Guide: Safe Mode vs Clean Boot: Comparison and Review
Are you having problems with your Windows 10 computer? The Microsoft Support Community often recommends that users perform a clean boot or enter Safe Mode. They sound similar, but are very different. Many Windows problems can be solved using these two methods: safe mode and clean boot. So we thought we would write a detailed one guide on how Safe Mode differs from Clean Boot, and how to carry them out. I would recommend that you bookmark this guide or understand the process so that you can fix Windows related errors and issues in the future. Let’s start.
1. What do they mean
A safe mode is a special diagnostic mode in Windows that limits all Windows functions and operations to the core services and processes that are essential for running Windows OS. That means turning off sound, GPU drivers and a bunch of other things. The screen resolution is getting smaller. Sticky notes also don’t work and even Windows Update is turned off. You don’t need these non-essential services and non-core components to run Windows. A stripped-down version of Windows OS will be loaded in safe mode. Bare essentials.
A clean boot is another diagnostic mode where you need to disable programs from starting automatically up when Windows boots up and then lets you fix various errors. In Clean Boot, you have to manually disable all third-party software and startup programs before restarting your PC. A clean boot does not disable Windows services and processes, but instead targets user-installed apps and programs.
2. What’s the difference between Safe Mode and Clean Boot?
Safe mode disables most apps and services that contain non-core services and components, especially those that are not needed to run Windows and boot your PC.
Clean Boot assumes nothing is wrong with the Windows operating system or its files, so it focuses more on apps and software that the user has installed manually. Clean Boot disables startup programs and other apps. Useful if you regularly experience app crashes or if you have pop-up errors and cannot locate the source. Safe mode is recommended if there is something wrong with the hardware or drivers and software related issues. A clean boot is recommended if you see error messages on the screen, but don’t know where it is coming from. So you disable all third-party apps and re-enable them one by one to zero the app in question.
Safe mode is often used to remove viruses, malware, spyware and other nefarious elements that are normally difficult to remove. In safe mode, those things should stop working so you can identify and delete them without causing further damage to the system and your data. On the other hand, Clean Boot is more suitable to fix app related errors. and the rogue string of code or program will run rampant in the background.
3. Safe Mode Steps
We will discuss multiple ways to enter Safe Mode as the malware or corrupt files sometimes make it difficult to open Settings or access other parts of the system. Method 1: Settings Step 1: Press Windows Key + I to open Settings and select Update & Security.
Step 2: On the Recovery tab on the left, click Restart now button under the advanced start-up option.
Step 3: Click on Troubleshoot here.
Step 4: Now select Advanced options.
Step 5: Go to Startup Settings.
Step 6: Here click on Restart.
Your computer will now restart and you will see an option to enter safe mode, denoted by the F4 or 4 key. Press the relevant key on your keyboard next to the Safe Mode option to boot into Safe Mode. Method 2: keyboard shortcut Use this method if you cannot access Safe Mode from Settings or if your PC does not start up completely. To get out of Safe Mode, simply restart your computer and do not press any key until you see the login screen. Method 3: login screen You can also access Safe Mode from the login screen if you can see that. Press the shift key and then press and hold the power button button to restart your computer. You will now see a blue screen where you navigate to Troubleshoot> Advanced options> Startup Settings> Restart.
4. Clean boot steps
Because Clean Boot is not actually built-in Windows feature, there is no special option or shortcut to do this. Instead, there are a few steps to accomplish this and they are easy to follow. Step 1: Search for System Configuration and open it. Note: If you are connected to a network, ask your admin for permission. Network policy settings can prevent you from completing these steps correctly and potentially render your computer unusable. Step 2: On the Services tab, click Hide all Microsoft services and then click Disable. This will disable all apps and services except Microsoft’s. That’s the opposite of what Safe Mode does.
Step 3: Select Open Task Manager on the Startup tab.
Step 4: You now select each item in the list, right-click on it and select Disable. That means that none of these apps will start when the computer reboots into the Clean Boot environment.
Step 5: Close Task Manager and click OK in the System Configuration window. Now restart your computer to enter Clean Boot. To reboot into normal mode, reverse the process. Enable all startup apps in Task Manager, enable all services in the Services tab, clear the Hide all Microsoft services check box, and restart.
Choose the correct mode
Safe mode and clean boot are two ways to fix hardware or software related errors. Find out what’s bothering your computer, one app or process at a time. Troubleshooting steps differ based on the problem in the hand. However, you can re-enable one service at a time to see if anything breaks and continue with the process of careful elimination to find out the culprit. Both can be very useful to restore your system from going crazy. Alternatively, you can make sure that your data does not get corrupted or compromised. The next up Windows 10 Running Slow or Lagging? Can you see the error 100% disk usage in Task Manager? Here are 9 ways to fix it.
Safe Mode vs Clean Boot: Comparison and Review: benefits
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