    Seagate 2T HDD
    Seagate external 1T USB HDD
    PSU
    XFX 850W
    Case
    Nanoxia Deep Silence 1
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D14
    Keyboard
    Microsoft
    Mouse
    Microsoft
    Internet Speed
    50Mbps
    Browser
    Chrome
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