When and why to use Windows safe mode

What is safe mode?

Safe mode is a diagnostic mode of a computer operating system (OS). When you boot up Windows into Safe Mode only the bare essentials of the operating system are loaded. Only the system’s basic hardware drivers are loaded, and no programs listed in the Startup folder are allowed to load and run.

In a nutshell, Safe Mode makes it much easier to troubleshoot and fix software problems such as bad drivers, corrupted Windows files or nasty viruses.

Note that you will need an Administrator account in order to log into Safe Mode.

When & Why To Use Safe Mode

Safe Mode can be used to find out whether problems are caused by installed software or drivers, or whether essential components of your operating system are damaged.

If the problems you experienced previously disappear as soon as you boot into Safe Mode, it’s safe to assume that a piece of software or a driver installed on your computer is causing the issues. It could still be anything from a driver or software conflict to malware. But at least you know nothing essential is broken, for example your computer hardware.

Most malware can only be removed in Safe Mode. The reason is that the sneaky piece of software will thwart every attempt you make to remove it. In Safe Mode, however, malware typically is not loaded and hence cannot prevent you from getting rid of it.

How to boot Windows into Safe Mode on Windows 7

If your computer is already powered up and running Windows, shut it down. With the system turned off, press the power button and immediately begin pressing the F8 key over and over. 

You’ll see “Advanced Boot Options” screen. Use the arrow keys to select the appropriate Safe Mode option, and then hit Enter to boot into Safe mode.