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The Computer Always Starts in Safe Mode

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Support details

» Step1: Check the keyboard and make sure a Shift key is not stuck

» Step 2: Try starting Windows normally

» Step 3: Remove recently installed hardware

» Step 4: Set the BIOS to default settings

» Step 5: Use system restore to restore the system to an earlier time

» Step 6: Disable device drivers that have problems

» Step 7: Resetting safeboot in Windows XP

» Related Support

This document is intended for HP and Compaq PCs that use Microsoft Windows 98, Me, and XP.

If the PC only opens into Windows safe mode, follow the steps in this document, in order, until the problem is resolved.

Step1: Check the keyboard and make sure a Shift key is not stuck

The PC enters safe mode if either Shift key on the keyboard is held down during Windows startup or the Shift key is stuck.

Attach a different keyboard or loosen any stuck Shift keys, and then restart the PC. If the PC still starts in safe mode, go to the next step.

Step 2: Try starting Windows normally

Use the following steps to force Windows to start normally:

Restart the computer.
At the first startup screens, press the F8 key repeatedly until the Windows Startup Menu appears.
Select Normal Startup (Windows 98/ME) or Start Windows Normally (Windows XP).

If the computer still starts in safe mode, go to the next step.

Step 3: Remove recently installed hardware

Did you recently install a new peripheral (printers, cameras, scanners, personal data assistants) or other hardware? It is possible a new device is in conflict with other existing devices. Use the following two sections to locate conflicting hardware:

Disconnecting a recently added peripheral

Disconnect all peripherals attached to the computer.
Restart the computer twice.
- If Windows does not start in safe mode, re-attach one peripheral at a time until you find the peripheral that is causing the problem. Refer to the peripheral's support to see if there are any known issues and resolutions for this problem.
- If Windows still starts in safe mode, disconnect any recently added hardware as explained in the following section.

Disconnecting a recently added hardware device

If new computer hardware (like a PCI or PCMCIA card) was recently added, uninstall its software and drivers and restart the computer. Let Windows detect the new hardware and install new drivers.
If Windows still starts in safe mode, remove the new hardware and its software entirely. Restart the system twice.
- If Windows does not start in safe mode, check the hardware vendor's support for any known issues and resolutions for this problem.
- If Windows still starts in safe mode, continue troubleshooting with the following steps.

Step 4: Set the BIOS to default settings

PCs have basic input output settings (BIOS) that are set for the hardware that came with the computer. Use the following steps to reset the BIOS to its original condition in the event that something adjusted the settings:

NOTE:

The following steps are common to most HP and Compaq PCs and might not apply entirely for other computers. Make sure that you read the information on the BIOS screen to verify the steps.

Turn the PC off, wait about ten seconds, and then turn the computer on.
Press the F1 key repeatedly during the first logo screen (This keypress may be different on some computer models).
Press the F5 key and then press the Enter key to set the setup defaults.
Press the F10 key and then press Enter to save the settings and exit.
If Windows starts in safe mode, restart the computer one more time before continuing to the next step.

Step 5: Use system restore to restore the system to an earlier time

If you have Windows 98, skip to the next step. Use Microsoft's System Restore utility to restore the computer to an earlier time. When using System Restore, choose the last available date when the computer opened into Windows normally. Open the system restore utility by clicking Start , (All) Programs , Accessories , and then System Tools . For more information about how to use Microsoft's System Restore utility read the HP support document HP and Compaq PCs - Using Microsoft's System Restore Feature .

If the PC continues to start in safe mode after restoring, continue to the next step.

Step 6: Disable device drivers that have problems

Use the following steps to look for devices in Device Manager that are having problems:

In Windows XP, click Start , right-click My Computer , and then select Properties .
In Windows 98, and Me, right-click My Computer from the desktop, and select Properties .
In Windows XP, click the Hardware tab, and then click the Device Manager button.
In Windows 98, and Me, click the Device Manager tab.
Click the Plus (+ ) signs next to each hardware category listing and view the small pictures next to each device name.
If a device contains a red or yellow symbol over its picture, then the device driver is having problems. If there are no devices drivers that are having problems, continue to Step 7:Resetting safeboot in Windows XP . Otherwise, disable problem device drivers as follows:
1. Click the name of the device, and then click the Properties button.
2. Read the description of the problem under Device Status and write down the name of the device and the problem for future reference.
3. Select Disable in this hardware profile . If "Disable in this hardware profile" is already checked, then the device is already disabled.
4. Click OK .
After all of the troubled devices are disabled, restart the PC twice. If Windows does not start in safe mode, then check the hardware's support site for any known issues and resolutions for this problem for a fix. If the device is old and not used anymore, then it can be removed by right-clicking the device name in Device Manager and selecting Remove .
If the PC still continues to open in safe mode, continue to the next step.

Step 7: Resetting safeboot in Windows XP

Use the following steps in XP to use the Microsoft configuration utility to see if the safeboot option is selected:

Click Start , Run , and type the following into the Open field: msconfig
Click the Boot.ini tab.
Remove the checkmark next to /Safeboot , if it is selected.
Click OK and restart the PC.

Related Support

Microsoft Article Q306615: The Computer Always Starts in Safe Mode (Windows 98/Me) (in English). This support article by Microsoft describes how to prevent the system from starting in safe mode by editing the MSDOS.SYS file.