This article explains how to start a Windows XP computer in Safe Mode.
What to Know
- Restart and immediately press the F8 key > Safe Mode > Enter. Select operating system > Enter.Wait for files to load. Log in with an administrator account.In the “Windows is running in safe mode” dialog box, select Yes.
How to Start Windows XP in Safe Mode
Windows XP Safe Mode can help you diagnose and solve many serious problems, especially when starting normally isn’t possible. Here’s how to start up in Safe Mode.
Press F8 Before the Splash Screen
To begin, turn your PC on or restart it.
Just before the Windows XP splash screen, shown above, appears, press the F8 key to enter the Windows Advanced Options Menu.
Choose a Safe Mode Option
You should now see the Windows Advanced Options Menu screen. If not, you may have missed the small window of opportunity to press F8 from Step 1 and Windows is probably now continuing to boot normally if it’s able to. If this is the case, just restart your computer and try Step 1 again.
Here, you’re presented with three variations of Safe Mode you can enter:
- Safe Mode: This is the default option and is usually the best choice. This will load only the absolute minimum processes necessary to start Windows.
- Safe Mode with Networking: This option loads the same processes as Safe Mode, but also includes those that allow the networking functions in Windows to work. This is valuable if you may need to access the internet or your local network while troubleshooting.
- Safe Mode with Command Prompt: This flavor of Safe Mode also loads a minimum set of processes but will allow access to Command Prompt. This is a valuable option if more advanced troubleshooting is necessary. It’s a little different, though, so check out the Windows XP Safe Mode with Command Prompt instructions for more information.
Using the arrow keys on your keyboard, highlight either the Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking option and press Enter.
Select the Operating System to Start
Windows needs to know which operating system installation you would like to start. Most users only have a single Windows XP installation, so the choice is typically clear.
Using your arrow keys, highlight the correct operating system, and press Enter.
Wait for Windows Files to Load
The minimum system files necessary to run Windows XP will now load. Each file being loaded will be displayed on the screen.
You don’t need to do anything here, but this screen could provide a good place to start troubleshooting if your computer is experiencing very serious problems and Safe Mode won’t completely load. For example, if Safe Mode freezes on this screen, document the last Windows file being loaded and then search Lifewire or the rest of the internet for troubleshooting advice.
Log In With an Administrator Account
To use Safe Mode, you need to log on with an administrator account or an account that has administrator permissions.
On the PC displayed above, both our personal account, Tim, and the built-in administrator account, Administrator, have administrator privileges, so either one could be used.
If you’re not sure if any of your personal accounts have administrator privileges, choose the Administrator account and then provide the password. See How to Find the Windows Administrator Password if you need help.
Proceed to Windows XP Safe Mode
When the “Windows is running in safe mode” dialog box shown above appears, select Yes to enter Safe Mode.
Make Necessary Changes in Safe Mode
That’s it! You should now be in Safe Mode.
Make any changes you need to make and then restart the computer. Assuming there are no remaining issues preventing it, the computer should boot to Windows XP normally after a restart.
As you can see in the screenshot above, it’s very easy to identify if Windows XP is in Safe Mode because the text “Safe Mode” will always appear in each corner of the screen.
Not a Windows XP User? See How Do I Start Windows in Safe Mode? for specific instructions for your version of Windows.
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