Member Avatar for Darkaz

Problems resetting the /safeboot option in the BOOT.INI when the computer decided to never go into safe mode. I have tried reinstalling windows but no luck. Any other ideas on how I might be able to reset that option to off? PLS HELP!!!!

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Dani AI

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A persistent "Safe Mode" banner normally means the boot loader is being asked to force safe boot (the /safeboot switch in BOOT.INI on NT4/2000/XP/Server2003) or the System Configuration utility was set to force Safe Boot. Later Windows releases use the BCD store instead, so the steps below apply to pre‑Vista systems.

If the system can boot to the desktop, clearing the forced safe‑boot flag in the System Configuration tool (as suggested) or removing the /safeboot entry from BOOT.INI will fix it. If normal booting is not possible, perform an offline repair using the Windows installation media.

Recovery Console (XP / Server 2003) — concise steps:

  1. Boot from the XP/Server 2003 CD and press R for Recovery Console.
  2. Log in as the local Administrator. Verify which drive letter contains Windows before changing files.
  3. Remove BOOT.INI attributes, back it up and rebuild it:
attrib -h -s -r C:\boot.ini
ren C:\boot.ini boot.ini.bak
bootcfg /rebuild
attrib +h +s C:\boot.ini

When prompted by bootcfg, add the installation and leave load options blank (do not add /safeboot).

If no CD is available, attach the drive to another machine or use a live USB to edit or restore C:\boot.ini. If the screen shows "Safe Mode" in the corners but only a black desktop (as @INTROUBLE reported), try Ctrl+Alt+Del → Task Manager → File → New Task and run explorer.exe to restore the shell. Always back up BOOT.INI before changing it; formatting (as eventually did) will clear the problem but is a last resort.

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Member Avatar for DMR

If you're using XP, click on the "Run.." option in your Start and in the resulting "Open:" box, type the following and then hit Enter:

msconfig

This will open the System Configuration Utility. In the General tab of the utility, make sure the "Normal Startup" option is checked; in the Boot.ini tab, make sure the "Safeboot" option is unchecked.

Another method would be to open boot.ini in Notepad and manually edit out the /safeboot option.

Member Avatar for dlh6213

Problems resetting the /safeboot option in the BOOT.INI when the computer decided to never go into safe mode. I have tried reinstalling windows but no luck. Any other ideas on how I might be able to reset that option to off? PLS HELP!!!!

Did you format and reinstall Windows or do a 'Repair'? A problem like this shouldn't have carried over if you formatted and reinstalled.

Member Avatar for Darkaz

Did you format and reinstall Windows or do a 'Repair'? A problem like this shouldn't have carried over if you formatted and reinstalled.

Well, I ended up formating and the problem is fixed. I was trying to get around formating but it was probably for the best. I guess the lesson I learned is to not use the /safeboot in the BOOT.INI unless you have already tried the other ways to get to safe mode. Because if the computer never makes it to safe mode and that option is on, you are screwed.

Member Avatar for IN TROUBLE.

I HAVE THIS BLACK SCREEN ON MY PC ANF SAFE MODE IS WRITTEN ON THE FOUR CORNERS AND IN THE MIDDLE TOP, MICROSOFT (R) WINDOWS (R) something something IS WRITTEN WHAT DO I DO?
I am not very good with all this

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