Windows 10: Why do I get the explorer.exe Unknown Hard Error when booting up in Safe Mode

Whenever I boot up safe mode it gives me the Unknown Hard Error message. When I dismiss it and enter my pin, I just see a black screen that flashes grey and it doesn’t stop.

:)

 

Unknown Hard Error

Hi All,

I have been trying to resolve various issues with W10 (see other posts) and have been trying to use Safe mode to rule out possible configuration abnormalities.


However, on both of my test machines, I get an error dialog titled:
explorer.exe - System Warning
with the content showing a yellow triangle and the wording Unknown Hard Error
... preventing me getting into Safe mode.

here's a pic (note I have moved the dialog to show the start button in the same view)




Any clues?

As I said, this happens on both machines; one is a Dell 9150 desktop and the other a dell E6520 laptop. Other than this problem, the E6520 works fine in normal mode, although the desktop has other problems with an explorer crash/restart loop at startup.

Thanks

 

Password not accepted in Safe mode

Hi,

Thank you for posting your query on Microsoft Community.

I understand the inconvenience caused to you. I will be glad to assist you with your issue.

Follow the below steps and check if it helps.　

If you see the black screen or have a flickering screen:

Step 1: Try connecting to different video outputs on the PC. Sometimes a change in driver can cause the video to be sent:

• • To a different Adapter: from integrated graphics to a discrete card or vice versa.
    
  • To a different output: from HDMI to DVI, Display Port to VGA, or any other combination.
    

Step 2: Try to boot into Safe Mode with Networking
or Enable low-resolution video.

• • Advanced boot options, Safe Mode with Networking, or Low Resolution Video
  • Check Device Manager and look for Display Adapters
    
    • If you see 2 items under Display Adapters, disable to integrated video card (e.g. Intel HD 4000 or AMD Radeon HD 4200) and restart. (try vice versa if it does not work).
    • If you see 1 item under Display Adapters, rollback the driver or uninstall the display adapter in Device Manager, and enable the option to delete driver software.
      

How to boot into Safe mode.

Run your computer in Safe mode and see if you still get that error message. If you are not getting that error message in safe mode then perform clean boot on your computer using the steps provided below. If you
don't get that error message in safe mode then it means that some third party application is causing the problem.

To use a Safe Boot option, follow these steps:

• Restart your computer and start pressing the F8 key on your keyboard. On a computer that is configured for booting to multiple operating systems, you can press the
  F8 key when the Boot Menu appears.
• Select an option Safe mode with Networking using the arrow keys on the keyboard when the
  Windows Advanced Options menu appears, select Safe mode with Networking and then press
  ENTER.

I would suggest you to force shutdown your system and then try to restart it again and check if you are able to login to safe boot.

Check the PC or display adapter manufacturer’s site for an updated driver.

Let us know the status of the issue. We will be glad to assist you.

Thank You.　　

 

Cannot Enter Safe Mode / Computer boots normally

I'm running Win 10 Pro 1903.

Here are the steps I have taken to get into safe mode: Start button, settings, update and security, recovery, advanced startup, troubleshoot, advanced options, startup settings, restart. The computer boots normally, not in safe mode. Any suggestions would be most helpful. Thanks in advance for your help and interest. .