Windows 8.1 U1 -- can't enter safe mode


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Messed up my 8.1 install with installing the AeroGlass program without checking for compatibility with Update 1. No biggie, I can just login to safe mode and uninstall it from there, right?

 

Wrong.

 

I've turned my computer, so I can't do any of the graphic ways of logging into safe mode. I also use a laptop with an SSD, so pressing F8 doesn't do anything. Help, please.

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i believe you hold shift while turning on your computer now to get to advance settings and choose safemode from there

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Shift + F8 doesn't work either.

Edit: Holding shift while it's turning on doesn't do anything either. I think they've made it impossible to reach any startup options on UEFI laptops with SSDs.

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I've turned my computer, so I can't do any of the graphic ways of logging into safe mode.

What does this mean? You can't see the screen or something? If you can get to the login screen, you can try ###### + restart (on the power button icon).

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What does this mean? You can't see the screen or something? If you can get to the login screen, you can try shift + restart (on the power button icon).

ftfy

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What does this mean? You can't see the screen or something? If you can get to the login screen, you can try #### + restart (on the power button icon).

I see the Windows boot logo for a split second and that's it. I think AeroGlass messed up DWM, at least that the error it reported before the screen started flashing.

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I see the Windows boot logo for a split second and that's it. I think AeroGlass messed up DWM, at least that the error it reported before the screen started flashing.

i think it may be more a driver issue. i have glass8 installed on 2 of my w8.1u1 machines. i also got a "dwm not compatible" message after the install but still worked fine

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i think it may be more a driver issue. i have glass8 installed on 2 of my w8.1u1 machines. i also got a "dwm not compatible" message after the install but still worked fine

Might be, makes little difference to me as I'm welcomed by a black screen either way. If I could just uninstall the crap it'd be fine.

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  1. Boot the Windows 8(.1) Install or System Recovery media and click Next at the first screen when asked for your language preference.
  2. Click the "Repair your computer" link at the next screen.
  3. Click the Troubleshoot button.
  4. Then click Advanced Options.
  5. And finally, click Command Prompt. The avaialble options for you may be different depending on what boot media you used to get to this point, but as long as you have this Command Prompt option, you can run the command.

    bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy legacy

  6. Run the command and you should see this as your output on the screen once it completes. The command should take less than a second to run.

After performing these steps and rebooting, you can press F8 and access the menu to boot into Safe Mode.

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  • Boot the Windows 8(.1) Install or System Recovery media and click Next at the first screen when asked for your language preference.

This is starting to sound like a usable option. Do you have installation/recovery media?

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This is starting to sound like a usable option. Do you have installation/recovery media?

I have the ISO on a backup drive, waiting for my brother to finish some work on his computer so I'll give this a shot. I can also make the recovery stick, since we use the same version of Windows. Fingers crossed.

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  1. Boot the Windows 8(.1) Install or System Recovery media and click Next at the first screen when asked for your language preference.
  2. Click the "Repair your computer" link at the next screen.
  3. Click the Troubleshoot button.
  4. Then click Advanced Options.
  5. And finally, click Command Prompt. The avaialble options for you may be different depending on what boot media you used to get to this point, but as long as you have this Command Prompt option, you can run the command.

    bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy legacy

  6. Run the command and you should see this as your output on the screen once it completes. The command should take less than a second to run.

After performing these steps and rebooting, you can press F8 and access the menu to boot into Safe Mode.

 

 

What output am I supposed to get? I get this

The boot configuration data store could not be opened.
The requested system device could not be found

Am I supposed to put in something instead of "default," because this doesn't work obviously.

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Messed up my 8.1 install with installing the AeroGlass program without checking for compatibility with Update 1. No biggie, I can just login to safe mode and uninstall it from there, right?

 

Wrong.

 

I've turned my computer, so I can't do any of the graphic ways of logging into safe mode. I also use a laptop with an SSD, so pressing F8 doesn't do anything. Help, please.

 

1- Enter Normal Mode

2- Type "Win+R" to open "Run", Type "msconfig" and press Enter, A popup showing "System configuration" > boot > check "Safe Mode" > Apply > restart

3- ... now Windows will boot into safe mode after restart, Uninstall what you want, then Do the step 2 but with uncheck "safe mode" > apply > restart, Done :)

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1- Enter Normal Mode

2- Type "Win+R" to open "Run", Type "msconfig" and press Enter, A popup showing "System configuration" > boot > check "Safe Mode" > Apply > restart

3- ... now Windows will boot into safe mode after restart, Uninstall what you want, then Do the step 2 but with uncheck "safe mode" > apply > restart, Done :)

 

If I could enter Normal Mode, I wouldn't even need safe mode...

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I think I'm gonna have to reinstall. I want to shoot myself for being so stupid (I need this computer for work in 6 hours), but Microsoft sure didn't make it any easier.

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I think I'm gonna have to reinstall. I want to shoot myself for being so stupid (I need this computer for work in 6 hours), but Microsoft sure didn't make it any easier.

if you have a recent system restore i believe you can restore to it from the recovery media

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I had this same problem after installing AeroGlass on Win8.1U1. 

 

If you have password on account or multiple accounts on your computer just restart computer - after boot, on log in screen, hold SHIFT and select Restart from Power Off menu. This will enable after moment menu with Safe mode option. 

Probably this will also work on start screen but then you need to be quick.

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I thought Windows would show a prompt for Safe Mode if it detected that the computer has been repeatedly shut down incorrectly. Is that gone in 8?

No its still there.
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I thought Windows would show a prompt for Safe Mode if it detected that the computer has been repeatedly shut down incorrectly. Is that gone in 8?

I know that it tries to automatically repair itself, but no idea if it shows the old menu.

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