Tech Tip of the Day: How to boot into Safe Mode in Windows

Tech Tip of the Day: How to run an ESET Scan in Safe Mode for ESET Antivirus Version 5

Description: This guide will show you how to run an ESET NOD32 or ESET Smart Security scan in Safe Mode. This is useful when you have a virus that ESET is not able to remove in Windows normal mode. It is recommended that you print this guide as the computer will be running in safe mode and the guide will not be accessible through the Internet.

1. Print this document and keep it available as it will be needed and it will not be accessible via the internet for the duration of this guide.
2. Turn the computer all the way off. Do not restart the computer, leave it powered off.
3. Locate the F8 key along the top row of the keyboard.
   
   


4. Power on the computer and immediately start tapping the F8 key repeatedly about once per second. The Windows Advanced Boot Options menu will be displayed.
5. On the Windows Advanced Boot Options menu, use the arrow keys on the keyboard to select "Safe Mode" and press Enter.
   • Note: The mouse will not work on this screen.
6. If prompted to "Choose an Operating System", press Enter on the default selection.
7. When the login screen appears, choose an account with Administrative Privileges. If you are not sure, choose the account that is normally used. The colors will appear differently and the size may be different. This is normal for Safe Mode.
8. If using Windows XP, a screen with a Yes or No option may appear. Click Yes on that screen. If using Windows Vista or Windows 7, a screen titled "What Is Safe Mode" may appear. Close that screen, it is not relevant for this purpose.
9. Click on the Start button in the bottom left, and choose All Programs.
   
   


10. On the All Programs menu, select the ESET folder, and then ESET NOD32 or ESET Smart Security depending on the installed version. The ESET NOD32 Antivirus - Safe Mode window will appear and prompt for a Yes or No answer. Click on the Yes button to begin the scan.
    
    


11. The ESET Scan will begin. It is normal for the ESET program to be denied access to certain system files.
    
    


12. The ESET scanner may scroll through many lines of information. Once it is finished, it will display a status message inside this window. Reboot the computer to get back in to Windows normal mode.

For more assistance contact Technical Support here.

How to run an ESET Scan in Safe Mode

This guide will show you how to run an ESET NOD32 or ESET Smart Security scan in Safe Mode. This is useful when you have a virus that ESET is not able to remove in Windows normal mode. It is recommended that you print this guide as the computer will be running in safe mode and the guide will not be accessible through the Internet.

1. Print this document and keep it available as it will be needed and it will not be accessible via the Internet for the duration of this guide.
2. Turn the computer all the way off. Do not restart the computer, leave it powered off.
3. Locate the F8 key along the top row of the keyboard.

4. Power on the computer and immediately start tapping the F8 key repeatedly about once per second. The Windows Advanced Boot Options menu will be displayed.
5. On the Windows Advanced Boot Options menu, use the arrow keys on the keyboard to select “Safe Mode” and press Enter.
   Note: The mouse will not work on this screen.
6. If prompted to "Choose an Operating System", press Enter on the default selection.
7. When the login screen appears, choose an account with Administrative Privileges. If you are not sure, choose the account that is normally used.
   - The colors will appear differently and the size may be different. This is normal for Safe Mode.
8. If using Windows XP, a screen with a Yes or No option may appear. Click Yes on that screen.
   If using Windows Vista or Windows 7, a screen titled “What Is Safe Mode” may appear. Close that screen, it is not relevant for this purpose.
9. Click on the Start button in the bottom left, and choose All Programs.
   
   
   
10. On the All Programs menu, select the ESET folder, and then ESET NOD32 or ESET Smart Security depending on the installed version.
    
    
    
11. The ESET NOD32 Antivirus – Safe Mode window will appear and prompt for a Yes or No answer. Click on the Yes button to being the scan.
    
    
    
12. The ESET Scan will begin.
    
    
    
    
    It is normal for the ESET program to be denied access to certain system files.
13. The ESET scanner may scroll through many lines of information. Once it is finished, it will display a status message inside this window. Reboot the computer to get back in to Windows normal mode.

How to Run System Restore in Safe Mode

This article shows how to run a system restore in safe mode. This is useful if there is a new infection on the computer, if it is not able to boot in to windows normally or for various other reasons. System Restore does not change any of your files, however any programs installed since the date and time that the computer will be restored to will need to be reinstalled.

1. Completely power down the computer; do not restart it yet.

2. Locate the F8 key on the keyboard:
 

3. Turn the computer on and repeatedly tap the F8 key on the keyboard at a rate of about twice per second, until the “Windows Advanced Boot Options” screen appears. If it fails to appear and the computer boots in to Windows, turn the computer off and try again.

 
4.Use the arrow keys to highlight "Safe Mode" on the list and press Enter.

5. Wait a few minutes as Safe Mode loads.
If Safe Mode fails to load, it indicates deep Operating System issues. It would be recommended at this point to take the computer in to your local Micro Center store or look in to a System Recovery to wipe out the system and restore it to the factory settings.

6. Once Safe Mode loads and an account is chosen, a prompt will appear based on your version of Windows:
    - Windows XP – A Yes/No window will appear. Click 'No' to launch System Restore. Skip to step 10.
    - Windows Vista/7 – A "What Is Safe Mode" box appears. Close this window and proceed.

7. In the bottom left corner of the screen, click on the Start button and then choose All Programs.

8. On the All Programs menu, locate the Accessories folder.

9. Within the Accessories folder, locate the System Tools folder and click System Restore, then wait a few minutes as the program opens.

10. Look at the recommended restore point and determine if the computer was working properly at that time. If it was, click on Next. If not, check the "Choose A Different Restore Point" option.
Note: The System Restore may look slightly different based on the Operating System in use.

11. On the next screen, verify that the settings are correct and click Finish to start the restore process. It may take upwards of 20 minutes to complete and will reboot one or more times during the restore process.