I am getting rid of a virus from my computer, which requires me to repeatedly restart in Safe Mode. However, I am hesitant to install any new programs to ensure my computer’s safety. Additionally, I do not want to go through the hassle of enabling Safe Mode every time I need to restart.
Therefore, I am wondering if there is a way to use CMD to make my computer automatically start in Safe Mode upon startup, and if this feature can be disabled later on.
2 Answers
Introduction
Safe Mode is a crucial feature in Windows that allows users to troubleshoot issues that may be preventing the computer from functioning properly. It is a diagnostic mode that starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and services, which can help isolate the cause of problems. In this blog post, we will discuss how to enable Safe Mode when restarting a PC, without installing any additional programs.
Method 1: Using System Configuration
One way to enable Safe Mode when restarting a PC is to use the System Configuration tool. Here’s how to do it:
1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “msconfig” (without quotes) and press Enter.
3. In the System Configuration window, click on the Boot tab.
4. Under Boot options, check the box next to “Safe boot” and select “Minimal”.
5. Click on Apply and then OK.
6. Restart your computer.
Your computer will now start in Safe Mode automatically. To disable Safe Mode, simply follow the same steps and uncheck the “Safe boot” option.
Method 2: Using Command Prompt
Another way to enable Safe Mode is by using Command Prompt. Here’s how to do it:
1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “cmd” (without quotes) and press Enter.
3. In the Command Prompt window, type “bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal” (without quotes) and press Enter.
4. Restart your computer.
Your computer will now start in Safe Mode automatically. To disable Safe Mode, simply follow the same steps and type “bcdedit /deletevalue {default} safeboot” (without quotes) in Command Prompt.
Method 3: Editing the Registry
If you are comfortable with editing the Registry, you can also enable Safe Mode this way. Here’s how to do it:
1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “regedit” (without quotes) and press Enter.
3. In the Registry Editor window, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlSafeBootMinimal.
4. Right-click on Minimal and select New > Key.
5. Name the new key “MSIServer” (without quotes).
6. Right-click on MSIServer and select New > String Value.
7. Name the new string value “Default” (without quotes).
8. Double-click on Default and set the value data to “Service” (without quotes).
9. Close the Registry Editor.
10. Restart your computer.
Your computer will now start in Safe Mode automatically. To disable Safe Mode, simply follow the same steps and delete the MSIServer key.
Conclusion
Enabling Safe Mode when restarting a PC is a useful tool for troubleshooting issues. There are several ways to enable Safe Mode without installing any additional programs, including using System Configuration, Command Prompt, and editing the Registry. It is important to remember to disable Safe Mode once you have finished troubleshooting to ensure that your computer functions properly.
To initiate the process, open the System Configuration window by executing “msconfig” from CMD.
Within the Boot tab, you can select the option to start Windows in safe mode and choose the level that is most suitable for your needs.
To disable this feature, the procedure may require specifying the full path of the executable file used to call the utility. In Windows XP, the path is “C:\WINDOWS\pchealth\helpctr\binaries\msconfig.exe”, while newer versions of Windows require the path “C:\Windows\System32\msconfig.exe”.