Uninstall Programs Safe Mode: Enabling the Driver Prompt

Enabling “Uninstall a Program” While in Safe Mode

Windows’ Programs and Features / Apps & Features screen normally still works fine in Safe Mode, but if you’ve got stubborn software — particularly some antivirus or security products — that’s blocking uninstalls or the uninstaller itself relies on services that Safe Mode doesn’t start, you may need to prompt Windows to load the extra services required. Boot into Safe Mode, then from an elevated command prompt run:

bootcfg /raw /a /safeboot:network /id 1

That specific command is for older BIOS-based systems using boot.ini; on modern UEFI/BCD-based Windows 10/11 installs, boot into Safe Mode with Networking instead of plain Safe Mode from the Advanced Startup options (Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Advanced startup > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Enable Safe Mode with Networking) — this loads more of the underlying services and drivers than plain Safe Mode, which is often enough for Programs and Features and stubborn uninstallers to work correctly. If a specific piece of security software still won’t uninstall even in Safe Mode with Networking, check the vendor’s site for a dedicated removal tool — most major AV vendors publish one specifically because this scenario is common with their products.

Correcting a Detail (Updated for 2026)

bootcfg.exe is a Windows XP/Server 2003-era tool for editing boot.ini — it isn’t just outdated on “older BIOS-based systems,” it was removed outright starting with Windows Vista/Server 2008 and has no equivalent on any currently supported Windows version. Vista onward replaced boot.ini/bootcfg entirely with the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store, managed via bcdedit.exe. If you need to force a specific safe-mode variant on next boot without going through the Advanced Startup UI, the modern equivalent is an elevated command prompt running bcdedit /set {default} safeboot network (or minimal for plain Safe Mode without networking) — just remember to run bcdedit /deletevalue {default} safeboot afterwards so the machine doesn’t keep booting into Safe Mode on every subsequent restart.

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