Starting in safe mode using a Windows 8.1 USB stick
Starting in safe mode using a Windows 8.1 USB stick
Try removing the SSD or HDD and moving the files elsewhere, or use a Linux USB drive to copy them over the network. The installer won’t restore anything—it will erase the current data. If you need Windows 10, consider installing it now. A Linux USB can help determine whether the issue is hardware or software.
I’m not sure about that situation. How would I remove the hard drive and transfer the data elsewhere? Would I need a USB to SATA adapter or something similar? EDIT: I’m uncertain if the drive is damaged—I’m actually quite worried I might lose my information. EDIT 2: I can’t really share the details because I don’t remember the specifications, and since the machine displays blue screens whenever I power it on, I can’t even see what’s happening. Okay—EDIT 3: I think I’ll just use a USB to SATA adapter and try to recover my data that way. Fingers crossed it works out.
You can make Windows 8.1 always start in safe mode. Insert the USB, choose repair, then open the command prompt. Enter these instructions: bcdedit /deletevalue {default} safeboot; bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal. This clears any existing safe boot configurations and sets it to always use safe mode. If needed, change minimal to network for connectivity. You might see an error after the first step if the system doesn’t recognize safeboot. Turn off the computer, remove the USB, and restart the laptop. To turn safe mode off, run the commands again but only the first one.