Safe mode

Safe mode is the Windows diagnostics mode. When you start the computer in Safe mode, only the specific components that are needed to run the operating system are loaded. Safe mode does not allow some functions, such as a connection to the Internet. Safe mode also loads a standard video driver at a low resolution. Due to the low resolution, your programs and the Windows desktop may look different than usual and the desktop icons may have moved to different locations on the desktop.

Martin

So far so good.

But when or why would you use it and how do you use it.

Regards

Mick

Safe Mode starts up automatically if Windows does not boot on the previous attempt. You can also invoke Safe Mode by pressing F5 or by pressing F8 and selecting it from the boot menu.

So what should you do if your computer boots to Safe Mode? Try to determine what has changed on your system that could have caused Windows to fail to boot properly. If you have added any kind of hardware, go to the Control Panel and remove it and uninstall the software driver for that device. Then attempt a reboot. If Windows boots properly, you can be reasonably certain that there was some type of conflict with the device and try to resolve it.

quote:

But when or why would you use it and how do you use it.

Hi Mick

I recently built a PC for the first time (under the supervision of grown up) and, shortly after setting up in my house, had problems with the monitor image going wrong, certain programs not running, and things just generally being 'not right'. I spoke to the person who helped me build the PC and he talked me through getting into safe mode, and correcting the problems the PC was having whilst there - as a (complete) layman, I would say that it is a mode which allows you to look for possible damage to your PC, whilst not doing any more damage to it due to looking.

I hope that's of some use to you. I would also say that if you don't fully understand what safe mode is (which I don't), it's probably something you shouldn't be messing about with.

Regards,

Chris.

I used it when I had problems after replacing the CD Rom drive.

Can Speeddisk (or similar) run in safe mode?

My hard drive needs it but when I try it keeps restarting claiming something has written to the disk. I have tried stopping everything I can but there are so many mysterious processes running in the background with Windoze

Chris

I installed a pile of anti spyware etc a couple of months ago and my pc is fine.

I am aware how limited my knowledge on this subject is and I was just enquiring what safe mode is and when it should be used.

Regards

Mick

Hi Mick

I hope that you didn't interpret my post as facetious or patronising, because that isn't how it was intended.

Regards,

Chris.

PS - Can I ask what anti-spyware have you installed? I downloaed a freebie one (Beta?) from the Microsoft website and would like something a bit more effective.

Chris

I did not think for one second that you were patronising.

I have the following.

Norton Anti virus 2003

Norton Internet security

Norton Utilities Integrator

Spyware Guard

Spyware Blaster

Adaware SE Personal

Spybot Search

Webroot Spysweeper.

I run checks each and every day and everything is working 100%.

I was just curious as to what safe mode is and how it should be used.

Regards

Mick

quote:

Originally posted by Mick Parry:
Chris

I did not think for one second that you were patronising.

I have the following.

Norton Anti virus 2003

Norton Internet security

Norton Utilities Integrator

Spyware Guard

Spyware Blaster

Adaware SE Personal

Spybot Search

Webroot Spysweeper.

I run checks each and every day and everything is working 100%.

I was just curious as to what safe mode is and how it should be used.

Regards

Mick

Perhaps with you about, everything should be put into safe mode, innit ?

Isn't it strange how new mothers always have the feeling of awe when they realise that the love of their lives is 'Short & Bald' !


Fritz Von If it can't be avoided, then welcome it: As they say in China

Fritz

I would dearly love to have a mode that is safe from you.

You are the Naim equivalent of a virus.

Regards

Mick

Thanks for the information, Mick - I have a few from your list (the Norton ones) and will investigate the rest.

Regards,

Chris.

Sometimes, when installing new hardware, the PC refuses to boot up and you can get locked into a cycle of it constantly rebooting, but never actually properly loading, and you end up being completely locked out. This is now thankfully rare with XP, but Windows 95 & 98 were very crude by comparison and all sorts of things fell over that sometimes made the screen freeze. You could put in a new program and the screen would freeze every single time you started up, and all you would be able to do was pull the power lead out. There was no going back. By booting in Safe Mode, it would load a very simple windows system that didn't need or load third party software or drivers, for say, the video card or the soundcard. That would enable you to go into the system folder, undo what caused the problem in the first place, and rescue your system.
Still a useful feature, but fortunately rarely necessary now with XP.

Chris

All of the programmes other than Norton and Spybot can be downloaded for free.

This is a good site and if you scroll down to the security section and then click onto an article entitle " how did I get infected in the first place", you will have all the info you need.

You can even down load everything from that site.

Regards

Mick

PS I couldn't find a Fritzblaster but that was only wishful thinking.

You're welcome to a bootup up anytime me old handsome, innit.


Fritz Von Grand Poopah Dubya reckons he's solved the worlds problems

Hi
Safe mode is also useful for installation of programs (also for un-installing)as there are less processes running.
Anti-virus and anti-spyware programs should also be run in safe mode occasionally because they will clean more effectively as the infected files may not rid themselves of nasties while running (in normal mode).
Regards
Jim

I would mention that in Safe Mode USB drivers are not loaded - so, if you have a USB keyboard or mouse, plug in some PS2 devices BEFORE starting in Safe Mode - or control will become impossible.

Safe Mode also prevents the loading of processes from the Start Up folder and other invoked processes not essential for Windows. It can be essential when trying to get at viruses, dialers and the like which auto load at Start Up and re-install themselves after failed attempts to delete them.

Spybot S&D is available for personal use for free. A donation is appreciated though.

Download Page:

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

Select Download ( 1.3 ) at the bottom...
This will take you to a mirror site.
( a site that has links to other sites hosting the files. Spreads the load around to different servers, instead of hammering one into submission. )

At the mirror site you will be presented with a list of sites to download from. Normally you would choose something close to you, or somewhere where it would be after-hours - so less load on the server.

HTH

regards,

Michael
IT Dept / Wide Area Netwoks
The County of Oxford
Ontario, Canada

I had been a satisfied user of AVG and it picked up the odd naughty. Fairly recently it stopped updating and I jumped over to AVAST.

This seems another excellent product but gets wildly over excited in the oddest places - to the degree of being a royal pain.

Should I believe its neurotic sirens or can I now go back to AVG - and get my updates again?

Mick (and others)
A few (free)programmes I have been recommended:-
Ad-Aware SE personal.
Spybot S&D
Spider Bite
MS antispyware
SpywareBlaster.(I think this will actually prevent spyware taking up residence)
One of the guys fron Tech Support Guy in the USA was helping me to sort out my slowing PC. He used a utility HiJackThis to look at loaded programmes startup etc. He always instructed me start in Safe Mode to do the alteration/removals and then re-boot.


Howard

While we are on the subject of compuers my reply button does not respond anymore. I can only post using quick reply.
I did load Adobe Reader recently. The problem appeared about this time but it doesn't seem likely this is the culprit . Any ideas anybody?