Safe mode

Safe Mode is a special booting an operating system, which is available on Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac OS.

Microsoft Windows

Safe Mode ( and degraded mode ) refers to a special kind of starting the Windows operating systems from Microsoft, which differs in some respects from the regular normal start:

  • Using a standard graphics card driver (VGA ) with a resolution of 640 × 480 pixels at 60 Hz.
  • Parts of the registry database can not be loaded, including hardware and software items ( device drivers)
  • AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files are skipped
  • All car startup items are disabled (in the registry under Load = and Run = )

Safe Mode is accessed by pressing the F8 key at the right moment during startup of the computer. This is the moment just before the Windows logo appears ( It has proven to be practical, easy to press repeatedly during the boot process the F8 key, with some BIOS first then a menu of bootable media present ). Among other startup options menu listing will appear:

  • Safe Mode
  • Safe Mode with Networking (since Windows 98)
  • Safe Mode with Command Prompt

In a few versions of Windows you can press the F5 key instead of F8. Windows NT and Windows 98 and later support by default F8.

The purpose of Safe Mode is the ability to perform a repair attempt if Windows regularly and can not start. Frequently, but not always, and Windows will start in Safe mode while the normal start will cause a blue screen. Provides Windows on the normal start problems fixed, will appear the next time you start Windows often the above drop-down menu with the safe mode even without pressing the F8 key.

Because in safe mode, most usually in the background working processes ( Guardians of antivirus software, network components, enhanced graphics driver, but also many computer viruses and much more. ) Not uploaded and run, safe mode is also particularly suitable to look for errors or make uninstallations.

Apple Macintosh

Mac OS is also possible in a safe mode ("Safe Boot" in Apple terminology) are started. Under newer system versions, different levels of safe mode are possible.

Mac OS 6

By pressing the mouse button during startup the existing system extensions are disabled. In addition, an optionally inserted disk is ejected.

Mac OS 7-9

If the Shift key ( Shift ) is pressed during the boot process, then the existing system extensions are disabled. Press the space key to checkmark the box "Extensions On / Off" is invoked in an early stage and ( in any case before the appearance of the login dialog ).

Mac OS X

If you press during boot the shift key on a computer running Mac OS X, it will be started in Safe Mode. This causes the file system is repaired, only the absolutely necessary drivers and the system fonts are loaded, and various caches are flushed.

Pressing cmd S Mac OS X starts up in single user mode. Only the necessary drivers are loaded, and instead of the graphical user interface, a root shell is displayed using which the user can fix the system.

If (verbose verbose, engl. ) Is pressed during startup cmd V, a console is displayed during the boot process, in which the system writes log entries. The system will, however, fully charged and the graphical user interface is also available; because of her that is not a safe mode, but provides an insight into what happens during the boot process.

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