Booting Into Safe Mode

Windows XP

1. Turn the computer on. 
2. Start tapping the F8 key.  The Windows Advanced Options Menu appears.   If you begin tapping the F8 key too soon, some computers display a "keyboard error" message. To resolve this, restart the computer and try again.
    
3. Select the Safe Mode option. Press Enter. The computer then begins to start in Safe mode.  When you are finished with all troubleshooting, close all programs and restart the computer as you normally would. 

Using the System Configuration Utility method

1. Close all open programs.
2. Click Start, Run and type MSCONFIG in the box and click OK
   The System Configuration Utility appears, On the BOOT.INI tab, Check the "/SAFEBOOT" option, and then click OK and Restart your computer when prompted.
3. The computer restarts in Safe mode.
4. Perform your troubleshooting steps while you are in Safe Mode.
5. When you are finished troubleshooting in Safe mode, open MSCONFIG again, on the BOOT.INI tab, uncheck "/SAFEBOOT" and click OK to restart your computer.
    

Windows 2000

1. Turn the computer on.
2. When you see the black-and-white Starting Windows bar at the bottom of the screen, start tapping the F8 key.  The Windows 2000 Advanced Options Menu appears.
3. Select the Safe Mode option.
4. Press Enter. The computer then begins to start in Safe mode.
5. When you are finished with all troubleshooting, close all programs and restart the computer as you normally would.

Windows 98/ME

1. Restart the computer.
2. Just after the POST diagnostics and memory count, start pressing the F8 key
3. On the Startup Menu, choose Safe Mode

Using the System Configuration Utility Method

1. While in Normal mode, Close all programs.
2. Click Start, Run and type MSCONFIG in the box and click OK
3. In the System Configuration Utility, on the General Tab, click the Advanced Button
4. In the Advanced Troubleshooting Settings dialog box, check Enable Startup Menu. Click OK. Click OK again when the System Configuration Utility reappears.
5. You will be prompted to restart the computer. Click Yes.
6. The computer will restart in Safe mode.
7. When you are finished with troubleshooting in Safe mode, open MSCONFIG again and uncheck "Enable Start-up Menu." under the Advanced Menu, then click OK and restart your computer

Windows 95

1. Start or Restart the computer.
2. Just after the POST diagnostics and memory count, start pressing the F8 key
3. On the Startup Menu, choose Safe Mode

Additional Resources

MS Article - Booting in Safe Mode under Windows XP