Use Windows Safe Mode, before you throw your Computer out the window

By Robert B Wiseman

Imagine going to your computer and turning it on, only to realize something

is wrong. The computer keeps stalling and crashing every time it tries

loading to the desktop. What do you do? Well before you smash it against the

wall; I have a suggestion for you. Have you heard of Windows Safe Mode?

Safe Mode is a troubleshooting option you can use to determine what

is causing these critical system failures. Safe Mode is free and comes with

Windows 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP and most of the older versions as well.

Safe Mode allows the computer to boot up and run with just the core

system files and drivers needed to run the machine. Maybe you recently

downloaded software that might have given you corrupted files, or maybe

the computer has out dated drivers that need updating. It is easy to use and

you don’t have to be a computer geek to use it.

First, restart the computer or turn it on. While the machine is loading

press and hold F8 (located on the top row of the key board) before the

windows logo pops up, or you will have to repeat the process. F8 brings you

to the Advance Boot Options Menu where you will see three options for using

Safe Mode. (Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, and Safe Mode with

Command Prompt).

The first option is Safe Mode: this option loads the basic files and

drivers, but does not allow you to access the Internet.

The second option is Safe Mode with Networking: this gives you the

option loads network drivers, which access the internet. If you need to use

the internet this is the option you will need to select.

The third option is Safe Mode with Command Prompt: this option will

load to the Command Prompt window and is for the more advance users.

In Safe Mode you will notice the icons and desktop have changed. That

is because Windows only loads the necessary drivers to run, and you will the

see the words Safe Mode in each corner of the screen letting you know what

mode you are in. Windows Help and Support will pop up giving you useful

tips on troubleshooting problems and is easy to navigate through. There are

some tools you can use in Safe Mode to help troubleshoot the computer’s

problems.

Device Manager is a great for updating drivers for your hardware, like

USB, Hard drive, Video Card, etc. You can also rollback the driver if the

update fails. Rolling back the driver will reinstall the last working driver on

hardware, and restore any driver setting that where changed. (Note: If the

Hardware has multiple drivers you would need to rollback all of them.) You

can locate the Device Manager in (Start Menu>Control Panel>Device

Manager>Select a Hardware icon>Driver.)

Recovery gives you the option to run a System Restore, which allows

you to restore the computer to an earlier time and date, or if all else fails, 2

restoring the system back to the factory settings. This may help the problem

the computer is having; restoring will delete new software and changes you

have added to date, and will reset back to the last good configuration on the

O/S that was working. Note: you will need to check updates after you restore.

Recovery is located in (Start Menu>Control Panel>Recovery>Open System

restore.)

Programs and Features are great for uninstalling or repairing the

software in your machine. Programs and Features are located in (Start

Menu>Control Panel>Programs and Features.)

These are some of the tools that are helpful in troubleshooting system

failures, but don’t get ahead of yourself trying to fix everything at once, it is

a process of elimination. After trying one process restart the computer, if it

loads back to the normal desktop without the problem reoccurring you may

have fixed the problem, but if the computer boots back into Safe Mode or the

problem reoccurs continue on with another process.

I know how frustrating computers can be and if you are having

problems with critical system failures. Try using Safe Mode before you throw

the computer against the wall. That will only cost you money, and being a

student myself money is always tight. Safe Mode, it’s free.

Robert Wiseman is a member of the Computer Technology Senior Seminar

and is planning on a career in Networking