Using Windows “Safe Boot” To Diagnose and Repair Problems

When something goes wrong with Windows it can be very difficult to diagnose or repair, and there are times when booting your computer into Safe Mode just isn’t good enough.  Safe Mode, a special diagnostic mode built into Windows strips the OS of all drivers and start-up software and presents you with a very limited version of Windows in which to diagnose what might be causing a problem, and repair it.  Many Windows features simply won’t operate in Safe Mode so there’s not very much you can do.

Fortunately though there is an alternative and it’s in every version of the operating system (XP, Vista and Windows 7).  This is called “Safe Boot” and you can find it in the MSConfig panel.  To open this type msconfig into the Start Menu search box in Vista or Windows 7, or run msconfig from the run option in XP.

Under the Boot tab in the MSConfig window you’ll see the Safe Boot option as a tick box.  Turning this on will make Windows use the Safe Boot option every time thereafter.  When you want to stop using Safe Boot and return to starting Windows normally you’ll need to return to the MSConfig panel and untick this option.  There are also several other options here including Minimal Boot, which will take you into the full Safe Mode, but the standard option will normally be enough for most people.

The Safe Boot screen, as you can see here is a half-way house between the full Windows desktop and Safe Mode.  What you will find though is that most of your hardware drivers will be installed and working though your startup software will still be disabled.

So when might you want to use Safe Boot?  Occasionally you will encounter a problem in Windows that you will need to go into Safe Mode to repair.  As I mentioned earlier however Safe Mode won’t allow you to perform some Windows tasks, and this is where the Safe Boot mode is useful.  You may also suspect that your problems aren’t being caused by a hardware driver, but by software instead.  This diagnostic mode enables you to have a full Windows desktop where nothing loads at startup and where you can run and check programs individually to see what effect they are having on your system.

As I have already mentioned Safe Mode is extremely limiting, not just in the very low screen resolution that it gives you.  If you need to run full diagnostics on your copy of Windows, to see what’s going on under the hood, or if you need to test individual software packages in a safe environment where they will be able to run properly then Windows Safe Boot is the way to do it.

Remember though that you will need to turn off Safe Boot when you are done, or else Windows will start permanently in this mode.  I have found this to be a very useful diagnostic tool in Windows and it’s extremely underused because, frankly, many people simply do not know that it exists.  Hopefully you will find it useful too.

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Improve Firefox Private Browsing With Private Browsing Window Add-on About the Author:Mike Halsey is a Microsoft MVP for "Windows Expert". He is also the author of Troubleshooting Windows 7 Inside Out from Microsoft Press and the Windows 7 Power Users Guide, a how-to guide for non-technical Windows users on how to get the best out of Microsoft's new operating system, with step-by-step and quick guides. You can follow Mike on Facebook, Twitter or on his own website The Long ClimbAuthor: Mike Halsey MVP, Sunday January 22, 2012 -
Tags:msconfig, safe boot, safe mode, vista, Windows, windows 7, xp

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Responding to Eyesight Problems with Vision Care

It's an easy task to take our vision for granted since the majority of of us don't give it much thought. We're generally so involved with other things that we don't invest time to delight in its worth. Some don't appreciate its value until they're put in hard situations that involve its use. It's also a common misconception that vision care is only needed when complications arise. Most people are unaware of the fact that a visit to the optometrist is needed at least once every couple of years.

Regular check-ups aside, when is it ideal to go to my optometrist?

Apart from regular check-ups, a visit to the optometrist is essential when a patient begins to exhibit symptoms of vision loss. In such cases, primary care is first supplied by an optometrist. When special vision care is essential, a patient will be pointed to an ophthalmologist for additional care. It's important to never forget that an ophthalmologist, optometrist, and optician are three different people. Ophthalmologists supply specialised care plus do surgery. Opticians in contrast, concentrate on the prescription of graded eyeglasses.

Most troubles regarding vision can usually be treated by a primary care physician such as an optometrist. Every time a patient suffers from one or more of the following, it's time to seek the assistance of an eye doctor:

- Unclear eyesight
- Difficulty seeing into the distance or reading up close
- Difficulty seeing at night or encountering glares during the daytime

Together with these, some patients also encounter various symptoms that can be associated with numerous eye problems. These symptoms can include recurrent headaches when reading print or looking into a computer, double vision, and general poor eyesight.

Do you know the common eye health conditions and remedies I can encounter?

The issues and symptoms previously mentioned may be tell-tale signs of one of the subsequent eye conditions:

Myopia - This is a problem that makes remote objects seem blurry, and close by items look clear. It is also known as short or near-sightedness. It's a common problem found in individuals of all ages. For children, the best way to discover this issue is by judging their ability to see the blackboard from the back of a classroom. Opticians prescribe eyeglasses with concave lenses for these cases.

Hyperopia - This problem is the complete opposite of myopia and is referred to as long or far-sightedness. Most patients with this condition also report eye fatigue and regular headaches. Just like myopia, mild cases don't automatically necessitate corrective lenses, but an optician may prescribe them if required.

Astigmatism - Generally, this isn't regarded as an eye disease. Rather, patients identified as having this condition have differently shaped corneas stopping them from seeing properly. Corrective eyeware with cylindrical lenses are given for these instances.

Presbyopia - The last of the four most common eye problems deals primarily with old age. As we grow old, the muscles that help our eyes focus degenerate. This condition is fixed with the use of convex lenses.

Regular vision care is advised to address these issues before they deteriorate. Do not forget that healthy eyesight contributes to living a fuller and happier life.

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