Eternal diagnostics of a Windows 8 computer. When the system does not boot

In Windows 8, Safe Mode has been noticeably changed, making it more functional and convenient. Now, if problems arise with the operation of the operating system, the user has access to several utilities that make it easier to diagnose and restore the operation of the OS.

Boot in Safe Mode ( Safe Mode) is one of the most important steps in troubleshooting computer problems. This is what most users use when errors appear in the system. However standard way loading Safe Mode in all Windows operating systems up to version eight means restarting the computer and pressing the F8 button repeatedly, after which a black screen appears with a list of OS boot modes, from which you can select Safe.

In Windows 8, the way Safe Mode loads has been slightly changed, so users who tried to get into Safe Mode in the usual way encountered some difficulties. The fact is that pressing the F8 key during Windows boot 8 starts automatic recovery mode.

In order to open the modes and system recovery menu, you should press not F8, but the key combination Shift + F8. While the system is booting, you need to hold down Shift button and press the F8 key several times.

However, due to some features of Windows 8, starting Safe Mode in this way can be difficult, so if the system on the computer is working, it will be much easier to use special utilities, built into the system.

Opening Safe Mode from a running Windows 8 system using the msconfig utility

Safe Mode can also be launched from a running operating system. To do this, call up the program execution request window using the Win+R key combination. In the window that appears, type msconfig and press Enter. In the window that opens, go to the Boot tab and check the box next to Safe Boot.

In the list below, you can choose one of the types of Safe Mode. Minimal mode is normal safe mode. Another shell (Alternate Shell) is Safe Mode, which supports the command line. Network is Safe Mode with network support.

Once you have selected the type of Safe Mode that suits you best, click OK and confirm that you need to reboot the system.

After this, the system will automatically boot into Safe Mode. Once you have set these settings, Windows 8 will always boot into Safe Mode when you turn on your computer. To stop this, open the msconfig utility window again and uncheck the box next to the words Safe Mode.

Opening the Diagnostics menu in Windows 8

There is another way to open Safe Mode in Windows 8, which also requires a running operating system. Press the Win+I key combination and in the blue window that appears, click on the Shutdown option while holding down the Shift key. A small menu will appear where you should select the Reboot option.

In the following windows, in order, select Diagnostics - Additional options - Boot options.

Reboot the system, after which a window will appear in front of you indicating several modes, you can select one of which using the F1-F9 keys.

Let's take a closer look at each of the available modes.

By pressing the F4 key, the most limited Safe Mode is available, in which, after the system starts, only the drivers necessary for Windows 8 work. Neither the Internet nor the local network will be available to you.

Press the F5 key to launch Safe Mode with Boot network drivers– the optimal solution for solving most problems. You can go online and continue searching for a solution to your problem or download the necessary patches and utilities. This mode is most often used to update the antivirus.

The F6 key launches Safe Mode with command line support. This mode does not support a graphical interface, so you will need to enter all the necessary commands into the command line.

To return to the start window from Safe Mode, press the Alt key.

Windows 8 Safe Mode boot keys

To return the Safe Modes menu boot option to the F8 key, you must make changes to the BCD boot configuration data file. To do this, open a command prompt as an administrator and enter the command bcdedit /deletevalue (current) bootmenupolicy.

After “Operation Complete” appears in the black window, close the Command Prompt and restart your computer. While loading, press F8 several times. A familiar window will appear where you can select Safe Mode.

To undo the changes you made, reopen the Command Prompt and enter the command bcdedit /set (current) bootmenupolicy standard.

Another way to enter changes into the BCD boot configuration data file is to enter command line command bcdedit /set (bootmgr) displaybootmenu yes.

You can return the system to standard boot with the command bcdedit /set (bootmgr) displaybootmenu no.

The last method is most suitable for devices and PCs where Windows system 8 loads so quickly that it does not have time to respond to either pressing F8 or the Shift+F8 key combination.

Why does the F8 key not work?

In some cases, open Safe Mode or automatic recovery It doesn’t work after pressing either the F8 key or the Shift+F8 combination. After reading the message from the official Microsoft website, you can find out that this is due to too fast loading Windows 8, which does not even have time to detect pressing the F8 or F2 keys.

Fast modern computer, equipped with UEFI BIOS and solid state drive The SSD where the operating system is installed may not allow you to use the function keys to open Safe Mode. However, booting the OS on older computers with a standard BIOS and installed on the hard drive HDD drive the operating system is not fast enough that Windows 8 does not have time to detect keystrokes.

How to Avoid the Windows 8 Fast Boot Difficulty

To prevent problems with loading into Safe Mode using Shift+F8, you should make changes to the BCD boot configuration data file using the bcdedit /set (bootmgr) displaybootmenu yes command described above, rather than rolling back the changes.

In this case, you will always be able to easily get into Safe Mode, even if Windows 8 does not boot in standard mode. This solution, of course, has the disadvantage that now every time you boot the system you will see a black screen and press the Enter key to start it. You will have to determine for yourself which solution is more convenient for you.

Some users prefer to intentionally crash the operating system by turning off their computer or laptop using the power button. In this case, during next boot The system recovery and diagnostic window will appear, where you can select Safe Mode.

However this method is extremely dangerous not only for installed system, but also for data stored on a computer.

Entering Windows 8 Safe Mode using a recovery disc

If the system does not boot and the Shift+F8 key combination does not allow you to access the system recovery menu, optimal solution will be used boot disk Windows, which will help you open Safe Mode when other methods have failed.

After you boot your computer from the recovery disk or installation disk Windows 8, click Next.

A window will appear in front of you, at the bottom of which there is a link to System Restore. Let's click on it.

The familiar Select Action window opens.

We follow the path Diagnostics - Additional parameters.

There is no Boot Options icon in the window, so open the Command Prompt. In the black window that appears, enter the command bcdedit /set (globalsettings) advancedoptions true.

Close the command line. Select the Continue menu item.

Now Safe Mode will always start when the system boots. To fix this, enter the command bcdedit /deletevalue (globalsettings) advancedoptions into the command line.

Starting the operating system in safe mode is one of the most common ways to diagnose problems. Previously, you could get into safe mode by clicking on boot, but this triggers automatic recovery. What if you need safe mode?

It's still possible to boot into safe mode, but you'll have to dig into the settings to do so. Windows recovery 8. The key now starts automatic recovery, but if you press + instead during boot, you can manually select recovery options. However, it’s even easier to hold down and select the “Restart” command in Windows itself or on the login screen.

There are several ways to get into safe mode - it all depends on whether the system boots and whether you can enter it. Let's start with the simplest.

If the login screen is available

If the boot successfully reaches the login screen, you can hold down the key and select the “Reboot” option from the shutdown menu. The Diagnostic Tools screen will appear, allowing you to enter Safe Mode. How exactly - read below.

If the system does not boot, but there is a recovery disk

If you have another computer with the same version of Windows on hand, you can create a USB recovery drive and boot the faulty PC from it to access diagnostic tools, including safe mode (more below).

If the login screen is not available

If the boot doesn't even get to the login screen, a recovery screen will usually appear automatically. If this does not happen, try holding down the key while booting and press until the new recovery mode loads. When the recovery screen appears, click the Advanced Options button.

The problem is that this screen does not always appear. Many computers, especially new ones, do not display it.

Using advanced options to boot into Safe Mode

Whichever of the described methods you use, on the recovery screen that appears, click the “Troubleshoot” button.

Now select Advanced Options.

Finally, click the Restart button.

After the reboot, by some miracle, the familiar boot options screen will appear, where you can select Safe Mode.

Launching Safe Mode directly from Windows 8

There is another way to get into safe mode, but it will only work if Windows already loaded. Press the +[R] keys, enter the command “msconfig” (without quotes) in the window that appears and press .

In the window that opens, go to the “Boot” tab and check the “Safe Boot” checkbox.

You can also choose secure boot options:

"Minimal"– normal safe mode.
"Alternate Shell"– safe mode with command line.
"Active Directory repair"– safe mode for restoring a server that is a domain controller in local network.
"Network"– safe mode with network connection.

Once you've selected the option you want, click OK and restart your computer.

The system will automatically boot into safe mode.

Lost in the three pines of the Windows recovery environment. Today I'll show you an easy way to navigate Windows RE, and also talk about a way to create a flash drive with RE, which was not previously available in Windows.

Those two people had the same problem - they were trying to deploy a system from backup image, but it was not in Windows RE in any way. Of course, carefully reading the instructions would save them time and nerves. However, this does not eliminate the confusion from the presence in Windows of two methods of restoring from an image - new and old.

Today on the program

How to enter Windows Recovery Environment

One of the differences between Windows 8 and Windows 7 was the placement of the recovery environment on the “System Reserved” partition. By clicking on the link, you will also find out in what cases it is created, and where Windows RE is stored in its absence.

Regardless of where the recovery environment is stored, the ability to enter it comes down to two options.

When the system boots

If there are no problems starting the system, the shortest path to the recovery environment is through start menu. The "Reboot" item has hidden function, which takes effect when you click on it while holding down the Shift key. This method also works on lock and login screens, since Windows is already fully loaded.

Alternatives - this is the very bottom item in the Settings → Update and recovery → Recovery or new key/about shutdown commands:

Shutdown /r /o /t 0

It is curious (albeit logical) that when connected via RDP, these functions do not work, including their absence in graphical interface PC settings.

The great thing about going into the Windows Recovery Environment from a booted system is that the options screen appears very quickly. And only when you select one or another function does the reboot occur and actually enter Windows RE.

When the system won't boot

One more Windows feature is automatic login into the recovery environment if a number of system boot problems occur. If it doesn't work, you need to turn off the computer power three times in a row at the very beginning of Windows boot ( TG | VC). If this does not work, you will need an installation flash drive or a recovery disk, just like in Windows 7.

Windows Recovery Environment Tools

As before, the recovery environment is built on, but there are more tools in it, which is associated with innovations in Windows 8. In the picture, the environment corresponds to Windows versions 10 1809 and newer (picture for version 1803 and older).

Function keys It wasn’t even enough for all the options, but F10 hides only the entrance to... the recovery environment :) Most of the parameters should be familiar to you from Windows 7, but there are also innovations.

Point 8, with a clumsy translation into Russian, reveals a new protective measure that has appeared in Windows 8, aimed at combating kernel mode rootkits.

The presence of this item does not mean that the function is present on your PC. ELAM (Early Launch Antimalware) technology works in conjunction with another measure - UEFI secure boot ( Secure Boot), designed to combat bootkits. The antivirus driver starts first and evaluates the security of other drivers. Based on this information Windows kernel decides whether to initialize them.

ELAM is available to third-party antivirus software developers, but the driver must be signed by Microsoft as part of the certification program, otherwise the kernel will not run it.

The boot options screen can be displayed every time Windows startup, which can be convenient for testing or debugging. This is achieved with one command:

Bcdedit /set (globalsettings) advancedoptions true

How to create a recovery disk or flash drive

In principle, you don’t have to create anything special, but just take the installation disk, since now you can download it without problems. In any case, I strongly recommend that owners of PCs with Windows pre-installed lay down a straw in advance. In Windows 8, it became possible to create a flash drive with a recovery environment (thanks to reader Andrey Tishkin, who pointed this out in the comments).

How to run RAM diagnostics in Windows

I said above that in additional Windows settings PE has almost all the tools from Windows 7. The only thing missing is memory diagnostics. In the recovery environment and in running Windows it is called with the equally simple command:

Diagnostics starts after reboot.

Expanding the recovery toolset

I have a recovery flash drive - this is an installation drive Windows disk, to which the Portable Soft folder with various diagnostic utilities has been added. Don’t forget that in Windows PE you can run many programs and utilities located on the hard drive, primarily system ones.

Just the other day, a question was asked in the forum about capturing and using WIM images when loading into Windows PE. I offered my instructions for creating a PowerShell disk, after which the participant revealed his cards. It booted from the installation disk, and the utility launched on the PE command line did not have the necessary functions.

In Windows 8, to get full set DISM capabilities, you need to add the entire utility folder to the recovery disk in advance. But you can go to the console in the system32 folder of the installed system and run the utility from there!

Discussion

I think that many readers have their own flash drive (or disk) with recovery tools in their arsenal. Tell us in the comments what it is based on and name 1-3 tools that you use most often.