Use windows 8's System Configuration to boot into Safe Mode
Booting into Safe Mode when using Windows 8 is not as simple as with previous versions of Windows - but it is possible. Here's how to boot into Safe Mode in Windows 8.
Anyone used to troubleshooting previous versions of Windows will be familiar with the Safe mode boot option. It's often the only way to coax Windows into booting when there are errors preventing a normal startup.
However, with Windows 8, the usual method of pressing F8 during bootup doesn't allow access to the same options. Some pre-release versions of Windows 8 replaced the F8 keystroke with Shift, F8, but now even this option won't work.
Windows 8 monitors the startup procedure and when problems are detected it automatically takes you to the new recovery mode. At this point you will be presented with the message: ‘Recovery. It looks like Windows didn't load correctly'.
Select the advanced repair options and choose Troubleshoot, Advanced options, ‘Windows Startup Settings', Restart. Your computer will boot into an ‘Advanced Boot Options' screen in which Safe mode can be selected.
If you're able to boot Windows normally, but still need to enter Safe mode, you can skip this rather convoluted process by going to the Start screen and typing msconfig. Launch System Configuration from the list of search results, then select its Boot tab. On this screen (pictured above), you can check a box to enable Safe boot, with various different types of Safe mode available below. Click Ok, then click Restart to boot your computer into Safe mode.
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