Is Safe Mode really safe or is it a lie?

It’s happened to almost everybody. One day, thanks to a newly installed application or a recently visited site, your computer just stops working properly. What to do? A sudden thought crosses your mind – what about Safe Mode? Will it solve all your problems instantly? Or is it a lie? Let’s find it out!

By the way, check how to hack-proof your device here.

What is Safe Mode on Windows?

Safe Mode is a special mode on Windows that allows you to use just the essentials. You will be able to access only Windows applications – the externally added applications like Adobe products or CAD programs are out of the picture. Many drivers won’t work either, so your external GPU won’t help you with any task bigger than providing a VGA signal to the monitor. You will be able to use Safe Mode with or without networking.

Understanding Windows Safe Mode

Let’s have a better understanding of this feature to know when it becomes useful.

How does Safe Mode work?

In Safe Mode, the operating system loads only essential drivers and services, excluding third-party applications and advanced features. This minimal boot environment aims to isolate issues caused by problematic software or drivers.

What is the purpose of Safe Mode?

Safe Mode serves as a diagnostic tool, allowing users to identify and resolve system glitches, malware infections, driver conflicts, or software malfunctions by booting into a basic, stable environment.

As we’ve already mentioned, only the main Windows applications are accessible in Safe Mode. This means that if you have a virus, it will probably not load, so you will be able to look for it and delete it. An experienced IT specialist can find the problem and fix the registry. If you don’t have enough experience, you’d better seek some professional help.

You can uninstall a particular program that is damaging your normal use. This can be a pop-up application that annoys you and it is impossible to delete it from the control panel. You can also restore your Windows to a previous state if the new update has damaged your way of working or has deleted some of your drivers.

When to use Safe Mode?

Safe Mode can be very useful in the following troubleshooting scenarios.

• Malware Removal. For detecting and removing certain types of malware.
• Software Issues. When facing persistent software crashes or errors.
• Driver Conflicts. To resolve issues caused by incompatible or faulty drivers.

Precautions and best practices to use Safe Mode

• Supplementary Security Measures. Combine Safe Mode usage with robust antivirus and security software for comprehensive protection.
• Backup Data. Before using Safe Mode for troubleshooting, back up important data to prevent data loss.

How to access Safe Mode on Windows?

There are different ways to access Safe Mode on Windows. Here you have the most common ways:

• Access through the boot option. You can access Safe Mode by pressing F8 on start. On certain computers, the F5 key does the trick. After that, you select Safe Mode. You can also restart your computer to Safe Mode or if the problem is big, Windows will automatically boot to Safe Mode.
• Access through Windows Recovery Drive. Use the Recovery Drive app to create a recovery drive on USB. Reboot the computer, and boot to the recovery drive. When starting, choose the language you prefer for the keyboard, then select “troubleshoot”, “advanced options”, “startup settings”, and finally, “restart”. Your device will reboot, and you will be asked to pick from different boot options. Choose based on your needs. You can pick to boot into Safe Mode with the command prompt (option 6), into Safe Mode with networking, if you require access to the Internet (option 5), or into Safe Mode (option 4).
• Access through the login screen. At the login screen, hold the shift key down and click on the on-screen power button “restart”. The device will restart, then choose the following options: “troubleshoot”, “advanced options”, “startup settings”, and “restart”. The device will restart again so you can pick an option, for instance, to boot into Safe Mode with networking (option 5), or into Safe Mode (option 4).
• Access through the Automatic Repair mode. After three failed boot attempts in a row, Windows will usually boot to Automatic Repair mode on the fourth attempt. Windows will diagnose your device, then click on the following options on the Automatic Repair screen: “advanced options”, “troubleshoot”, “startup settings”, and “restart”. The device will reboot, and the options will be displayed for you. Pick to boot into Safe Mode with networking (option 5), or into Safe Mode (option 4).
• Access through system configuration. Click on the start button directly from the desktop or use the search bar. Start the System Configuration app by entering “msconfig” and pressing enter. Click on the boot tab, then look for the boot options and pick “safe boot”, then click on “minimal”, and “OK”. You will be asked to “restart” or “exit without restart”? Be sure you pick “restart”, only that way will Windows reboot and enter Safe Mode automatically.
• Access through settings. Locate your start button on the desktop and go to “settings”. Choose the option “select update & security”, then “recovery”. Look for the option “advanced startup” and choose “restart now”. The device will restart, and you will get a list of options. If Internet access is needed, select to boot into Safe Mode with networking (option 5) or into Safe Mode (option 4).
• Access through Windows installation media (USB or DVD). Boot the device. Once at the Windows Setup screen, click “next”, and then “repair your computer” to get the options screen. After, select “troubleshoot”, “advanced options”, and “command prompt”. The command line will appear, so enter and execute by pressing enter and the command: bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal. Wait for the process to be completed and close the command prompt. Click on “continue” to exit and boot into Safe Mode.

Can you access Safe Mode on other operating systems?

You will find Safe Mode in other operating systems too, for instance:

MacOS Safe Mode

MacOS offers a similar diagnostic mode called “Safe Boot” or “Safe Mode.” You can access Safe Boot on a Mac by restarting the computer and holding down the “shift” key during startup until the Apple logo appears. This way, you easily initiate the Safe Boot mode.

This mode disables startup items and loads only necessary kernel extensions and system files. It is used for troubleshooting startup-related issues, verifying disk integrity, and resolving certain software conflicts.

Do you know that mac computers are getting many viruses?

Linux Distributions Safe Mode

Linux distributions have different methods to boot into a similar diagnostic mode known as “Recovery Mode” or “Single-User Mode”.

To access Recovery Mode, you can often choose it from the Grand Unified Bootloader (GRUB) menu by using a bootable recovery disk/USB or pressing specific keys during startup.

Recovery Mode in Linux allows you to access the command line for troubleshooting, perform system repairs, and perform tasks like repairing file systems or reinstalling system components.

Windows or Linux for your server. Which is better?

But is Safe Mode really safe?

You can’t use it for your daily work, and it doesn’t provide protection. Whilst it is there to help you fix a very severe problem, it still has its limitations. Safe Mode is not a magical safe environment that you can use to enter dangerous websites and install questionable applications. It is a final solution that can save you the trouble of a new installation of Windows and potential data loss.

Limitations of Safe Mode

While Safe Mode is beneficial for troubleshooting, it doesn’t guarantee complete safety. It doesn’t provide full protection against all types of malware (LINK) or system vulnerabilities, due to the following limitations:

• Limited functionality. Certain essential drivers and features are disabled, restricting the system’s capabilities.
• Not a comprehensive solution. It doesn’t address all system issues, especially complex software conflicts or hardware failures.
• Vulnerability to persistent threats. Some malware can still operate in Safe Mode, making it less effective against advanced threats.

Safe Mode misconceptions vs realities

With this knowledge, now we can identify some common misconceptions about Safe Mode.

Misconception: Safe Mode equals complete security

Reality: Safe Mode is primarily for troubleshooting and doesn’t guarantee complete immunity from malware or system vulnerabilities.

Misconception: Safe Mode fixes all problems

Reality: While it helps diagnose issues, complex problems may persist beyond the scope of Safe Mode.

Conclusion

Safe Mode is not a lie! It is a valuable tool for troubleshooting and diagnosing system issues. However, it is not an all-encompassing solution for ensuring complete system safety. It aids in isolating and resolving certain problems. Understanding the functionality, scope, and limitations of Safe Mode and its role in addressing specific issues is essential for users to utilize it effectively as part of a broader system maintenance strategy. Now you know everything about Safe Mode. Include it in your troubleshooting system strategy.