Windows 10: Windows 10 Safemode/F8?

I'm setting up a neighbors new shiny Windows 10 system, trying to make it as close to Windows 7 (by his request) as possible. I discover that F8 doesn't get you to safemode anymore, at least without mucking around with the command line.. I find that this can be fixed by an elevated cmdprompt, and a "bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy legacy" I try this, and of course, NOTHING is this simple.. I get a "This program is blocked by group policy. For more information, contact your system administrator"... geez... for the sake of this work I'm doing for the neighbor *I* AM the system administrator... Of course, theres no indication as to *what* group policy..

I knew there was some reason I quit messing with Windows and returned to my first love Linux after I retired from fixing Windows since 1991.. /rant off

Can someone point me to the policy thats preventing me from enabling F8 for Safemode??

:)

 

win 10 safe-mode

I wasn't aware that F5 would get safemode in Windows 10, MS were supposed to have disabled F5 & F8 now. F5 was always just safemode in previous systems (no networking). When Windows 10 goes into safemode you do get the message about the administrator account.

The official way for safemode in Windows 10 is to hold down shift select power and then restart. This will reboot the system and give Start-up options menu where you can select safemode (amongst others) and you need safemode with networking. Because Edge
is essentially an app it will not run as far as I can tell and you have to use Internet Explorer.

This is one reason for keeping the login screen because you can do this at login as the power icon is in the bottom right hand corner.

 

Windows defender not working

Are you able to perform a full system scan?

Try boot into safemode and then open Windows Defender and run a full system scan with it:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12376/windows-10-start-your-pc-in-safe-mode

Note that in safemode, realtime protection remains off and this is behavior by design in safemode.

 

Hi

I would suggest trying the same command from a "Recovery Console" command window which can be opened by invoking 'Advanced Startup".

Advanced Startup Options - Boot to in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

A "Command Prompt" at boot has a better chance of fixing BCD since it's completely independent from offline OS.

Command Prompt at Boot - Open in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums