Windows Computer Only Starts In Safe Mode – Solutions For Every Possible Condition

Dive into the maze-like world of Windows troubleshooting, and you might feel like you’ve stumbled into a thriller where your computer’s suddenly decided to go incognito in Safe Mode, all without giving you a heads-up.

It’s that mysterious twist where everything works fine while booting into the Safe Mode, but once you try the regular boot, it’s like Windows is playing hard to get. The usual vibrant display? Gone. Many features? On vacation. Imagine a city running on emergency power—basic services are up, but the fun stuff? Just out of grasp.

What’s causing this tech drama? It could be anything from drivers that have worn out their welcome to system settings playing hard and fast. Maybe there’s some shady stuff lurking in your registry, or malware’s got its hooks in, turning your system into a low-key lounge.

But don’t worry, my friend! This article is your trusty map through the storm. We’ll go on a deep-dive, covering all the bases to break free from Safe Mode’s snare. Hardware acting up? Software throwing a fit? We’ve got solutions for you. We’ll decode boot settings, wrangle those rogue drivers, and kick malware to the curb, getting your Windows back to its dazzling self.

So, put on your tech-savvy hat and pack some patience. Let’s set sail through the choppy seas of Safe Mode mysteries, steering towards a tech-savvy triumph and getting your system back on track.

Let’s See How To Fix This Problem

Before we dive deep into the “Why is my computer only boots in Safe Mode?” puzzle, let’s unpack the different situations that could be causing this tech mystery. Knowing exactly what you’re dealing with is key to finding the right fix.

So, here’s our roadmap to the most common Safe Mode snags:

1. Auto Safe Mode Switcheroo: Imagine firing up your computer and instead of the usual Windows welcome, you get booted straight into Safe Mode—no heads-up, no chance to decline. It’s like your computer decided to skip the main event and go straight to the rehearsal.
2. The Mysterious Black Screen: Your computer starts up, and all you get is a blank, black screen. Weird, right? But switch to Safe Mode, and everything works fine. It’s like your computer’s playing a disappearing act with its display.
3. The Never-Ending Windows Restart Loop: Every time you try to boot up, your computer just keeps restarting—like a door that won’t stop spinning. No error messages, no warnings, just an endless cycle of reboots that’s enough to drive anyone up the wall.
4. The Dreaded Blue Screen of Doom: Ah, the infamous Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). You’re all set to dive into your desktop when, bam! Your computer freezes, flashes some cryptic error message, and reboots. It’s like being stuck in loading screen purgatory.

Now that we’ve got our cheat sheet of common scenarios, we’re ready to navigate the confusing world of Safe Mode glitches. Each issue has its quirks, and we’ll need a custom game plan for each one. Together, we’ll decode these tech mysteries and get your Windows system back to its smooth-running self.

So, let’s start with;

Condition #1: Computer Automatically Starts In Safe Mode

Ever booted up your computer only to find it’s taken a detour into Safe Mode without asking you? Usually, it’s because some boot settings got mixed up. Here’s what might be throwing your computer into this unscheduled Safe Mode party:

• Malware Mischief: Those sneaky viruses and Trojans love to mess with your system settings. They might set things up so they can hide out, making it tougher to kick them out.
• User Oopsies: Ever played around with your computer settings, thinking you’re the next tech wizard, only to find out you’ve accidentally set it to start in Safe Mode? Yeah, we’ve all been there.

Let’s kick Safe Mode to the curb using “System Configuration” with our step-by-step breakdown:

1. Open the Run Box: Hold down Windows + R keys. This should summon the Run box, your one-stop-shop for running Windows commands.
2. Type “msconfig” and Hit Enter: In the Run box, type “msconfig” and either hit Enter or click OK. This will bring up the System Configuration tool.
3. Head to the Boot Tab: Once inside System Configuration, click on the “Boot” tab at the top. That’s where the startup magic happens.
4. Ditch the Safe Boot: Look for “Safe boot” under “Boot options”. It’s probably checked. Uncheck it to stop the automatic Safe Mode party.
5. Save and Close: Click “Apply”, then “OK”. This locks in your changes.
6. Give Your PC a Reboot: To put your changes into action, restart your computer. Click “Restart” when prompted.

After the Reboot: Your computer should now boot up like it’s supposed to, skipping the Safe Mode shenanigans. But if it’s still acting up, we might need to dig deeper.

Next Steps:

• Run a Deep Virus Scan: Bust out your trusty antivirus and give your system a thorough scan. Let’s see if any malware’s crashed the party.
• Check Recent Changes: Think back—have you installed anything new lately? Sometimes, new software can mess with your boot settings.
• Call in the Big Guns: If all else fails, don’t hesitate to call in the pros or hit up the comment section down below the article for more support. There’s no shame in asking for a bit of help.

Condition #2: PC Displays Black Blank Screen, But Functions Normally In Safe Mode

Ever had your PC pull a disappearing act with a black screen, even when it’s playing it safe in Safe Mode? Well, buckle up, because this mystery usually traces back to some misbehaving system components or drivers that take a nap during Safe Mode.

Our prime suspect? The notorious Explorer.exe. This guy runs the show for your desktop, taskbar, and file antics in Windows. Mess with it, whether it’s malware or a glitch, and you might just get the silent treatment with a black screen at boot-up.

Plus, those pesky malware or viruses can also mess with system files, like our friend Explorer.exe, leading to a whole circus of issues. Think black screens, slow-mo system performances, and just a general vibe of chaos. And don’t even get me started on outdated or corrupted video drivers. They can throw a wrench in the works, causing all sorts of display dramas that make you wish for a good old-fashioned projector.

Solution #1: Deep Virus Scan

Now your first line of defense is the almighty virus scan. Not just any scan, mind you—a thorough one that hunts down those sneaky threats lurking in the shadows. And what’s the secret weapon? The boot time scan.

This bad boy feature lets your antivirus roll up its sleeves and dive in before your operating system even wakes up from its beauty sleep. It’s like catching malware with its guard down, making it harder for those stubborn bugs to play hide-and-seek. To kick off a boot time scan, you’ll need to reboot and hit up your antivirus’s boot time scan option during the startup hustle. Warning: this might take a bit longer than your usual scan, but trust me, it’s worth the wait for that squeaky-clean system.

Now, if you’re still rocking a free antivirus or putting all your faith in Windows Defender, it might be time for an upgrade. Sure, they’re like the training wheels of cybersecurity—better than nothing, but not exactly race-ready. Premium antivirus programs offer a buffet of features, from real-time protection to advanced threat detection and even a snazzy firewall. It’s like trading in your flip phone for a smartphone—once you go premium, there’s no turning back.

• What’s A Good Antivirus And How To Pick The Perfect One?

Solution #2: Reinstall Video Drivers

The next hero in our troubleshooting saga? Reinstalling those Video or Graphics Card Drivers. Think of these drivers as the middlemen between your OS and your graphics hardware. They make sure everything looks sharp and runs smoothly on your screen. But, like an outdated GPS, they can get a bit wonky over time—outdated, corrupted, or just plain incompatible with the latest system updates.

Do you have a shiny dedicated Graphics Card? Head straight to the GPU manufacturer’s support page. They’ve got a treasure trove of driver downloads, all neatly organized by your specific card model and OS version. Grab the right ones to avoid a compatibility train wreck—you wouldn’t want to mix up your GeForce with your Radeon, now would you?

Rocking integrated graphics instead? That’s cool too. Swing by your laptop or desktop manufacturer’s support page. They’ve got the goods tailored just for your system. Same drill: pick the right ones to keep things humming along smoothly.

Now, let’s get down to business with some driver reinstalling 101:

1. Uninstall Old Drivers: First up, ditch those outdated drivers. Head to Device Manager, find your graphics card under ‘Display adapters’, right-click, and hit ‘Uninstall device’. Clean slate, here we come!
2. Download and Install New Drivers: Now, off to the races! Grab the latest drivers from your chosen support page. Follow any on-screen instructions or readme files like they’re your tech Bible, and let the installation magic happen.
3. Restart and Celebrate: Once you’ve got those new drivers in place, give your PC a good ol’ reboot. This is the tech equivalent of a victory lap. Check to make sure everything’s looking snazzy and running like a dream.

By giving your graphics card drivers a little TLC with a fresh install, you’re often saying goodbye to those pesky display issues and hello to smoother graphics performance. If the gremlins persist, don’t worry—we’ll dive deeper into the troubleshooting rabbit hole to uncover the root of the problem.

• What Is a Graphics Card or Video Driver, And How To Install It?
• ​How to Update Drivers Directly From the Device Manager?
• DriverIdentifier: A Great Way To Find & Download Drivers Online
• Install Computer Drivers Automatically For Free – DriverPack Solution

Solution #3: Troubleshoot Explorer.exe

Stuck in the abyss of a black screen and itching to troubleshoot without diving into Safe Mode? Fear not! We’ve got a nifty trick up our sleeves—forcing the Task Manager to make a cameo on your blacked-out screen. Just hit Ctrl+Alt+Del, and voila! You’ll summon a menu where the Task Manager is the star of the show.

Once the Task Manager graces your screen, it’s time to play detective. Head to the top menu, click on ‘File’, and pick ‘Run new task’ from the dropdown. This opens a magic little dialog box where you can work your command-line wizardry. Type ‘explorer.exe’ and hit Enter, sending your operating system on a quest to launch a fresh instance of Windows Explorer. If all goes well, your desktop should make a grand return, banishing that pesky black screen to the shadow realm.

If this little trick does the trick, hooray! You’ve likely dodged a bullet caused by funky system configurations or corrupt files messing with Explorer.exe. But don’t rest on your laurels just yet—there’s more troubleshooting to be done to keep those gremlins at bay.

For those craving a deeper dive into the world of Windows Explorer woes, I’ve got a gem for you. Check out the article Fixing “Windows Explorer Has Stopped Working” In Windows. Trust me, it’s a treasure trove of step-by-step goodness, offering a roadmap to diagnose and fix those pesky Explorer-related hiccups. It’s like having a tech guru whispering troubleshooting secrets in your ear.

Condition #3 & 4: PC Automatically Restarts Without Any Error, Or Maybe Shows Blue Screen, But Functions Normally In Safe Mode

Ever felt like your Windows PC’s going through an identity crisis, booting up in Safe Mode but pulling a sneaky restart during startup or throwing a blue screen tantrum in normal mode? It’s like your computer’s the lead actor in a drama, and it’s really stealing the show. Fear not! We’ve got the backstage passes to get this production back on track.

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Solution #1: Use System Restore Or Last Known Good Configuration

For those rocking the classics like Windows 7 or its older siblings, meet your trusty sidekick: “Last Known Good Configuration”. Just tap that F8 key like you’re playing a high-stakes piano solo during startup to summon the Advanced Boot Options menu. From there, choose “Last Known Good Configuration” to wind back the clock to a happier, glitch-free time. It’s like hitting the undo button on your computer’s bad decisions.

Now, if you’re on Team Windows 10 or 11, your troubleshooting journey takes a detour through the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). If your PC decides to ghost you at startup, it’ll automatically boot up into the WinRE when it fails to start multiple times, your one-stop shop for advanced troubleshooting antics. Head to “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “System Restore“ to wind back those system changes and undo the chaos. It’s like a time machine for your PC’s settings.

Solution #2: Use “Automatic Repair” or “Startup Repair”

Still stuck in the reboot loop from hell? Fear not, brave troubleshooter! Dive into the rabbit hole of “Automatic Repair” or “Startup Repair”. These tools are like the Swiss Army knives of startup issues, slicing through the confusion to diagnose and fix those pesky reboot blues. It’s like having a tech wizard in your corner, waving a magic wand to banish startup gremlins.

• “Automatic Repair” Or “Startup Repair”: What It Is & How To Open & Use It?

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Solution #3: Clean Boot

But what if our repair heroes are off-duty? Time to roll up those sleeves and go for a clean boot. It’s like sending your PC on a detox retreat, stripping away all the excess baggage to pinpoint the troublemaker behind the blue screen drama.

Here’s the step-by-step guide to this tech spa day:

1. Boot up in Safe Mode (your PC’s comfort zone).
2. Hit Win + R to summon the Run dialog box.
3. Type ‘msconfig’ and hit Enter to open the System Configuration utility.
4. Head to the ‘Services’ tab and play hide-and-seek with Microsoft services by checking ‘Hide all Microsoft services’.
5. Click ‘Disable all’ to put those non-Microsoft services on a timeout.
6. Now, venture over to the ‘Startup’ tab and peek into Task Manager.
7. Disable all startup items like a pro detective—right-click and choose ‘Disable’.
8. Wrap things up by clicking ‘OK’ in System Configuration.
9. Finally, reboot your PC to enjoy its fresh, clean boot glow.

Alright, tech detectives! You’ve successfully ushered your PC through the tech spa day that is the clean boot, and it’s looking and feeling refreshed—no blue screen dramas in sight. But now it’s time to get down to some serious detective work. We need to find out which of those sidelined services or startup programs is the troublemaker causing all the chaos.

Here’s your game plan:

1. Enable Services and Programs: Like a detective piecing together clues, start by re-enabling each disabled service and startup program one by one. It’s like giving each suspect a turn in the spotlight to see if they crack under pressure.
2. Restart and Observe: After enabling each service or program, hit that reboot button and keep a close eye on your PC’s behavior. Look out for any red flags—like sudden blue screens, system hiccups, or mysterious crashes.
3. Spot the Culprit: When you notice your PC acting up again, you’ve likely found your troublemaker. It’s the service or program that couldn’t handle the clean boot challenge and reverted to its old, misbehaving ways.

Remember, this process is all about patience and methodical sleuthing. By systematically enabling and testing each service and startup program, you’ll zero in on the culprit causing your PC’s startup woes. Once you’ve identified the troublemaker, you can decide whether to disable it permanently or seek out updates or fixes to tame its rebellious nature.

Solution #3: Uninstall Recently Installed Windows updates 

Ever felt like your PC’s throwing a hissy fit after a recent Windows update? Like a chef adding one too many spices, sometimes those updates can be a little too much for our PCs to handle. But fear not! We’ve got the recipe to roll back those updates and restore peace in your digital kingdom.

Here’s your step-by-step guide to taming those unruly updates:

1. Open Control Panel: Fire up the Run dialog box by hitting Win + R, type ‘control panel’, and hit Enter. Ah, the Control Panel—our trusty command center for all things Windows.
2. Dive into Windows Update History: Navigate to the “Programs” section in the Control Panel and click on “View installed updates” under “Programs and Features”. Behold, a treasure trove of updates that have graced your PC with their presence.
3. Spot the Newcomers: Scan the “Installed Updates” list for any updates that arrived around the time your PC started acting up. Sort by “Installed On” date for a neat timeline of suspects.
4. Bid Farewell to Troublemakers: Once you’ve identified the culprits, select those pesky updates and hit the “Uninstall” button like you’re banishing them from the kingdom. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete their exile.
5. Reboot and Relax: After sending those updates packing, give your PC a reboot. With those troublemaking updates gone, your system should revert to its former, stable self.

With a little detective work in your Windows update history and a bit of courage to uninstall the suspicious updates, you can often restore peace and harmony to your PC. But remember, if the issue persists, it might be time to call in the tech cavalry or explore other troubleshooting avenues to keep your digital kingdom running smoothly.

Solution #3: At Last, Fix Windows Internal Files

Alright, tech wizards, if you’ve danced through a maze of troubleshooting methods and your Windows PC still throws a fit, it might be time to play doctor with its internal system files. Enter DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) and SFC (System File Checker)—your trusty sidekicks in restoring peace and stability to your digital realm. These tools are the Jedi masters of scanning and patching up corrupted or AWOL system files, keeping your Windows OS in tip-top shape.

Ready to perform some digital surgery? Here’s your foolproof guide:

1. Boot into Safe Mode with Networking: First things first, put your computer in “Safe Mode with Networking”. This stripped-down version of Windows is like a digital monk – minimal distractions from pesky third-party software or drivers while you work your magic.
2. Summon Command Prompt as Administrator: With your computer in Safe Mode, summon the Command Prompt with all the authority of a tech guru. Just search “cmd” in the Windows search bar, right-click “Command Prompt”, and choose “Run as administrator”.
3. Fire Up DISM Tool:
   • Online Repair: In your elevated Command Prompt, type this incantation and hit Enter:
     DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

   • Repair using Windows Installation Media: If the online mojo doesn’t work, it’s time for the big guns. Pop in your Windows installation media (USB or CD) and run this, but swap out “G:\Sources” with your actual path to “install.wim” or “install.esd”:
     DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:G:\Sources\install.wim


     or

     DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:G:\Sources\install.esd

4. Engage SFC Tool: After DISM does its thing, unleash the System File Checker (SFC) tool. In the Command Prompt, type this spell and press Enter: SFC /scannowThe SFC wizardry will sift through your system, hunting down and repairing those mischievous corrupted or missing files.

After you’ve played surgeon with DISM and SFC, give your PC a restart. Cross your fingers, maybe even perform a little victory dance, and see if the gremlins have been banished.

What to Do If Nothing Works?

So, you’re still seeing that pesky Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) despite trying all the usual tricks? Don’t worry; we’ve got some more advanced solutions up our sleeves to help you kick those blue screens to the curb. Whether it’s a hardware hiccup, a driver drama, or some nasty software squabble, we’ve got you covered.

Need a deep dive into BSOD issues during startup? Check out our article on: Fixing BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) Error: Every Possible Solutions. It’s a treasure trove of tips, tricks, and step-by-step guidance to get your PC back on track.

• If you are considering a factory reset or clean install:
  • Factory Reset: If all else fails, hitting the reset button might be the way to go. Just remember, this wipes your PC clean, so back up those cat videos and memes you can’t live without first!
    • How To Properly ‘Factory Reset’ A Laptop Or Desktop Computer?
  • Clean Install: Want a fresh start? A clean install of Windows can be a game-changer. But, be warned, it’s like hitting the nuclear option on your PC. Check out our guides for Windows 7, 8/8.1, and 10 below:
    • How to Install Windows 7? – Complete Guide
    • How To Install Windows 8/8.1? – Complete Guide
    • How To Install Windows 10? – Complete Guide

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