Quick Poll: What do you use Safe Mode for?

[Shenan Stanley]

I'd like to hear everyone's views on Safe Mode, namely:

1) What do you understand to be the purpose of Safe Mode?

2) Do you ever use Safe Mode, and if so, for what purposes?

1) Essentially, safe mode is a way to boot Windows so that you might bypass
the loading of certain drivers and startup applications that may be causing
issues and remove them from startup or disable them in some way so you can
boot into normal mode and use your system again.

Here is a decent explanation:
http://www.howstuffworks.com/question575.htm

2) I have used safe mode to recover - mainly - from incorrectly install
Video Drivers.
Also - I have used safe mode to clean systems of some spyware/adware that
loads in normal mode, but is bypassed and then can be removed in safe mode.

 

[cquirke (MVP Win9x)]

I'd like to hear everyone's views on Safe Mode, namely:

1) What do you understand to be the purpose of Safe Mode?

2) Do you ever use Safe Mode, and if so, for what purposes?

--------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - -

Error Messages Are Your Friends

 

[Winux P]

1) The purpose of safe mode (from my underastanding) is booting the
'minimum' requirements to operate Windows, bypassing drivers and start up
programs.

2) Yes, to resolve installation issues for programs, drivers, etc. Disk
defraging, and perform virus and spyware scanning in safe mode.

--------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - -

Error Messages Are Rude! - And force me to boot up in safe mode.

--------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - -

Regards,
Winux P

: I'd like to hear everyone's views on Safe Mode, namely:
:
: 1) What do you understand to be the purpose of Safe Mode?
:
: 2) Do you ever use Safe Mode, and if so, for what purposes?
:
:
: >--------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - -
: Error Messages Are Your Friends
: >--------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - -

 

[Sid9]

I'd like to hear everyone's views on Safe Mode, namely:

1) What do you understand to be the purpose of Safe Mode?

2) Do you ever use Safe Mode, and if so, for what purposes?


Error Messages Are Your Friends

In a cleanup from a hijacking, Safe Mode permits the deletion
of unwelcome files that are otherwise cannot be deleted

 

[David Candy]

2/ I've never needed to use it on NT based computers. That's a lot of computers.

 

[budgie]

I'd like to hear everyone's views on Safe Mode, namely:

1) What do you understand to be the purpose of Safe Mode?

Same as the others posting correct answer ;-)

2) Do you ever use Safe Mode, and if so, for what purposes?

To date, only for removal of devices/drivers which appear stubborn in normal
mode (98SE). Often find two references in Safe mode, one in normal. In normal,
once the one refrence has been removed, the problem lingers. Safe Mode lets me
identify and remove the second instance.

 

[Webster72n]

Cquirke:

I was supposed to use it on several occasions, but never actually did.
For some strange reason it is abhorrent to me.
So far I was able to circumvent the need to use it and have a clean
environment without it's use, except for a fresh start.
That covers a time frame of about five years, plus.
Maybe you can present it to me a little more user-friendly?
Thanks.

Harry, old and still learning.

 

[Vagabond Software]

I rarely use Safe Mode... even when I probably should. Unfortunately, years of working with Windows 9X "taught" me that Safe Mode is a waste of time. I have used it to hunt down and kill viruses and spyware on clients' computers, but rarely otherwise.

I've used Safe Mode more for troubleshooting servers just this year than I have on ALL the clients I have ever worked on in my career.

carl

 

[Paul Heslop]

I'd like to hear everyone's views on Safe Mode, namely:

1) What do you understand to be the purpose of Safe Mode?

to allow you to do something without all the extra whistles and bells
being in memory

2) Do you ever use Safe Mode, and if so, for what purposes?

rarely but recently used to clear some nasty stuff out of the registry

 

[Kelly]

Why, Chris?

--
Happy Holidays,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

 

[cquirke (MVP Win9x)]

I was supposed to use it on several occasions, but never actually did.
For some strange reason it is abhorrent to me.

It's that flickery 16-color 640x480, innit? ;-)

IMO, this is how MS could stop everyone running as "admin"; limit
admin rights to a "janitor" account that looks as awful as Safe Mode!

Maybe you can present it to me a little more user-friendly?

I don't want to "lead" respondents with my own views on the subject
until we have a reasonable sample of replies. Then we can keep the
thread as a general discussion on Safe Mode, and I'll expound <g>

---------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -

Proverbs Unscrolled #37
"Build it and they will come and break it"

 

[DILIP]

I'd like to hear everyone's views on Safe Mode, namely:

1) What do you understand to be the purpose of Safe Mode?

Less drivers (enough to work with your keyboard, mouse, optical drives etc
and networking - if selected) , less services loading, so less confusion
It also gives you access to the Admin account via the Welcome screen, if
it's being used. It's useful to uninstall bad device drivers from Device
Manager without conflicts. It's also a nice way to break into a system at a
school or a small office that hasn't protected the Admin account with a
password - This is alarmingly common - 100% hits here - Get into that;
create a full blown admin account in User Accounts and the whole system is
totally open to you.

2) Do you ever use Safe Mode, and if so, for what purposes?

I just used it a few minutes ago. I had to remove a program that refused to
get removed in Normal mode and its driver was restricting start up items
from loading up after booting into my desktop...
And then as I described above, I used it a few times (and intend to in the
future as well as required) to get into a few of my college computers that
are password protected. They are generally the fastest ones and connected
to the web, and have a myriad of software. The folks here try to be smart
by disabling the Welcome screen. That's how far the protection goes.

 

[cquirke (MVP Win9x)]

Why, Chris?

I'm engaged in some lively debate in an elist on this matter, details
to be clarified later ;-)

---------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -

Proverbs Unscrolled #31
"Mary and me on the beach.JPG .pif"

 

[Lil' Dave]

I'd like to hear everyone's views on Safe Mode, namely:

1) What do you understand to be the purpose of Safe Mode?

No. I've never understood MS terminologies for hardware for instance. So,
I won't even try to understand this.

2) Do you ever use Safe Mode, and if so, for what purposes?

For operating system installation (win98/98SE) without any drivers for
imaging purposes. Upon initial windows installation, (load no drivers if
cued), go to safe mode, remove any and all hardware instances in device
mangler. Shutdown, and boot to floppy with imaging software installed.
Restoration results are a heck of lot faster than a clean windows
installation from CD.

 

[Steve N.]

I'd like to hear everyone's views on Safe Mode, namely:

1) What do you understand to be the purpose of Safe Mode?

Allows booting the GUI with minimal and generic drivers and no
additional startup software loading for troubleshooting purposes.

2) Do you ever use Safe Mode, and if so, for what purposes?

Yes, to correct hardware driver problems, to keep malware/viruses from
loading when cleaning up badly infested/infected systems, to prevent
suspected problematic network clients (or other software) from loading,
and in XP to change Automatic Restart so BSOD errors can be read.
Probably other reasons I can't think of ATM, too.

Error Messages Are Your Friends

Indeed they are!

Steve

 

[Alias]

: cquirke (MVP Win9x) wrote:
:
: > I'd like to hear everyone's views on Safe Mode, namely:
: >
: > 1) What do you understand to be the purpose of Safe Mode?
:
: Allows booting the GUI with minimal and generic drivers and no
: additional startup software loading for troubleshooting purposes.
:
: >
: > 2) Do you ever use Safe Mode, and if so, for what purposes?
:
: Yes, to correct hardware driver problems, to keep malware/viruses from
: loading when cleaning up badly infested/infected systems, to prevent
: suspected problematic network clients (or other software) from loading,
: and in XP to change Automatic Restart so BSOD errors can be read.
: Probably other reasons I can't think of ATM, too.
:
: >
: >
: >
: >>--------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - -
: >
: > Error Messages Are Your Friends
: >
: >>--------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - -
:
: Indeed they are!
:
: Steve

I use it to defrag.

 

[Steve N.]

: cquirke (MVP Win9x) wrote:
:
: > I'd like to hear everyone's views on Safe Mode, namely:
: >
: > 1) What do you understand to be the purpose of Safe Mode?
:
: Allows booting the GUI with minimal and generic drivers and no
: additional startup software loading for troubleshooting purposes.
:
: >
: > 2) Do you ever use Safe Mode, and if so, for what purposes?
:
: Yes, to correct hardware driver problems, to keep malware/viruses from
: loading when cleaning up badly infested/infected systems, to prevent
: suspected problematic network clients (or other software) from loading,
: and in XP to change Automatic Restart so BSOD errors can be read.
: Probably other reasons I can't think of ATM, too.
:
: >
: >
: >
: >>--------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - -
: >
: > Error Messages Are Your Friends
: >
: >>--------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - -
:
: Indeed they are!
:
: Steve

I use it to defrag.

Yeah, that too. And in Win9x/ME to run scandisk without interruptions.

Steve

 

[glee]

Chris, I use Safe Mode whenever I want to mangle my desktop icon arrangement, and am
too lazy to do it manually. ;-)

Seriously, though.....
-to recover from screwed driver installations
-to recover from unsupported video settings
-to scan for and remove some spyware/adware
-to check for and remove duplicate or phantom DM entries in Win9x
-on occasion, to scandisk or defrag...but rarely

 

[PCR]

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;122051
How Windows 95 Performs a Safe-Mode Start

I eliminated a "ghost" monitor in Safe Mode. Also, there was a McAfee
update mishap involving Autoexec.bat & certain downloaded files that
required it. But why don't you hobnob with Starbuck over it...?...

....Quote...............
Modified from messages sent by Scot Boyd (Microsoft), R.Jayaram
(NetQuest), and Patty Free (Microsoft) --
....snip...
5. Does the problem occur in safe-mode? To get to Safe Mode, reboot
the computer and press F8 when you see "Starting Windows 95..." Choose
Safe Mode from the menu.

Safe Mode is intended for troubleshooting. It does the following:
(a) bypasses config.sys and autoexec.bat
(b) prevents programs from starting automatically because they are
listed in
win.ini or they are in the startup folder
(c) uses standard VGA video
(d) prevents a network from being started
(e) disables protected mode device drivers (which are listed in
Device Manager)
(f) bypasses the [boot] and [386Enh] sections of system.ini
For more details, see document 122051 in the Microsoft KnowledgeBase.

If Safe Mode makes the problem go away, you should try tests from the
list below to pin down the cause of the problem. For more elaborate
instructions, see document 156126 in the KnowledgeBase, which explains
how to do troubleshooting in Safe Mode.

With Windows 98, you can use MSConfig to help you run the tests below.
With Windows 95, you can use Startup Manager or Startup Cop. Startup
Manager is a freeware program, similar to the Msconfig utility that
ships in Windows 98. It can make troubleshooting easier by removing
and restoring items from the Windows startup.

http://members.aye.net/cgi-bin/dfs_components.cgi?fw_startupmanager

Also, Startup Cop can disable items loading at Windows startup and it
is freeware. You can download Startup Cop from:

http://www.zdnet.com/downloads/stories/info/0,,77594,.html
....snip...
Bill Starbuck (MVP)
....EOQ.................

--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR
(e-mail address removed)
| I'd like to hear everyone's views on Safe Mode, namely:
|
| 1) What do you understand to be the purpose of Safe Mode?
|
| 2) Do you ever use Safe Mode, and if so, for what purposes?
|
|
| >--------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - -
| Error Messages Are Your Friends
| >--------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - -

 

[PCR]

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;156126
Troubleshooting Windows 95 Using Safe Mode

That's the other article. Apparently, none were made for Win98.


--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR
(e-mail address removed)
| http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;122051
| How Windows 95 Performs a Safe-Mode Start
|
| I eliminated a "ghost" monitor in Safe Mode. Also, there was a McAfee
| update mishap involving Autoexec.bat & certain downloaded files that
| required it. But why don't you hobnob with Starbuck over it...?...
|
| ...Quote...............
| Modified from messages sent by Scot Boyd (Microsoft), R.Jayaram
| (NetQuest), and Patty Free (Microsoft) --
| ...snip...
| 5. Does the problem occur in safe-mode? To get to Safe Mode, reboot
| the computer and press F8 when you see "Starting Windows 95..." Choose
| Safe Mode from the menu.
|
| Safe Mode is intended for troubleshooting. It does the following:
| (a) bypasses config.sys and autoexec.bat
| (b) prevents programs from starting automatically because they are
| listed in
| win.ini or they are in the startup folder
| (c) uses standard VGA video
| (d) prevents a network from being started
| (e) disables protected mode device drivers (which are listed in
| Device Manager)
| (f) bypasses the [boot] and [386Enh] sections of system.ini
| For more details, see document 122051 in the Microsoft KnowledgeBase.
|
| If Safe Mode makes the problem go away, you should try tests from the
| list below to pin down the cause of the problem. For more elaborate
| instructions, see document 156126 in the KnowledgeBase, which explains
| how to do troubleshooting in Safe Mode.
|
| With Windows 98, you can use MSConfig to help you run the tests below.
| With Windows 95, you can use Startup Manager or Startup Cop. Startup
| Manager is a freeware program, similar to the Msconfig utility that
| ships in Windows 98. It can make troubleshooting easier by removing
| and restoring items from the Windows startup.
|
| http://members.aye.net/cgi-bin/dfs_components.cgi?fw_startupmanager
|
| Also, Startup Cop can disable items loading at Windows startup and it
| is freeware. You can download Startup Cop from:
|
| http://www.zdnet.com/downloads/stories/info/0,,77594,.html
| ...snip...
| Bill Starbuck (MVP)
| ...EOQ.................
|
| --
| Thanks or Good Luck,
| There may be humor in this post, and,
| Naturally, you will not sue,
| should things get worse after this,
| PCR
| (e-mail address removed)
| | | I'd like to hear everyone's views on Safe Mode, namely:
| |
| | 1) What do you understand to be the purpose of Safe Mode?
| |
| | 2) Do you ever use Safe Mode, and if so, for what purposes?
| |
| |
| | >--------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - -
| | Error Messages Are Your Friends
| | >--------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - -
|
|