Win 10 Safe Mode

[XFalloutX]

Should it be hard to boot into safe mode? I think not, but I'm ready to throw this laptop into a wood chipper.
I have a Dell Laptop that has a bad update and keeps booting to a blue screen with a stop error about amdi2c.sys. From what I see is it has to do with Avast and all you need to do is boot into safe mode delete Avast and be on your way. EXCEPT I CAN'T BOOT INTO SAFE MODE!!!!
-After 2 failed boot attempts the Dell support assistant OS comes up. I disable that.
-Then it just keeps rebooting after the blue screen. Never attempts to start the Windows Automatic Repair.
-F8 or Shirft + F8 does nothing.
-Created a Windows recovery USB. Boot to it and go to Advanced options but the option Startup Settings is not there but instead, I have UEFI Firmware Settings.
-Tried Command Prompt and did bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal
-Tried System Restore
-Tried to go back to an earlier build

Nothing will get this thing to boot in Safe Mode. Why did they make this so hard?

 

[Porthos]

https://www.digitalcitizen.life/4-ways-boot-safe-mode-windows-10

 

[XFalloutX]

https://www.digitalcitizen.life/4-ways-boot-safe-mode-windows-10

I tried all those

 

[MichaelBits]

You can try the dirty method to get into startup recovery options, though I don't recommend it, so try at your own risk. Back up their data first if you do.
Basically boot the machine then time powering it off by holding the power button so it interrupts the startup. If you time it right, the next boot should boot to automatic repair.

 

[SAFCasper]

You can try the dirty method to get into startup recovery options, though I don't recommend it, so try at your own risk. Back up their data first if you do.
Basically boot the machine then time powering it off by holding the power button so it interrupts the startup. If you time it right, the next boot should boot to automatic repair.

I do this all the time. You want to cut power the second the little spinning circle shows (see screenshot). And you have to do it twice in a row.

 

[XFalloutX]

I do this all the time. You want to cut power the second the little spinning circle shows (see screenshot). And you have to do it twice in a row.

On Dell's that is the screen with Dell's logo and the circle right? If so I have done that. If not I never get to a Windows logo screen.

 

[Sky-Knight]

Yes, EFI enabled machines will report the OEM logo, but that's still the windows boot loader if you see that pinwheel.

 

[Porthos]

I know there are mixed feelings here but, Time spent on issues like this is money lost.

 

[Sky-Knight]

Yes...

Microsoft tried to make it so that the option to boot into safe mode was in the EFI boot selector, so the BIOS would give you the menu.

Then no one made EFIs that did that... and we're still stuck with this stupidity.

That being said, I have yet to ever NEED safe mode with Win10. So I'm curious as to what the OP has run into. The only time I've used it was to remove busted AV software, and all I needed to do was hold shift and click restart.

 

[Slaters Kustum Machines]

he only time I've used it was to remove busted AV software, and all I needed to do was hold shift and click restart.

LOL, that is exactly what the OP is trying to do.

 

[Archon Prime]

That being said, I have yet to ever NEED safe mode with Win10.

I just finished resolving a startup/freezing issue with Windows 10 after a login, with safe boot. It comes in handy.

 

[XFalloutX]

I know there are mixed feelings here but, Time spent on issues like this is money lost.

No money lost, as this is my mother's laptop. I am about to wipe it and start clean, she does need it for her business.

That being said, I have yet to ever NEED safe mode with Win10. So I'm curious as to what the OP has run into. The only time I've used it was to remove busted AV software, and all I needed to do was hold shift and click restart.

I'm getting a Blue screen with a stop error about her AV software.

I'm about to make a last-ditch attempt to get this working.....brb

 

[Sky-Knight]

Yes and in a laptop you can't just "pull power".

My only suggestion would be to hit the power button, wait 1 second then press and hold in an attempt to force it down after the boot loader, as suggested here you do have to do this TWICE in succession to get it to jump into safemode.

You might also be able to boot the thing to windows install media, get the command prompt up, and delete the offending file from the windows folder and see if the system cranks after that.

 

[XFalloutX]

*Update*
So my last-ditch attempt worked. Sometimes I feel like nuking a computer is admitting defeat.
I went and deleted the file and it booted fine. I'm starting to think its an AMD chipset driver so I'll update it. So far it's working fine.

 

[Porthos]

I feel like nuking a computer is admitting defeat.

Works better than using the freezer.

 

[Briggsy]

booted fine.

Sounds like a right pain of a job.

I'd have probably booted it too - booted it high into the air and straight over next doors garden.

On a serious note, this safe mode method seems a backwards step on Windows 10. Why make a modern OS trickier to boot into safe mode than the 10+ year old OS's it replaced.

Good old Microsoft.