Safe Mode

By starting in safe mode, you are disabling startup programmes and 'non-essential' services. Note that some hardware, such as USB devices, audio devices and IEEE 1394 devices will not work properly, or at all, in safe mode. Services that WILL load in safe mode are listed at the following registry keys:

Safe mode
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SYSTEM \CurrentControlSet \Control \SafeBoot \Minimal

Safe mode with networking
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SYSTEM \CurrentControlSet \Control \SafeBoot \Network

Safe mode will not run programmes that are called via shortcuts in Startup folder in the following directories:

[UserProfile]
[AllUsersProfile]
\Documents and Settings\Administrator

Safe Mode also ignores the Run and RunOne registry keys.

Note: Safe Mode does not update 'Last Known Good Configuration', an option that is available on some operating systems which records a system's settings whenever the computer is successfully started in Normal mode and a user logs on and is authenticated. If your computer has failed to start, using this option will reverse any driver to registry changes that have been made since the last successful start.