Safe mode startup options

If your computer will not start, you may be able to start it in safe mode. In safe mode, Windows 2000 uses default settings (VGA monitor, Microsoft mouse driver, no network connections, and the minimum device drivers required to start Windows).

For example, if your computer will not start after you install new software, you may be able to start it with minimal services in safe mode and then change your computer settings or remove the newly installed software that is causing the problem. You can reinstall the service pack or the entire operating system, if necessary.

If a symptom does not reappear when you start in safe mode, you can eliminate the default settings and minimum device drivers as possible causes.

Starts Windows 2000 using only basic files and drivers (mouse, except serial mice; monitor; keyboard; mass storage; base video; default system services; and no network connections). If your computer does not start successfully using safe mode, you may need to use the Emergency Repair Disk (ERD) feature to repair your system.

Starts Windows 2000 using only basic files and drivers, plus network connections.

Starts Windows 2000 using only basic files and drivers. After logging on, the command prompt is displayed instead of the Windows desktop, Start menu, and Taskbar.

Starts Windows 2000 while logging all the drivers and services that were loaded (or not loaded) by the system to a file. This file is called ntbtlog.txt and it is located in the %windir% directory. Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, and Safe Mode with Command Prompt add to the boot log a list of all the drivers and services that are loaded. The boot log is useful in determining the exact cause of system startup problems.

Starts Windows 2000 using the basic VGA driver. This mode is useful when you have installed a new driver for your video card that is causing Windows 2000 not to start properly. The basic video driver is always used when you start Windows 2000 in Safe Mode (either Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, or Safe Mode with Command Prompt).

Starts Windows 2000 using the registry information that Windows saved at the last shutdown. Use only in cases of incorrect configuration. Last known good configuration does not solve problems caused by corrupted or missing drivers or files. Also, any changes made since the last successful startup will be lost.

Not applicable for Windows 2000 Professional. This is for the Windows 2000 Server operating system and is only used in restoring the SYSVOL directory and the Active Directory directory service on a domain controller.

Starts Windows 2000 while sending debug information through a serial cable to another computer.

If you are using, or have used, Remote Install Services to install Windows 2000 on your computer, you may see additional options related to restoring or recovering your system using Remote Install Services.