Windows 8 Safe Mode

Hold down either SHIFT key while tapping or clicking on Restart, available from anyPower icon.

Tip: Power icons are available in Windows 8 from either the Settings charm or from the logon/lock screen.

Note: This method does not seem to work with the on-screen keyboard. You'll need to have a physical keyboard connected to your computer or device to open the Advanced Startup Options menu this way.
Wait while the Advanced Startup Options menu opens.

Swipe from the right to open the charms bar.

Tip: If you have a keyboard, use WIN+I and then skip to Step 3.
Tap or click on Settings.
Tap or click on Change PC settings at the bottom of the charms bar.
Choose General from the vertical list of options on the left of the PC settings window.
Locate Advanced startup, all the way at the bottom of the list of options on your right.
Tap or click on Restart now.
Wait through the Please wait message until Advanced Startup Options opens.

Open Command Prompt in Windows 8.

Tip: Another option is to open Run if you can't get Command Prompt started for some reason.
Execute the shutdown command in the following way:
```
shutdown /r /o
```
Note: Save any open files before executing this command or you'll lose any changes you've made since your last save.
To the You're about to be signed off message that appears a few seconds later, tap or click on the Close button.
After several seconds, during which nothing seems to be happening, Windows 8 will then close and you'll see a Please wait message.
Wait just a few seconds more until the Advanced Startup Options menu opens.

Insert a Windows 8 DVD, or a flash drive with the Windows 8 installation files on it, into your computer.

Tip: You can borrow someone else's Windows 8 disc or other media if you need to. You're not installing or reinstalling Windows 8, you're just accessing Advanced Startup Options - no product key or license breaking required.
Boot from the disc or boot from the USB device, whatever your situation calls for.
From the Windows Setup screen, tap or click on Next.
Tap or click on the Repair your computer link at the bottom of the window.
Advanced Startup Options will start, almost immediately.

Insert your Windows 8 Recovery Drive into a free USB port.

Tip: Don't worry if you weren't proactive and never got around to creating a Recovery Drive. If you have another computer with Windows 8, or a friend with Windows 8 on his or her computer, see How To Create a Windows 8 Recovery Drive for instructions.
Boot your computer from the flash drive.
On the Choose your keyboard layout screen, tap or click on US or whatever keyboard layout you'd like to use.
Advanced Startup Options will begin instantly.

Start or restart your computer or device.
Choose the boot option for System Recovery, Advanced Startup, Recovery, etc.

Note: What this boot option is called is configurable by your hardware maker so the options I mentioned are just some that I've seen or heard. Whatever the name, it should be clear that what you're about to do is boot to Windows 8's advanced recovery features.

Important: The ability to boot directly to Advanced Startup Options isn't one that's available with a traditional BIOS. Your computer will need to support UEFI and then also be configured properly to boot directly to the ASO menu.
Wait for Advanced Startup Options to begin.