Getting to safe mode in Win8.1

[John]

You need to enable support for pressing the F8 Function key while booting to access the Advanced Boot Options (including safe mode).
For Windows 8.1 UEFI installs this is normally disabled by default.

You will need windows 8.1 that has been installed onto a UEFI bootable usb flash drive (at least 4Gb in size).
A usb hub and a wired USB keyboard and mouse. You can use the Hi 8 supplied OTG cable to plug in a “normal” usb hub.

Go here to create a Windows 8.1 install bootable USB disk:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-AU/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media
Select “Create media” on the webpage to run the Media Creation tool. Choose Language: English US, Edition: 8.1 and Architecture: 32 bit. Hit next then select “USB Flash drive” option. This will take a while to download the windows install files (about 2.5 GB) and write to the USB stick.

With the tablet turned off, plug in the USB hub, wired USB keyboard/mouse the USB flash drive with win 8.1.
Turn on the tablet and press “ESC” shortly after to get into the Hi8 boot/system options (there are 6 icons that will show up).

You may have to disable Fastboot first. Select the SCU icon to take you to the InsydeH20 “bios” settings.
Select “Boot” then “UEFI OS Fast Boot” and press enter and select “disable” (if not already disabled)
Select “exit” and “Exit Saving Changes”. This will take you back to the 6 boot/system option icons.

Select the “Boot Manager” icon. under EFI boot devices there are normally 3 options: Windows Boot Manager, Android & Internal EFI Shell. There should now be a 4th option for “EFI USB Device” i.e. the USB Flash drive with the windows 8.1 install. Select this and press enter.

After windows setup is launched, click Next and then “Repair your computer” (do not choose “Install now”).

In Repair mode go to “Troubleshoot” then “Advanced options” then “Command prompt”.

Here type: bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy legacy

Close the command prompt window and select “turn off your pc”.

F8 function key support while booting is now enabled to access the Advanced Boot Options (including safe mode).

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