How to Enter Safe Mode on a Dell Notebook
When your computer boots, it loads system drivers and other applications in the background. Sometimes when a problem occurs with one of these programs, Windows may malfunction or fail to boot. Microsoft provided a way for users to bypass the normal PC startup sequence and boot into an environment called "safe mode." In safe mode, a PC runs using just the essential programs and services that it needs to run Windows. If your Dell notebook cannot bring up Windows or it suddenly experiences errors after installing a new program, boot into safe mode and attempt to isolate the problem.
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Instructions
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Save your work and reboot your notebook. Watch the screen as it the computer boots.
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When you see the word "Dell, " tap "F8" repeatedly. You will see a screen labeled "Advanced Boot Options." You will see several options on the screen including "Safe Mode," "Debugging Mode" and "Enable Boot Logging."
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Press the notebook's up and down arrow keys to select and highlight "Safe Mode." If you want to have network access, select "Safe Mode with Networking."
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Press "Enter" and Windows will boot into safe mode. If you selected "Safe Mode with Networking," you will be able to access the Internet. See Resources for a link to troubleshooting techniques that you can use to isolate problems while in safe mode.
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Tips & Warnings
While in safe mode, your Dell notebook's screen will appear in low resolution. Some applications may also not work until you reboot into normal mode.
