Cannot Boot to Safe Mode (Even in WinRE)

Anonymous

I need help as soon as possible!

How it got started:

I was installing the Microsoft Hyper-V virtual network adapter in Device Manager. It took some time, but eventually it was successfully installed. Then I noticed ntoskrnl.exe CPU usage suddenly gone up. I immediately tried uninstalling the network adapter in Device Manager. But it got stuck on "Uninstalling devices". Then I tried restarting my computer with hope of helping the uninstallation process. My computer was stuck for some time while restarting until finally it got a blue screen of death. Then I tried restarting my computer and it got stuck again in Spinning Circle of Death.

Then I think of entering Safe Mode. But it was very hard. I attempted to enter WinRE mode by pressing F8 button. It was successful. But when I pressed Advanced Startup, my computer got stuck again in Spinning Circle of Death for the second time. I tried another method, which is to enable Legacy Advanced Boot Options, thru the Command Prompt feature built-in with WinRE. Unfortunately after attempting several times, I still couldn't enter the mode with F8 and Windows keep showing the normal boot options instead. Now I don't have idea how to enter Safe Mode to uninstall the problematic network adapter. So I need help from all of you to guide me on how to enter Safe Mode on boot without using Advanced Startup (because it won't work).

My computer is very important. I have so much important data and applications installed and stored inside SATA and NVMe SSDs, so I won't attempting to keep force restarting it. Force restarting it will definitely increase the chance of permanent and irreversible damage to all of my data inside my SSD. I also have an antivirus installed in my computer, which its license cannot be backup in any way, so losing access to my antivirus means I will have to buy a new license. I also need my computer tomorrow, so I really hope I can be assisted today.

In conclusion, please help me to enter Safe Mode or at least reinstalling Windows 10 without deleting programs. It was my mistake to install the wrong driver and I need to fix mybroken Windows 10 installation as soon as possible.

Thank you for all of your assistance. I apologize for my language, because English is my second language. Please reply if you need more information or if you have questions regarding to my issue.

I hope all of you have a great day!

My computer specs:

Computer: Intel NUC8i5BEH

Memory/RAM: 16 GB

SSD: NVMe 250 GB & SATA 240 GB

Windows Version: Windows 10 version 21H1

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

Unfortunately, there isn't any other way to enter safe mode.

At first, it was difficult to reinstall an OS, but nowadays, it's just a matter of few clicks!

Regards,

0 comments

52 additional answers

Anonymous

2021-10-04T12:55:40+00:00

I don't think you can run apps inside WinRE, but you can try.

Put the USB setup file into a USB drive, access cmd from Troubleshoot> Advanced options>command prompt; navigate to the usb directory and enter "setup.exe".

If that doesn't work, a reinstall is the only option, unfortunately.

Follow the steps I gave in my previous reply, after the backup.

When you click OK for the warning (while installing), all your files are stored inside C:/Windows.old/users/username.

When the installation is done, go to that directory and copy all the files there to your current desktop/downloads/etc.

Regards,
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2021-10-04T12:50:07+00:00

> -We need to enter WinRE mode, the easiest way is to hold the Shift key and click to restart the PC, if it is not possible, follow these steps to enter WinRE mode:
Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds to turn off the device.
Press the power button again to turn on the device.
At the first sign that Windows has started (for example, some display devices the manufacturer's logo when restarting), press and hold the power button for 10 seconds until the device turns off.
Press the power button again to turn on the device.
When Windows restarts, press and hold the power button for 10 seconds to turn off the device.
Press the power button again to turn on the device.
Allow your device to completely restart. You will enter winRE.

I have said that I have access to WinRE.

> Now, Click on Troubleshoot, Advanced Options, Startup Repair.
-If you have not solved the problem, while still in WinRE mode, click on Troubleshoot, Advanced Options, System Repair, find a date before the problem and proceed.
-If you haven't found a restore point, let's restore the system image, still in WinRE mode, click on Troubleshoot, Reset this computer. You can keep your files.

I have tried Startup Repair, but I got an error "Automatic Repair couldn't repair your PC". Unfortunately I'm extremely dumb and decided to delete all of my restore points right before messing with Windows 10. This means I don't have any restore point to restore. I don't want to reset Windows 10 if possible because I' can't afford losing and have to rebuild and reinstall my applications and data, especially my antivirus license.

But it is okay if it is possible to run USB setup.exe inside WinRE to reinstall Windows 10 without removing programs.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2021-10-04T12:41:25+00:00

-Hi, my name is Claudeir, I'm happy to help you!

Here are possible ways to fix boot errors:

-Solutions for startup problems:

-We need to enter WinRE mode, the easiest way is to hold the Shift key and click to restart the PC, if it is not possible, follow these steps to enter WinRE mode:

Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds to turn off the device.

Press the power button again to turn on the device.

At the first sign that Windows has started (for example, some display devices the manufacturer's logo when restarting), press and hold the power button for 10 seconds until the device turns off.

Press the power button again to turn on the device.

When Windows restarts, press and hold the power button for 10 seconds to turn off the device.

Press the power button again to turn on the device.

Allow your device to completely restart. You will enter winRE.

Now, Click on Troubleshoot, Advanced Options, Startup Repair.

-If you have not solved the problem, while still in WinRE mode, click on Troubleshoot, Advanced Options, System Repair, find a date before the problem and proceed.

-If you haven't found a restore point, let's restore the system image, still in WinRE mode, click on Troubleshoot, Reset this computer. You can keep your files.

-If you still can't restore the system, we need to create a bootable USB media from another PC, go to:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-downlo...

Download the tool, click ''How to use the tool to create installation media'' to learn how to proceed.

Then insert bootable USB media into the PC with problems, during boot, if necessary, enter BIOS shortly by pressing DEL or F2, change boot option to USB media. So when you get started, click on Repair this computer and proceed.

-Feel free to leave your opinion, marking as answered if the answer helped, or leaving more details so that we can continue the service, this is very important to us.

Graciously,

Claudeir
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2021-10-04T12:35:22+00:00

> Are you able to boot into Safe mode with command prompt?

I can't boot into any Safe Mode. But I don't know if there are other ways to get Safe Mode working, such as fixing the Legacy Advanced Boot Options issue. I might have used the bcdedit command incorrectly (such as using the wrong arguments).

May I ask, is it possible to run USB setup.exe inside WinRE to reinstall Windows 10 without removing programs? Example of what I mean (but it should be able to run inside WinRE):

I'm waiting for your response.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments