Can running computer in Safe Mode screw it up?

Question

I want to do a safe mode run and clean out my system a little. I heard that Safe Mode is beneficial for that. my concerns are

1 Will I be able to get it back to normal
2.What programs would be safe to run in Safe mode or should I run(as far as cleaning is concerned)
3. Will I still be able to run Spyware and Anti-Virus programs
4. What do the different Safe mode options mean(Safe Mode with Networking and some other one)
5. Will it delete or destroy any important files.
6. and as a last resort will I be able to get on the internet(if I need some advice on how to fix any problems that I may have)

Answer 1

Running the computer in safe mode will allow you to run your AV and spyware programs, but most of the other programs will not run. Safe mode is better explained in this link. And yes, you can access the internet if you need drivers or patches.
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/chsafe.htm

Answer 2

Safe Mode loads only the basic drivers required to get your computer up and running. As everything runs smoothly in Safe Mode, this suggests that one of the drivers that isn't required in Safe Mode is either missing or has become corrupted. You could enter the bios and disable caching or shadowing, but I'd try to check out your drivers first. I use XP, so this path may be different for you, but...on your desktop click Start\Control Panel\System\Hardware\Device Manager. Once there, open the tree, by clicking on all the "+" boxes. Do you see an exclamation mark showing against anything? If so, you should reinstall the driver for that particular item. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

I do not know where you got the idea that Safe Mode is the way to go to clean your system but it's a really bad idea.

Safe Mode runs your computer's operating system in a minimal state. It is designed for troubleshooting driver failures not for cleaning the system nor for removing viruses from a system...

You may indeed not be able to get it back to normal if you remove things your computer needs to boot into normal mode. Safe mode will allow you to delete things that the normal mode needs to run.
Also safe mode in general runs in an extremely slower state than normal mode.

If you do not know how to properly clean your system in normal mode then I highly recommend contacting a reputable technician and looking into taking a course in basic computer maintenance and security awareness.

An Antivirus from a reliable vendor (like mcafee, norton, etc) if properly configured to install updates and scan for PuPs will do the exact same job in Normal mode as it will in safe mode. and in some cases may not perform properly in safe mode.

One last thing... asking for this kind of advice in a public forum where people will give you speculation, answers that do not work for malicious reasons or because they think they know the answer, etc.. is completely nuts.

Good Luck

Answer 4

No it wont screw it up.

1. Yes, once you restart the computer, it wil go back to normal mode

2. All programs are safe to use

3. Yes you will, but you will need to be running safe mode, with networking, if you want it to remove an infections

4. Safe mode is just basic, with networking allows you to go online, but at a slower pace

5. Not it will not delete anything, unless you delete something

6. Yes. With safemode networking

Answer 5

safe mode turns off some drivers and programs and lets your system run without all the distractions- it would be like a mechanic trying to listen to your engine and asking you to turn off the wipers, stereo, air conditioner, blinker, etc

starting your computer in safe mode will temporarily disable sound, modem, most things like this..... the video will be crappy- like 256 colors, 640x480, very basic- you will be able to see things, but they will kinda look like sega genesis graphics- pictures will not be sharp and clear, icons will be a little off in color, your background/wallpaper will look a little fuzzy....

do not worry, it is easy to get everything back to normal :-)

here are the answers to your questions:

1. all you have to do to return to normal mode is restart the computer normally- click start, turn off, restart. if you are prompted what mode to go into, select restart normally

2. if any programs are not meant to be run in safe mode, they will tell you

3. you should be able to run most spyware and antivirus programs - spybot and adaware and AVG antivirus should work....

4. safe mode with network support should allow you to still see other computers on your network- if you have other computers in your home and want to get a file off of another computer, select this option- it would be like the mechanic saying "okay go ahead and leave your blinker on"
there is also safe mode command prompt - you should only select this if you are familiar with DOS commands- ther will be no GUI (pictures) there will only be white words on a black screen. if you do not know commands like CD, DIR, COPY, MOVE, ATTRIB, EDIT, etc, you will be lost.

5. it will not delete or destroy any files unless you tell it to.

6. I do not think it will be possible to get on the internet- I am curious about starting it with network support may let you still get on.... I am on dial up, so the answer for me is no.

Answer 6

1.yes you will be able to go back to normal.... (safe mode is the default system of windows... ) you can go back to normal after restarting

2. & 3. you can run antivirus programs, antispyware... even tune up utilities.... almost all of the programs you can use in safe mode...

4. from the the word networking... you can connect to the network from safe mode with networking.... command prompt takes you to the command line interface in which you can type the commands you like to execute....

5. it will not delete / destroy any files in safe mode... unless ofcourse you delete it and emptied your recycle bin.....

6. dont use the internet while in safe mode.... go back to the normal mode then access the internet...

Answer 7

Its a yes or no answer, safe mode has its advantage where its easier to clean up things, but down side is it also allow you to remove things that critical to Windows that wont allow you to do in normal model.

You can still clean out in normal mode if you know how to, we clean these daily in normal mode and only in rare situations when safe mode are called for.

Answer 8

yes u can get it back to normal on re boot ,some programs will run some wont, thiers diffrent levels for safe mode some more secure than others and are good based on what u need to still function,no it wont destroy any files unless u do it yourself,no i dont belive u can access the internet.

Answer 9

Hi, I will answer these like this:
1.yes
2.all security software can be run
3.yes
4.just use regular safe mode as safe mode with networking etc are for other problems.
5.no
6.yes
Good Luck and take care and email me for any help u want if u want!

Answer 10

Consider this an excellent time to recognize that
your operating system is defective. I recommend replacing
it with one of:

http://fedora.redhat.com
http://www.opensuse.org
http://www.debian.org
http://www.ubuntu.org
http://www.slackware.org
http://www.freebsd.org
http://www.opensolaris.org

Any of these will be more reliable, less susceptible to
viri, uses your hardware more efficiently, and they're
all free.