Windows – How to Remote Restart into Safe Mode

remote-accesssafe-modewindows

I know you can remotely shutdown a Windows machine with the "shutdown" command line. But I think it's impossible to remotely get a machine into safe mode (with networking). Does anyone know of a way to do this?

Best Answer

If you have admin rights on the remote machine then it's possible.

You need to edit the boot.ini file (usually found on the root of the C: drive)

Open a command prompt on your local machine

type:

EDIT \\MACHINENAME\C$\BOOT.INI

The boot ini file will open which usually looks something like this:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional"  
/noexecute=optin /fastdetect

On the end of the last line you need to add

/safeboot:network

the last line will then read something like 

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional"  
/noexecute=optin /fastdetect /safeboot:network

Save the changes and then force a reboot from the command line and it should restart into safe mode with networking. Remember to change the boot.ini file back when you're done!

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