Where has Server 2012 Safe Mode gone - Startup Settings missing too?!

T

TickboxPhil

Hi, I desperately need Safe Mode (No Networking etc) in Windows 2012 RTM as the server is down because a bad network driver is generating BSOD due to IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL. This should be simple to disable... but in Win 2012 it isn't!

I have already seen the articles about how F8 is different now (useful feature change in emergencies...) but if you use Shift-F8 you should get into the Troubleshoot -> Advanced Options, and phew, I can do that just about (after many long reboots and F8 mashing - it's a luck thing) - however am stunned to find that slightly contrary to article screenshots, I have the icons for:

  • System Restore
  • System Image Recovery
  • Automatic Repair
  • Command Prompt
  • Startup Settings - oh no, hang on - this one is NOT THERE!!!

Naturally, Startup Settings is the one I need to switch this cursed thing into Safe Mode! So why is it not there on some servers - I wasn't aware that there were any hardware dependencies for this. It's an HP ProLiant DL120 G7, but this is an OS issue, not straight hardware (in which case I'd expect the setting to be there but cause an error/warning).

This may be something to do with the OS being in Recovery Mode etc - but that is the whole point of needing Safe Mode! So what is the way to get into that please, so I can simply disable the bad driver and get on with our business?

Phil

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