Restarting a Windows computer in Safe Mode with command prompt

When removing a problem file on Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista, you may need to use the command prompt only version of Windows Safe Mode.

• On Windows NT, where the command prompt version of Safe Mode is not present, shut down as many programs as possible instead.
• On Windows 95/98/Me, clean boot from a startup disk instead.

What to do

On Windows 2000

1. Go to Start|Shut Down.
2. Select Restart from the dropdown list and click 'OK'. Windows will restart.
3. Press F8 when you see the following text at the bottom of the screen "For troubleshooting and advanced startup options for Windows 2000, press F8".
4. In the Windows 2000 Advanced Options Menu, select the third option "Safe Mode with Command Prompt".
5. When requested, logon as local administrator.

On Windows XP and Windows 2003

1. Go to Start|Shut Down.
2. Select 'Restart' from the dropdown list and click 'OK'. Windows will restart.
3. Press F8 repeatedly as the computer boots up to get to the Windows Advanced Options Menu.
4. In this menu, select the third option "Safe Mode with Command Prompt", then select Windows XP or Windows 2003.
5. When requested, logon as local administrator.

On Windows Vista

1. Go to Start, and click the arrow for the shut down options menu.
2. Select 'Restart'. Windows will restart.
3. Press F8 repeatedly as the computer boots up to get to the Windows Advanced Options Menu.
4. In this menu, select the option "Safe Mode with Command Prompt".
5. When requested, log on as an administrator with full admninistrative rights.