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just4kix

This article explains how to add "Safe Mode" booting option to your Windows Startup boot menu.

The traditional way to boot in safe menu is:

• Start/reboot your computer
• Press F8 just after BIOS test
• Windows shows many boot options such as:
  • Normal Startup
  • Safe mode
  • Safe mode with networking
  • Last known good menu
  • etc.

The problem with the above method, sometimes, is pressing the F8 key itself. You need to press it quickly and at the right moment - just before the Windows logo appears at boot-time.

Here is an alternate way to have the safe boot option as a menu item at the time of booting.

1. Go to "My Computer" icon.Right click on this icon. This will bring the properties window.
2. Click on the 'Advanced' tab as shown below:
   safe-mode-01.png
3. Under the 'Startup and Recovery' section, click on the 'Edit' button, as shown here:
   safe-mode-02.png
4. In the 'System Startup' section, click on the 'Edit' button, as shown below:
   safe-mode-03.png
5. This will open the settings in the text editor (usually Notepad). Cut/paste the following into the editor:
   
   Code:

   [boot loader]
   timeout=30
   default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
   [operating systems]
   multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
   multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP (Safe Mode)" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect /safeboot:minimal
   

6. Save the edited text and exit the editor. Click on OK on all open windows.

You are all set. Try rebooting now.

__________________

pshrinivasan

I need to know whether it is possible to boot into safe mode in winxp in a dual boot with win7. We get to choose safe mode in Win7 only and not in winxp. We get options by pressing F8 only for Win7.

just4kix

I am not an expert. But I think it should be possible by correctly setting the following:

Just need to set the correct disk/partition, etc.

newprouser

when i dual booted wid vista, first i get the safe mode options after selecting that i'm as asked to choose the OS.

saurav_k

Good Thread j4k. Reps+

Alternatives for Steps 1 to 4 to open the settings in notepad:

- This file is actually boot.ini in the primary partition( usually c: ). We just need to Unhide all system Files and then can directly open and edit boot.ini from c:\ Drive.

- You can use the command-line tool, Bootcfg.exe, to quickly edit your Boot.ini file. You can modify the timeout (the amount of time Windows waits before choosing the default operating system), and add additional entries.

Click Start, click Run, and then type cmd.
Type bootcfg.exe
Check out bootcfg.exe /? for more options.

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some people find the 30 second timer useless in case they want to boot to the default OS. The timer period can be reduced also.

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How to edit boot.ini(A useful link): Make Windows Boot Faster by Editing Boot.ini File > Techallica.com

saurav_k

Thread Rated 5/5