Spyware and Adware Use Safe Mode Before Scanning if Infection is Suspected SUMMARY: Use the Windows "Safe Mode" feature when running spyware scans and removals to prevent potential problems.   Some adware, spyware, and other malware may prevent anti-spyware scanners and applications from running correctly, if at all. Plus, some adware and spyware is written so that if one part is removed, background processes automatically reinstall the removed piece, making it extremely difficult to completely remove such nefarious programs. For this reason you may wish to try running your Windows computer in "Safe Mode". This runs Windows in a special mode that stops most (but not all) spyware from running, allowing you to perform scans and removals that hopefully target every piece of a particular spyware application running on your system. Some caveats: * Running "Safe Mode" may prevent networking services from starting, meaning you will not be able to download the current anti-spyware definitions. You may need to download anti-spyware updates in normal mode, and then reboot your computer to "Safe Mode" to perform the scans. If spyware prevents scanning/removal tools from starting at all, you won't be able to download definitions from the tool. In some cases the anti-spyware software websites provide direct download links to updated definition files. You may have to download these files on another computer, copy the information to external media such as a CD-ROM or USB flash media, and then copy the files back over to your main machine in "Safe Mode". * Though this technique will increase the likelihood of anti-spyware software working to its full potential, no single piece of anti-spyware is perfect and can remove all possible infections. You should still consider running at least two, maybe three or more, different anti-spyware applications. In a small number of cases, some users have reported trouble getting their computers to run normally after running "Safe Mode". Thus, you should strongly consider backing up your important information before attempting this feature (and no matter what, you should always make backups of your important files, period!) Windows 95: 1. Restart your computer. 2. When the machine says "Starting Windows 95", immediately press F8. If this doesn't work, or your machine shows a "Keyboard error", reboot your computer and try again. Tap the F8 key a little later in the boot process. Windows 98/Me: 1. Restart your computer. 2. Once the computer has performed the memory and/or BIOS test (depending on the manufacturer), hold down the F8 key. 3. The startup menu should appear. Select "Safe Mode". If this doesn't work, or your computer shows a "Keyboard error", reboot your system and try again. Tap the F8 key a little later in the boot process. Windows 2000: 1. Restart your computer. 2. Once the "Starting Windows" bar appears, keep tapping the F8 key. 3. The "Windows 2000 Advanced Options" menu should appear. Select "Safe Mode". If this doesn't work, or your computer shows a "Keyboard error", reboot your system and try again. Tap the F8 key a little later in the boot process. Windows XP: 1. Restart your computer. 2. Once the computer has performed the memory and/or BIOS test (depending on the manufacturer), hold down the F8 key. 3. The "Windows XP Advanced Options" menu should appear. Select "Safe Mode". If this doesn't work, or your computer shows a "Keyboard error", reboot your system and try again. Tap the F8 key a little later in the boot process.   Add: Del.icio.us | Digg | Furl | My Yahoo!   Discuss This Tip Print This Tip Get E-Mail When New Tips are Online Return to the Spyware and Adware page.