How To - Add Safe Mode to the Boot Menu

[Ranger Bob]

If you find that you frequently need to boot to Safe Mode, you can actually add it right to the Boot Menu, so you don't need to hit F8 to get to the hidden menu.

Here is how to add it:

Right-click My Computer, and choose Properties. On the Advanced tab, click the Settings button, which brings up the Startup and Recovery window. Click the Edit button, which will open the boot.ini file in Notepad. Look under the [Operating Systems] for your default OS. Copy the entire line, and paste it on the line below. Change the description in the quotations to say "Safe Mode" or whatever description you want. Then add the following to the end of the line you just copied:

/safeboot:minimal /sos /bootlog

If you want networking support, then change "minimal" to "network" without the quotes. You may want to make a copy of the c:\boot.ini file (which is hidden and read only) before you begin this process.

[boots]

Ranger Bob, very nice. I'll be adding it to my list of tweaks. :thLt:

Thanks,

boots

[tidyup]

RangerBob, THANK YOU! I've always wished there was a way to do just that.
I use Safe Mode quite a bit and now you've made it so much easier for me.

Tidyup :D

[Ranger Bob]

I might add that I have actually done this and it worked great in case anyone was wondering. :)

[Jane]

The only Boot.ini I've found is C:\Windows\pss , in my XPhome ! Is that the one I should copy and save somewhere ?

[mfarley]

It might be protected and hidden Jane. But it IS in c:/

[Jane]

I have unhidden the files Mike , didn't see anything there !

[Ranger Bob]

Originally posted by Jane@Mar 3 2004, 03:11 PM
The only Boot.ini I've found is C:\Windows\pss  , in my XPhome ! Is that the one I should copy and save somewhere ?
Jane did you following the instructions? If you do it the way I posted it will find the correct boot.ini file and it will not matter if it is hidden or a system read only file. If you try to use Notepad to edit it you will have to unhidden it and change the attribute on it before you can edit it and then change it back.

For those that want to do it the manual way the boot.ini file should be located in the root directory, or in other words C:\boot.ini.

[Jane]

I did not try it anything yet RB , I got a yellow streak a mile wide :cjlol: so I wanted to find the file first , and copy&save (how else could I copy the original ?) . But didn't find anything beside the one that I posted .

[Ranger Bob]

Originally posted by Jane@Mar 3 2004, 04:13 PM
I did not try it anything yet RB  , I got a yellow streak a mile wide  :cjlol:  so I wanted to find the file first , and copy&save (how else could I copy the original ?)  . But didn't find anything beside the one that I posted .
Jane if you follow the instructions I have above it will bring the boot.ini file up in Notepad. If you click on File/Save As you can save a copy of your original boot.in file in any location you like.

After you have made the backup get out of Notepad and start the process over again to make sure you are pointing to the correct boot.ini file instead of your backup.

[Jane]

Thank you RB :thLt: that's what I needed to know :jig:

[putermaven]

I have to add my deep appreciation to you for posting this tweak. I do a lot of trial and error on software and often run into problems which require a re-boot to Safe Mode. I followed your instructions and now have a boot option to SafeMode.:got it: Saves tons of time and effort.

[thelindaj]

RB,
Can this be done with 98SE? Or is another of the great stuff I can't take atvantage of? :doh:

Linda

[Ranger Bob]

Originally posted by thelindaj@Mar 3 2004, 06:48 PM
RB,
Can this be done with 98SE? Or is another of the great stuff I can't take atvantage of? :doh:

Linda
Well you can do it but it is done in a different way. :) Maybe I should enter this as a Windows 98 Tip and Trick. :)

How to display the start up Menu without pressing F8 on start up in Windows 98.

When you want to display the start up menu at the time you start Windows, you need to press F8. There is also a way of displaying it automatically:

1. Use Explorer and find Msdos.sys in the root directory -- it is a hidden file (see Show all files to see how to show hidden files in Explorer)

2. Make a copy of the Msdos.sys file in your TEMP directory, or any other directory. (just in case...)

3. Right-click Msdos.sys and select Properties

4. Uncheck the Read-only attribute

5. Open a Msdos window (click Start > Programs > MS-DOS Prompt and type edit C:\Msdos.sys

6. Under the [Options] section, type:

BootMenu=1
BootMenuDefault=1
BootMenuDelay=xx (where xx is the delay in seconds)

7. Save the file

8. In Explorer right-click on Msdos.sys, select Properties and check the Read-only attribute

You can also use TweakUI to change these settings on the Boot tab.

[thelindaj]

Thanks RB :hugs:

[Bobi-p]

This is a great tip. Safe Mode is a real life-saving device for me. (I could kill myself when I mess up my computer!)

[jbs3645]

RB, I tried your tip for win98se and it works great. Thanks a bunch. I don't use safe mode that often (maybe 1 or 2 times a week) but that is a great tip. I set it for 5 seconds and doesn't slow me down much but gives me the chance to use safe mode. I would add that if you right click on the file you can deselect read-only. Also, I edited the file in notepad and copied and pasted your block. Had to disable the readonly so I could save the file. Rebooted and everything worked like you said. Thanks again.

John

[BlueIndian]

Thanks.....

[lobsterj]

Right-click My Computer, and choose Properties. On the Advanced tab, click the Settings button, which brings up the Startup and Recovery window. Click the Edit button,
ok Im a little behind here....but I just found this thread.....how come 2k is so in its own little world? I cant even figure out how to get to safe mode, as you see by my attachment, I am stuck at edit button....use to be able to get to safe mode thru msconfig general tab, I dont even have msconfig anymorehttp://mpc-gallery.com/forums/images/smilies/confused.gif

[Ranger Bob]

ok Im a little behind here....but I just found this thread.....how come 2k is so in its own little world? I cant even figure out how to get to safe mode, as you see by my attachment, I am stuck at edit button....use to be able to get to safe mode thru msconfig general tab, I dont even have msconfig anymorehttp://mpc-gallery.com/forums/images/smilies/confused.gif

Yes you are right. It is kind of a mess to add it in Windows 2000. Since I don't use Windows 2000 much now I did not notice it did not have the same feature as XP to edit the boot.ini file.

I just did this so I know it will work for you. You will need to copy the contents of the existing boot.ini file into a new boot.ini file in another folder and make the desired changes to it. You will also need to change the attribute for the boot.ini file to remove the Read Only attribute and then copy the new boot.ini file that you created above over the old boot.ini file. Once the old boot.ini file is replaced change the attribute back to Read Only.

[lobsterj]

it is kind of a mess to add it in Windows 2000 a mess ...just like me http://66.150.196.121/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif thanks RB I have (edited) sitting in Docs, before I switch, I have a few questions:

my file wasnt read only, so I assume I just leave attributes on this one the same.

I have a boot.ini in C:/ I also have boot.ini.backup in C:/WINNT/pss
do I need to change that also or leave it.

and my line reads
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect so under that I want to add
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="safemode" /fastdetect
/safeboot:minimal /sos /bootlog Thanks for the help http://66.150.196.121/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Ranger Bob]

That looks correct. You only need to update the boot.ini file under C:. I don't have the second file you mention but I noticed I also had a boot.ini file in one of my other program folders that had nothing to do with the boot up of Windows so that may be what this second file is.

[lobsterj]

thanks RB whoooooo hoooooo worked like a charm http://66.150.196.121/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif I can now get into safe mode.

[D_Spider]

Thanks, RB, Great tip. (When you need to boot into safe mode, it's a comfort to have the option on the menu!)