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I am using a Gateway NE56 series laptop with WIN 8.1. This week I allowed some updates. When I restarted, the company logo and star circle timer came up, then the screen goes to black. The hard drive appears to be doing something since its light flickers. With no screen, I cannot use any of the MS desktop facilities to get to Safe Mode.
I have tried to restart and use F8 and Shift F8 and "hold Shift, power off and restart" to get me to boot to Safe Mode. So far, nothing works.
I made a Gateway recovery disk, but when I insert the disk and power on, it sounds like the drive is operating but it does not seem that the machine is booting from that disk.
I have tried to get to the BIOS screen, and did once. It displayed a one line choice to use the Microsoft Boot option. I could not adjust the boot order from there.
This is getting to be a frustrating PITA. Can anyone advise how else I might try to reach a Safe Mode restart? Any and all help will be appreciated.
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Sounds like you cannot even get to the Windows login screen.
But if you find a way to get there, perhaps Option 2 at the link below will work.
Press the Power button at the Windows login screen. Then, press and hold the SHIFT key on your keyboard and click Restart.
http://www.7tutorials.com/5-ways-boot-safe-mode-windows-8-windows-81
Sorry, sdmike. The F8, F10, F11 and F12 keys did nothing when I started the machine. However, I can report RECOVERY with the hints from Linney. See that response for what poor old me needed to be reminded about.
Again, Thanks for your help and input.
I wonder if pressing the Alt (the left key) and F10 keys during the boot process will help.
I made a Gateway recovery disk, but when I insert the disk and power on, it sounds like the drive is operating but it does not seem that the machine is booting from that disk.
Manually shutting down (forcibly) three times in a row will bring you to the Safe Mode, or Recovery Options screen.
How to start Windows 8 in Safe Mode
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/start-windows-8-in-safe-mode/
On a working Windows 8.1 machine, see Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Recovery\Create a Recovery Drive.
Create a Recovery Drive and use that to boot from in a faulty machine and try accessing the advanced startup options/safe mode then.
How To Access Advanced Startup Options in Windows 8 or 8.1
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/windows-8/a/open-advanced-startup-options-windows-8.htm
Most computers, with a Bios, display a "F" Key required to be pressed to enter the Bios, on the first screen shown, after power up, before Windows loads. Some machines offer another "F" key to press at Boot time to bring up an option of devices to boot from. You may need to read any manual or visit the Web Site for your make and model.
Later model machines might not even have a Bios as you remember it.
What You Need to Know About Using UEFI Instead of the BIOS
http://www.howtogeek.com/175649/what-you-need-to-know-about-using-uefi-instead-of-the-bios/
The hard drive manufacturer will have free diagnostic software that is bootable, or that may even run from within Windows, that will thoroughly check the condition of your hard drive.
Thanks, sdmike, for the good wishes. If I could get to a login screen, I would know when the laptop was in Windows, and either Shift + Restart or some of the other tools in the 7tutorials blog might help. Unfortunately, I have tried to turn off the machine, then Shift + Restart without luck, and have tried waiting up to 4 hours with the machine apparently asleep, then doing it. Neither have gotten me to a recovery or safe mode screen. I have restarted several times in a row, without a screen response.
If anyone coming home from the 4th weekend would recommend anything else, please do so. I could use the help as our daily Arizona workday meltdown sets in this week. Thanks all.
