How do I get into Safe Mode?

[Timbob87]

I have a Sony Vaio desktop and have tried at the Vaio screen (BIOS screen) holding down the F8 key, the F5 key, and nothing happens. I did a live support chat and the guy on the other end told me to reset the BIOS setup defaults and then try again. I did that, still nothing. My computer still just boots into regular Windows without giving me the advanced options screen. I need to boot into safe mode to run Driver Cleaner. Any ideas on why my computer is being so stubborn?

 

[BillLeeLee]

F8 F8 F8 F8 F8 F8

I don't think just holding it down works (dunno, I usually just hit it a few times after BIOS loading).

 

[skeeder]

yep...just wait for bios to finish then pounce on it.

 

[Asian Dub Foundation]

yep...just wait for bios to finish then pounce on it.

lol that is literally what i do... i punch it nonstop

 

[rox1co]

best way is

start - run - type in "msconfig" w/o the quotes - enter

boot.ini - check /safeboot - ok

restarts - when ur done in safe mode

start - run - type in "msconfig" w/o the quotes - enter

general - normal startup

 

[Timbob87]

Thanks for the replies. I tried tapping F8 after the BIOS screen and it worked on the first try. I guess Sony doesn't even know how to run their own computers. (Vaio web support is where I learned about "holding down" the F8 key.)

 

[Billiam411]

my motherboard (asus k8n), the F8, during post, brings up my boot selection menu, so i figured out that i have to wait for the monitor to switch resolutions after the post, and then i can unload that key until the windows boot selection comes up. just kind of an annoyance (anyone know if its possible to change the key, like in the bios or something?)

 

[SJConsultant]

If you hold down the F8 key while powering on, many newer systems will simply not accept input and throw a "keyboard stuck" error. That would explain why holding it down did not work in the first place.