If you’re experiencing issues installing or booting a Windows system in Safe Mode, it’s not uncommon. Here are some troubleshooting steps to help resolve the issue:
Before we begin
- Make sure your antivirus software is turned off. Some antivirus programs might block Safe Mode mode.
- If you’ve recently installed any new hardware or drivers, try uninstalling them and see if they’re causing the issue.
Safe Mode Troubleshooting Steps:
Method 1: Disable Automatic Updates
If Windows can’t connect to the internet, it won’t be able to install updates in Safe Mode. Here’s how:
- Press the Windows key + S to open the Start menu.
- Type “Windows Update” and press Enter.
- Click on “View update history.”
- Check if any updates are available for installation.
If an update is installed, but still can’t connect to the internet, try disabling automatic updates by:
- Press the Windows key + X > System.
- Select “Advanced system settings.”
- Go to “Update & Security.”
- Click on “Windows Update” and then “Turn windows features on or off.”
- Uncheck the box next to “Automatic updates.”
Method 2: Disable Device Drivers
If you’ve recently installed new hardware, try disabling its drivers in Safe Mode:
- Press the Windows key + X > Device Manager.
- Expand the “Development” section.
- Look for your device’s driver and right-click on it.
- Select “Disable device.”
Method 3: Boot from a Linux Live CD/USB Drive
Boot from a Linux live drive (e.g., Ubuntu or Windows Recovery Environment) to troubleshoot the issue:
- Insert an empty USB drive containing a Linux distribution (e.g., Ubuntu).
- Restart your computer.
- Enter the BIOS settings and set the USB drive as the first boot device.
Method 4: Boot from a System Restore Point
If you have a System Restore point, try restoring to it:
- Press the Windows key + S > System.
- Type “System restore” and press Enter.
- Select the desired restore point.
Method 5: Reinstall the Operating System
If all else fails, reinstalling the operating system might resolve the issue:
- Boot from a Windows installation media (e.g., USB drive or CD/DVD).
- Follow the installation wizard to re-install Windows.
Additional Tips
- Make sure your antivirus software is not blocking Safe Mode by checking its settings.
- If you’re using multiple monitors, try disconnecting one of them and see if it resolves the issue.
- If you have a dual-boot system or have installed drivers for both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows, ensure that the problematic driver is installed in the correct version.
By following these steps, you should be able to resolve issues related to installing Windows in Safe Mode.