How Computers Work · Starting Up · Lesson 4 of 5

Safe Mode and Recovery

The repair tools Windows keeps ready for when startup goes wrong.

Safe mode, a bare-bones Windows

Windows keeps a set of repair tools on a hidden part of the drive. This is the Windows Recovery Environment, often called WinRE. You reach it through a blue menu called Advanced startup.

There are a few ways in:

• Open Settings > System > Recovery, then select Restart now next to Advanced startup.
• On the sign-in screen, hold Shift while you select Power > Restart.
• If Windows fails to start twice in a row, it opens the menu by itself.

One of the most useful tools there is safe mode. Safe mode starts Windows with only a basic set of files and drivers. Extra drivers, most startup apps and many services stay off.

Why is that helpful? It lets you test where a problem comes from.

• If the problem goes away in safe mode, a driver or app you added is the likely cause.
• If the problem stays, the cause is probably deeper, in Windows itself or the hardware.

To start safe mode from the menu:

1. Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
2. When the list appears, press 4 or F4 for safe mode.
3. Press 5 or F5 instead if you need the internet. That option is called safe mode with networking.

Safe mode looks plain, with low screen quality and the words Safe Mode in the corners. That is normal. To leave it, just restart.

If your drive uses BitLocker, Windows may ask for your recovery key here. Keep it saved somewhere safe before you need it.

Restore, reset and Mac Recovery

Advanced startup has stronger tools too. Start with the gentlest one that could work.

Uninstall updates removes the most recent Windows update. Find it under Troubleshoot > Advanced options. It does not touch your files or apps. It is a good first try when trouble started right after an update.

System Restore takes Windows back to a restore point, a saved snapshot of system settings from an earlier date. Your documents and photos stay put. Apps, drivers and updates added after that date are removed. It only works if restore points were being saved.

Reset this PC reinstalls Windows. It is the biggest step, so try the others first. You can reach it from Advanced startup or from Settings > System > Recovery. It offers two choices:

• Keep my files reinstalls Windows but keeps your personal files. Your apps and settings are removed, so you will reinstall apps later.
• Remove everything wipes your files, apps and settings. Use it before giving a PC away, or when nothing else works.

Even with Keep my files, back up first if you can. A backup is a copy of your files somewhere else, like a cloud folder or USB drive.

On a Mac, the matching tool is macOS Recovery. On a Mac with Apple silicon, shut down, then press and hold the power button until you see startup options. Choose Options, then Continue. On an older Intel Mac, hold Command+R while it starts. From Recovery you can restore from a Time Machine backup, reinstall macOS or repair the drive with Disk Utility.