When you start the computer in safe mode, only essential drivers and computer services are loaded. You can use safe mode when you need to identify and resolve problems that are caused by either faulty drivers, programs, or services that start automatically.

If the computer starts in safe mode but it does not start in normal mode, the computer may have a conflict with either the hardware settings or the resources. There may be incompatibilities with either programs, services, or drivers, or there may be registry damage. In safe mode, you can disable or remove a program, service, or device driver that may be preventing the computer from starting normally.

To troubleshoot startup problems in safe mode, follow these steps:

1. Enter Safe mode
2. If you are running other operating systems on the computer, click Microsoft Windows 2000 on the list that is displayed, and then press ENTER.
3. Do one of the following steps:
   1. If the computer does not start in safe mode, check for possible hardware problems such as defective devices, installation problems, cabling problems, or connector problems.
      Remove any newly added hardware, and then restart the computer to see if the problem is resolved.
   2. If the computer starts in safe mode, proceed to the next section to continue to troubleshoot the startup issue.

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional