Start Windows Vista in Safe Mode

1. Remove any CDs or DVDs from your computer.

2. Choose Start, click the arrow on the right of the Lock button, and then choose Restart to reboot your system .

3. When the computer starts to reboot (the screen goes black), begin pressing F8.

4. If you have more than one operating system, you might see the Windows Advanced Options menu. Use the up- and down-arrow keys to select the Windows Vista operating system. Or, type the number of that choice, press Enter, and then continue to press F8.

5. In the resulting plain-vanilla text-based screen, press the up- or down-arrow key to select the Safe Mode option from the list and then press Enter.

6. Log in to your computer with administrator privileges; a Safe Mode screen appears. Use the tools in the Control Panel and the Help and Support system to figure out your problem, make changes, and then restart. When you restart again (repeat Step 2), let your computer start in the standard Windows Vista mode.

When you reboot and press F8 as in Step 2, you’re in the old textbased world that users of the DOS operating system will remember. It’s scary out there! Your mouse doesn’t work a lick, and no fun sounds or cool graphics exist to sooth you. Just use your arrow keys to get around and press Enter to make selections.