Of course, here is a lengthy and detailed guide on how to boot Vanguard in Safe Mode.
A Comprehensive Guide: How to Boot Vanguard in Safe Mode
Hey there, fellow gamer! Ever run into that frustrating moment where your game just won't launch, or you're experiencing some serious stability issues, and you suspect it's related to the anti-cheat software, Vanguard? You're not alone! Sometimes, the best way to troubleshoot these kinds of problems is to boot Vanguard in Safe Mode. This can help you isolate the issue and get back to your game without the anti-cheat interfering. So, let's dive in and get this sorted out, shall we?
Step 1: Let's get started by understanding why we're doing this.
Before we jump into the technical steps, let's take a moment to understand what we're actually doing. When you boot your computer into Safe Mode, you're essentially starting it with only the essential drivers and services. This is a powerful diagnostic tool because it prevents third-party applications and drivers from loading, including those that might be causing conflicts. In our case, we're doing this to see if Vanguard is the root cause of the problem. Are you ready to become a PC troubleshooting wizard? Let's go!
Step 2: Preparing to Boot into Safe Mode
Before you begin, make sure you've saved all your work and closed any open applications. This process will require a restart.
Sub-heading 2.1: The 'msconfig' Method (The most common way)
This is the most common and user-friendly way to get into Safe Mode.
Open the Run dialog box: Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard.
Type 'msconfig': In the Run dialog box, type
msconfigand press Enter. This will open the System Configuration window.Navigate to the Boot tab: In the System Configuration window, click on the Boot tab.
Enable Safe boot: Under the Boot options, you'll see a checkbox for Safe boot. Check this box.
Choose the networking option: You'll have a few options for Safe boot.
Minimal: This is the basic Safe Mode without networking. This is a good choice for testing if Vanguard is interfering with your system's core functions.
Network: This will boot you into Safe Mode with networking enabled. This is useful if you need to access the internet to download a driver or troubleshoot an online service.
For this task, Minimal is usually sufficient unless you need to access online resources.
Apply and Restart: Click Apply and then OK. A pop-up will appear asking you to restart your computer. Click Restart.
Your computer will now restart and boot into Safe Mode. You'll know you're in Safe Mode because the screen will have a black background and the words "Safe Mode" will be visible in the corners of the screen.
Sub-heading 2.2: The 'Shift + Restart' Method (The modern way)
This method is a bit more direct and is great for Windows 10 and 11 users.
Access the Start Menu: Click on the Start Menu icon.
Find the Power button: Click on the Power icon.
Hold Shift and click Restart: While holding down the Shift key on your keyboard, click on Restart.
Enter the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE): Your computer will restart and take you to the Windows Recovery Environment screen.
Navigate to Safe Mode: From the WinRE screen, follow these steps:
Click on Troubleshoot.
Click on Advanced options.
Click on Startup Settings.
Click on Restart.
Choose Safe Mode: After your computer restarts again, you'll be presented with a list of options. Press F4 for "Enable Safe Mode" or F5 for "Enable Safe Mode with Networking."
Step 3: Disabling Vanguard's Auto-launch
Now that you're in Safe Mode, you need to ensure Vanguard doesn't automatically start with your system.
Sub-heading 3.1: Using the Task Manager
Open Task Manager: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
Go to the Startup tab: Click on the Startup tab.
Find Vanguard: Look for Riot Vanguard or a similar entry in the list.
Disable it: Right-click on the entry and select Disable.
Sub-heading 3.2: Using the 'msconfig' tool again
You can also use the msconfig tool to disable Vanguard.
Open 'msconfig': As in Step 2, open the Run dialog box (Windows key + R), type
msconfig, and press Enter.Go to the Services tab: Click on the Services tab.
Hide Microsoft services: Check the box that says Hide all Microsoft services. This will help you find the relevant services more easily.
Find and disable Vanguard services: Look for any services related to Riot Vanguard or vgc. Uncheck the boxes next to them.
Apply and OK: Click Apply and then OK.
Step 4: What to do now that you're in Safe Mode with Vanguard disabled?
Now, the real troubleshooting begins!
Test your system: See if the issues you were experiencing are gone. If the game launches and runs fine without Vanguard, it's a strong indicator that Vanguard is the culprit.
Reinstall Vanguard: If you suspect Vanguard is corrupted, this is the perfect time to uninstall and reinstall it. You can do this from the Control Panel -> Programs and Features.
Check for conflicting software: With Vanguard disabled, you can now try to run other applications that you think might be conflicting with it. This can help you pinpoint the exact cause of the problem.
Check for outdated drivers: In Safe Mode, you can often install or update drivers without interference from other software.
Step 5: Exiting Safe Mode and returning to normal
Once you're done troubleshooting, you need to get back to your normal Windows environment.
Open 'msconfig': Use the same method as before (Windows key + R, type
msconfig).Go to the Boot tab: In the System Configuration window, click on the Boot tab.
Uncheck Safe boot: Uncheck the Safe boot checkbox.
Apply and Restart: Click Apply and then OK. A pop-up will appear asking you to restart your computer. Click Restart.
Your computer will now boot normally, and you should be back in action!
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to check if Vanguard is installed on my PC? You can check if Vanguard is installed by going to Control Panel > Programs and Features and looking for "Riot Vanguard" in the list of installed programs.
How to uninstall Riot Vanguard? You can uninstall Riot Vanguard from Control Panel > Programs and Features. Select "Riot Vanguard" and click "Uninstall." You may need to restart your computer to complete the process.
How to fix Vanguard not starting with my game? First, check if Vanguard is enabled in your Startup applications in Task Manager. If it is, try repairing the Vanguard installation. If that doesn't work, a complete reinstallation is recommended.
How to disable Vanguard temporarily? You can disable Vanguard from your system tray by right-clicking the Vanguard icon and selecting "Exit Vanguard." However, note that you will not be able to play games that require it until you restart your computer.
How to update Vanguard drivers? Vanguard drivers are automatically updated when you update the game they are associated with (e.g., Valorant). You can also try reinstalling Vanguard to get the latest drivers.
How to find the Vanguard service in services.msc?
Press Windows key + R, type services.msc, and press Enter. In the Services window, look for "vgc" in the list. This is the main Vanguard service.
How to stop Vanguard from running in the background?
You can disable the Vanguard service from starting automatically by going to msconfig > Services and unchecking the vgc service. However, this will prevent you from playing games that require it.
How to check Vanguard's log files for errors?
Vanguard log files are typically located in the C:\ProgramData\Riot Games\Riot Vanguard\Logs folder. You can check these files for specific error messages to help you diagnose the problem.
How to allow Vanguard through my firewall?
Vanguard should automatically be allowed through your firewall. If you are having issues, you can manually add an exception for the Vanguard executable file (vgc.exe) in your firewall settings.
How to re-enable Vanguard after disabling it?
To re-enable Vanguard, simply restart your computer. It should automatically start with Windows. If not, go to msconfig > Services and re-enable the vgc service, and then restart your computer.