Thursday, January 2, 2014
The Advanced Startup Options menu in Windows 8 is the central fix-it location for the entire operating system.
From here you can access Windows 8 diagnostic and repair tools like Refresh Your PC, Reset Your PC, System Restore, Command Prompt, and much more.
Advanced Startup Options is also where you access Startup Settings, the menu that includes Safe Mode, among other startup methods that could help you access Windows 8 if its having problems starting.
The Advanced Startup Options menu should appear automatically after two consecutive startup errors. However, if you need to open it manually, there are six different ways to do so.
The best way to decide which method to use to open Advanced Startup Options is to base your decision on what level of access you have to Windows 8 right now:
If Windows 8 starts normally: Use any method, but 1, 2, or 3 will be easiest.
If Windows 8 does not start: Use method 4, 5, or 6. Method 1 will also work if you can at least get to the Windows 8 logon screen.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: Accessing Advanced Startup Options can take anywhere from a few seconds, to a few minutes, depending on which method you use.
Applies To: All of these means of getting to the Advanced Startup Option menu works equally well in any edition of Windows 8 or Windows 8.1.
Method 1: SHIFT + Restart
- Hold down
either SHIFT key while tapping or
clicking on Restart,
available from any Power
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
Method 2: PC Settings
- 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 Update and recovery from the
list of options on the left of the PC
settings window.
Note: Prior to Windows 8.1, choose General instead and then skip to Step 6.
- Choose Recovery.
- Locate Advanced startup, 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.
Method 3: Shutdown Command
- 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.
