Starting Windows in Safe Mode Using MSConfig
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msconfig Select OK, or press Enter. Do not make changes in the MSConfig tool other than those outlined here to avoid causing serious system issues. This utility controls a number of startup activities other than those involved with Safe Mode, so unless you're familiar with this tool, it's best to stick to what's outlined here. Go into the Boot tab located at the top of the window. In Windows XP, this tab is labeled BOOT.INI Check the box next to Safe boot (called /SAFEBOOT in Windows XP). The radio buttons under the Safe boot options start the various other modes of Safe Mode: Minimal: Starts the standard Safe ModeAlternate shell: Starts Safe Mode with Command PromptNetwork: Starts Safe Mode with Networking See Safe Mode (What It Is and How to Use It) for more information on the various Safe Mode options. Windows 11 System Configuration. Select OK. You'll be prompted to either Restart, which will restart your computer immediately, or Exit without restart, which will close the window and allow you to continue to use your computer, in which case you'll need to restart manually. After restarting, Windows will automatically boot in Safe Mode. Windows will continue to start in Safe Mode automatically until System Configuration is configured to again boot normally, which we'll do over the next several steps. If you'd prefer to continue to start Windows in Safe Mode automatically each time you reboot, for example, if you're troubleshooting a particularly nasty piece of malware, you can stop here. When your work in Safe Mode is complete, again start System Configuration as you did in Steps 1 and 2 above. Choose the Normal startup radio button (on the General tab) and then select OK. You'll again be prompted with the same restart your computer question as in Step 6. Choose one option, most likely Restart. Your computer will restart and Windows will start normally... and will continue to do so. You'll need to be able to start Windows normally to do this. If you can't, you'll need to start Safe Mode the old-fashioned way. See How to Start Windows in Safe Mode if you need help doing that.
How to Start Windows in Safe Mode Using System Configuration
Restart in Safe Mode the easy way
By Tim Fisher Tim Fisher Senior Vice President & Group General Manager, Tech & Sustainability Emporia State University Tim Fisher has more than 30 years' of professional technology experience. He's been writing about tech for more than two decades and serves as the VP and General Manager of Lifewire. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on December 14, 2021 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Windows The Ultimate Laptop Buying GuideWhat to Know
Right-click or tap and hold the Start button to trigger the Power User menu. Choose Run. Type msconfig in the text box. Select OK.Go to the Boot tab. Check the box next to Safe boot and select from the available options. Choose OK. Restart to boot into safe mode.Windows will continue to start in safe mode until you choose Normal Startup in the General tab of MSConfig. This article explains how to start Windows in safe mode using MSConfig. This information applies to Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. Any variations for specific systems are indicated.Start Windows in Safe Mode Using MSConfig
Sometimes it's necessary to start Windows in Safe Mode to properly troubleshoot a problem. Typically, you'd do this via the Startup Settings menu (Windows 11/10/8) or via the Advanced Boot Options menu (Windows 7/Vista/XP). However, depending on the issue you're having, it might be easier to make Windows boot in Safe Mode automatically. Follow these instructions to configure Windows to reboot directly into Safe Mode by making changes in the System Configuration utility, usually referred to as MSConfig. In Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows 8, right-click or tap-and-hold the Start button, or use the WIN+X shortcut, to trigger the Power User Menu. Then, choose Run. In Windows 7 and Windows Vista, select the Start button. In Windows XP, select Start and then Run. In the text box, type the following:msconfig Select OK, or press Enter. Do not make changes in the MSConfig tool other than those outlined here to avoid causing serious system issues. This utility controls a number of startup activities other than those involved with Safe Mode, so unless you're familiar with this tool, it's best to stick to what's outlined here. Go into the Boot tab located at the top of the window. In Windows XP, this tab is labeled BOOT.INI Check the box next to Safe boot (called /SAFEBOOT in Windows XP). The radio buttons under the Safe boot options start the various other modes of Safe Mode: Minimal: Starts the standard Safe ModeAlternate shell: Starts Safe Mode with Command PromptNetwork: Starts Safe Mode with Networking See Safe Mode (What It Is and How to Use It) for more information on the various Safe Mode options. Windows 11 System Configuration. Select OK. You'll be prompted to either Restart, which will restart your computer immediately, or Exit without restart, which will close the window and allow you to continue to use your computer, in which case you'll need to restart manually. After restarting, Windows will automatically boot in Safe Mode. Windows will continue to start in Safe Mode automatically until System Configuration is configured to again boot normally, which we'll do over the next several steps. If you'd prefer to continue to start Windows in Safe Mode automatically each time you reboot, for example, if you're troubleshooting a particularly nasty piece of malware, you can stop here. When your work in Safe Mode is complete, again start System Configuration as you did in Steps 1 and 2 above. Choose the Normal startup radio button (on the General tab) and then select OK. You'll again be prompted with the same restart your computer question as in Step 6. Choose one option, most likely Restart. Your computer will restart and Windows will start normally... and will continue to do so. You'll need to be able to start Windows normally to do this. If you can't, you'll need to start Safe Mode the old-fashioned way. See How to Start Windows in Safe Mode if you need help doing that.