Windows 8.1 Safe Mode from OFF state

[wiganken]

Windows 8.1 “Safe Mode”: - W8.1 allows one to access the “Recovery” menu after booting up which allows one to select restarting in “Safe mode” but how does one get the PC to boot into Safe Mode from the OFF state? If, for example, the PC will not boot into Windows and hangs? In this case the “Recovery” option is not available and pressing F8 or Shift+F8 after switching ON doesn’t work (I’ve tried). I know how to use bootable USBs and images (I have all this organised) so I am not talking about that method of recovery. I only want to know how to boot into Safe Mode from the OFF state. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[mrjimphelps]

In Windows, run MSCONFIG. Go to the Boot tab. At the bottom, under Boot Options, check the box for Safe Boot. Below Safe Boot, choose either Minimal ("Safe Mode") or Network ("Safe Mode with Networking").

Over to the right, check the box which says Make all Boot Settings Permanent.

Click Apply.

From now on, whenever you start the computer, it will boot into either Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking.

To turn this off, go back into MSCONFIG, uncheck Safe Boot, then Apply.

 

[wiganken]

Thanks for the reply but I don't want to boot into "Safe Mode" by default. This is what would happen if I changed as per your suggestion. I want the PC to boot into Windows 8.1 normally but I want the option to boot into Safe Mode from the OFF state as-and-when I need to.

 

[mrjimphelps]

My method is an "at-will" method. It's just that there are more steps involved in getting it to happen. Once in Safe Mode, you can run MSCONFIG and disable Safe Boot, then reboot. To get into Safe Mode, run MSCONFIG and enable Safe Boot.

It sounds to me like this is your only choice for getting into Safe Mode, because tapping on F8 while the computer is booting doesn't get you into Safe Mode. I don't know of any other way to get into Safe Mode except for these two methods.

 

[wiganken]

I suppose it is a (long winded) work around but unsatisfactory. My wife uses the PC as well as me and she is not computer savvy. Even for me it would be annoying to the extent that it is unacceptable. Another problem that Microsoft created when writing Windows 8.1 OS. Thanks for your input.

 

[wiganken]

I found the answer that works on my Windows 8.1 computer. See attached pdf file.

 

[wiganken]

Just in case people can't see the pictures in the pdf file I attached in my last post here they are as separate pictures.