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Use the Safe mode in Windows Server 2012 Essentials

Published: April 26, 2010

Updated: October 4, 2012

Applies To: Windows Server 2012 Essentials

The Safe mode feature of Windows Server 2012 Essentials monitors the add-ins that are installed on the server. If the Dashboard becomes unstable or unresponsive, Safe mode detects and isolates add-ins that might be causing the issue, and displays them on the Safe Mode Settings page the next time you open the Dashboard. From the Safe Mode Settings page, you can disable and enable add-ins one-by-one to determine which add-in is causing the issue. You can then choose to leave the add-in disabled for future startups, or you can uninstall the add-in.

You can view a list of all add-ins that are installed on the server at any time. You can also open the Dashboard in Safe mode, which automatically disables all non-Microsoft add-ins.

To view a list of installed add-ins

From the Windows Server 2012 Essentials Dashboard, click Help, and then click Safe mode settings.

To open the Dashboard in Safe mode

In the Search pane, type safe, and then click Dashboard (Safe mode) in the search results.

Windows Server 2012 Essentials also allows you to access the Dashboard in Safe mode from another computer on the network.

To open the Dashboard in Safe mode from another computer on the network

From a computer that is connected to the network, open the Windows Server 2012 Essentials launchpad, and then click Dashboard.
On the Dashboard sign-in page, type the user name and password for an account that has permission to sign in to the server, select the Allow me to select which add-ins to load check box, and then click the arrow to sign-in.