To enter Safe Mode on Windows 7 or earlier, restart your computer and repeatedly tap F8 at the start of the boot-up process. If you already have an antivirus program installed and it’s failing to remove malware - or the malware is returning after it’s removed - you may have to boot into Safe Mode to remove the malware properly. If malware is running when you boot into Windows normally, it shouldn’t automatically run when you boot into Safe Mode.įrom this minimal environment, you can install an antivirus program, scan for malware, and remove it. In Safe Mode, Windows won’t load third-party startup programs or hardware drivers. Safe Mode isn’t completely outside of Windows, so it may not help you if a malware has deeply infected your system files. RELATED: How to Use Safe Mode to Fix Your Windows PC (and When You Should)
