Safe Mode - Add to Windows Boot Manager in Windows 8

How to Add Safe Mode to Windows Boot Manager in Windows 8 and 8.1​

   Information

Safe mode is a troubleshooting option for Windows that starts your computer with a minimal set of drivers and services.

This tutorial will show you how to add Windows 8 Safe Mode to the Windows Boot Manager to be able to easily choose Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, Safe Mode with Command Prompt, Windows 8, or any another OS (ex: dual boot) at boot to run at startup.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

   Note

If you do not already dual boot Windows 8 with another OS (ex: Windows 7 or Vista) with Windows 8 set as the default OS to run at startup, then adding Safe Mode to the Windows Boot Manager will also give you the Change default or choose other options link as in the example screenshot below to make it easier to boot into the Startup Options menu for more System Recovery Options.

EXAMPLE: Windows 8 Safe Mode added to Windows Boot Manager

OPTION ONE

To Add Windows 8 "Safe Mode" to Windows Boot Manager

1. Open an elevated command prompt or a command prompt at boot.


2. In the command prompt, copy and paste the command below and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

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bcdedit /enum /v​

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3. From under a Windows Boot Loader section, look for the description that has Windows 8.1 listed (ex: Windows Developer Preview), and make note of it's identifier number (ex: {672baf70-e2b4-11e0-8f18-f57b82248477} ) . (see screenshot above)


4. In the command prompt, type the command below for the type of Safe Mode you want, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Substitute identifier number in the command below with your actual Windows 8.1 identifier number from step 3.

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bcdedit /copy {identifier number} /d “Windows 8.1 Safe Mode”​

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OR​

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bcdedit /copy {identifier number} /d “Windows 8.1 Safe Mode with Networking”​

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OR​

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bcdedit /copy {identifier number} /d “Windows 8.1 Safe Mode with Command Prompt”​

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For example: I would type this command below exactly for Safe Mode with my identifier number {672baf70-e2b4-11e0-8f18-f57b82248477}.​

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bcdedit /copy {672baf70-e2b4-11e0-8f18-f57b82248477} /d “Windows 8.1 Safe Mode”​

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   Warning

While you could copy and paste the bcdedit /copy {identifier number} part of the command, you must completely type out the /d “Windows 8.1 Safe Mode” part of the command or you will get the "A description for the new entry must be specified" error message if you try and copy and paste it. Be sure to backspace and then type out the rest of the command to also leave a space between these parts of the same command.

   Warning

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If it doubt, you can always type out the full command.​

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5. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog, type msconfig, and click/tap on OK.


6. Click/tap on the Boot tab, verify that Windows 8.1 (or the OS you want) is set as the Default OS instead of Windows 8.1 Safe Mode. (see screenshot below)

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A) Next, select Windows 8.1 Safe Mode in the top box, and check the Safe boot box under "Boot options".​

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B) Select (dot) either Minimal, Alternate shell, or Network for the type of Safe Mode you wanted from step 4 above.​

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   Note

Safe Mode (Minimal) = This starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and services.

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   Note

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Safe Mode with Networking (Network) = This starts Windows in safe mode and includes the network drivers and services needed to access the Internet or other computers on your network.​

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Safe Mode with Command Prompt (Alternate shell) = This starts Windows in safe mode with a command prompt window instead of the usual Windows interface.​

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C) Set enough seconds (ex: 30) in the Timeout field to be able to have enough time to choose an OS at boot, check the Make all boot settings permanent box, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)​

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7. Click/tap on Yes. (see screenshot below)

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8. Click/tap on Restart. (see screenshot below)

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9. When the computer restarts, you will see that Windows 8.1 Safe Mode has been added to the Windows Boot Manager.

OPTION TWO

To Remove Windows 8 "Safe Mode" from Windows Boot Manager

   Note

This option will undo OPTION ONE above to remove Windows 8.1 Safe Mode from the Windows Boot Manager screen, and return you back to what you had before doing OPTION ONE.

1. Open an elevated command prompt or a command prompt at boot.


2. In the command prompt, copy and paste the command below, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

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bcdedit /enum /v​

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3. From under a Windows Boot Loader section, look for the description that has Windows 8.1 Safe Mode listed, and make note of it's identifier number (ex: {203ca718-e98b-11e0-842d-080027916f7d} ) . (see screenshot above)


4. In the command prompt, type the command below and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Substitute identifier number in the command below with your actual "Windows 8.1 Safe Mode" identifier number from step 2.

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bcdedit /delete {identifier number}​

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For example: I would type this command below exactly for my identifier number {203ca718-e98b-11e0-842d-080027916f7d}.​

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bcdedit /delete {203ca718-e98b-11e0-842d-080027916f7d} ​

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5. Close the command prompt. The next time that you restart the computer, you will see that Windows 8.1 Safe Mode has been removed.



That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Start Windows 8 in Safe Mode
• How to Add "Safe Mode" to Desktop Context Menu in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Boot to the Advanced Windows "Startup Settings" in Windows 8
• How to Refresh Windows 8
• How to Choose a Default Operating System to Run at Startup in Windows 8
• How to Delete an Operating System Listed in Windows Boot Manager

 

[Brink]

Arch,

It sounds like you are at step 5 now, and need to continue to make it for Safe Mode. Steps 1 to 4 only add it to the Windows Boot Manager, but steps 5 on makes it for Safe Mode.

 

[archp2008]

Thanks. I forgot about the msconfig options. Working fine now.

 

[Brink]

Great news.

 

[yashveerk]

Hi All,

Is there a option to check the "safe boot" options for the safe mode created, without going to msconfig ?

Is there any command that sets the safe boot through command prompt ?



Thanks,

Yashveer

 

[Brink]

Hello Yashveer, and welcome to Eight Forums.

You could use OPTION FIVE below to do so in the command prompt instead.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2757-safe-mode-start-windows-8-a.html

 

[yashveerk]

Hi Brink,

Thanks for your quick response, i went through the option 5.

But i wanted to create a scenario where i have 2 entries:

1-> Windows 8 ( debug enabled with 1394 or net or com)
2-> Safemode

I know how to create the first option,

But if i use the 5th option pointed by you, than i am worried it will overwrite the first option leading to only 1 safe mode option entry.

So is there a way to create the above scenario, without using the msconfig utility. Thank you.

Yashveer

 

[Brink]

You could use Option 5 to do so, but you would need to make certain that you substitute identifier for the Safemode entry you created in this tutorial.

The safest way of course would be to use msconfig instead.

 

[David Bailey]

I made another post somewhere about how I can just press F-5 & boot to Safe Mode.

I also use WinAero: Boot UI Tuner to get the startup options where Safe Mode & Safe Mode with Administrator CMD Prompt is available.

I set my options time to 80 seconds so I have time to read the list.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...-change-time-wait-before-default-os-runs.html



Just thought this might be of interest.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

How can one tell that it's in Safe Mode? Sure seems like a full blown OS to me. Doesn't it state on the desktop anymore? If it wasn't for the Boot tab in System Config I really wouldn't know.

 

[David Bailey]

It should have "Safe Mode" in all 4 corners of the screen.
Mine does.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Nada. Nothing on the desktop and the screen resolution is the same. Followed the tutorial to the T.

 

[David Bailey]

I restarted in safe mode to get this picture---

 

[HippsieGypsie]

OK, thanks, David. :thumb:

I did another bcdedit in Command Prompt and it shows up there. I don't get it. :huh:

 

[Brink]

Hey Tony,

It looks like you may have missed step 6C to check the Make all boot settings permanent box. While you are booted into your "Safe Mode with networking" option, repeat Option One starting at step 5 again to see if it will this time around.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Thanks for answering, Shawn.

Yes, originally I did check it, got the warning, and rebooted. However upon redoing the process after noticing that and redoing then (and again just now) I found that the check box does not stay checked if that's what it supposed to do. It unckecks as soon as I press "Yes" to the "make changes permanent" warning. When I press "Ok" on the System Config box I get a restart box, of which I press "Restart" as seen below.

When rebooting from 8.1 (the OS I'm performing this in) it reboots to the boot screen, I choose "Windows 8 Safe Mode with Networking", it restarts reverting back to BIOS, then continues into the full blown 8.1. I know that when rebooting into a different OS it'll go back to starting with the BIOS. If rebooting to the same OS it'll just continue on to the same OS. And as reported by my "bcdedit /enum /v" it's in this mode.

Does the check box stay checked?

Probably not, but instead of "Windows 8 Safe Mode with Networking", should it be "Windows 8.1 Safe Mode with Networking"?

The Boot Manager file was created when installing 10TP. Would it make a difference performing it there?

Any ideas? Should I delete the Safe Mode entry and start over?








Is this set correctly? I don't ever remember changing this, however in Task Manager I did change some startup programs not to start a while back. Does change things in the General Tab or is this reconfigured due to the Safe Mode addition? I'm in the Safe Mode concurrently.

 

[Brink]

Yeah, the Make all boot settings permanent box doesn't stay checked. It's only checked to apply the current changes, and make them permanent until changed next.

Yep, Selective startup remains selected no matter what mode you boot into.

You can name the boot entry at then end of the commands in step 4 Option One anything you like. It has no affect other than the name it displays in "Choose an OS".

It would probably be best to delete it and start over in case you may have made a mistake somewhere. Starting fresh usually helps if so.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

LOL! I booted to my 10TP last night to find that it’s in Safe Mode when I thought I was making an 8.1 Safe Mode. I checked my notes I took while doing so. The identifier number I entered during the process was correct as seen below.





The inherit, rcoverysequence, and resumeobject numbers match each other. Are they supposed to?





Any ideas as to why this would happen? I thought I was being precise with the procedure. Any suggestions before proceeding to delete the 8.1 Safe Mode entry? I’ll assume this won’t affect my 10TP.

 

[Brink]

Tony,

From your last screenshot, it shows that you set "Windows Technical Preview" to boot into Safe Mode with the entry below.

safeboot Minimal

You can use the command below to remove this entry, and let Windows 10 boot normally again. Double check to make sure that the indentifier in red below is correct for your "Windows Technical Preview" boot entry though.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2757-safe-mode-start-windows-8-a.html

bcdedit /deletevalue {e4e4e5fd-6ac2-11e4-a8e60d76a4cfe242e} safeboot

You can enter the command below to make the "Windows 8 Safe Mode with Networking" boot entry to actually boot into Safe Mode with network. Double check to make sure that the indentifier in red below is correct for your "Windows 8 Safe Mode with Networking" boot entry though.

bcdedit /set {af243625-782e-11e4-8177-001921e3e6b3} safeboot network

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Thank you for taking the time to help me, Shawn. That all worked great. You sure know your tech!

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Tony. I'm glad that got it for you.