Cannot Boot to Safe Mode (Even in WinRE)

Anonymous
2021-10-04T12:02:40+00:00

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

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Performance and system failures

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 No comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2021-10-04T13:16:37+00:00

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,

Was this answer helpful?

1 person found this answer helpful.
0 comments No comments

52 additional answers

Sort by: Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2021-10-07T13:05:24+00:00

    I tried resetting, but I got an error: "There was a problem resetting your PC. No changes were made."

    What should I do?

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2021-10-07T13:29:14+00:00

    Then, a reinstall is the only way.

    It will not affect your files. But, apps will be removed.

    When the reinstall is done, you will find all your data in C:/Windows.old/users/<your username>

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2021-10-07T13:35:13+00:00

    Okay, then back to these questions:

    ""

    I'm going to reinstall Windows 10 right now by selecting the partition where the previous Windows 10 installation is located. But I'm worried Windows will mistakenly formatted all drives or the C drive because the recovery partition is located inside my secondary drive*.

    Should I worried about losing any data? Is it a good idea to disable my secondary drive in the BIOS to prevent Windows 10 from mistakenly formatted other partitions?

    *Previously I cloned my Windows 10 installation from my SATA SSD (Which is currently my secondary drive) to NVMe SDD (And which is currently my primary drive).

    ""

    Thanks for your response.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  4. Anonymous
    2021-10-07T13:50:59+00:00
    1. No need to worry about the data. It will be kept as it is. And you have taken a backup, haven't you?
    2. Windows will not format the drives. It will just delete the apps, reinstall the OS and move the current installation to Windows.old

    Make sure you select the correct partition (the current windows drive) while installing.

    1. No, there's no need to disable the secondary drive. Only the partition you selected will be modified (not formatted). Other things will be kept intact.
    2. Cloned installation won't work now as you aren't able to access your current installation.

    Hope this answers your questions. :)

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments