Which option starts the operating system with a minimal set of drivers?

Starting the operating system with a minimal set of drivers is crucial for troubleshooting hardware or software issues that may prevent Windows from booting normally. Safe Mode is specifically designed for this purpose. It loads only the essential drivers necessary for the system to function, which can help identify problems caused by third-party drivers or software.

When booting into Safe Mode, the system operates in a limited environment, which reduces the likelihood of encountering issues caused by complex drivers or startup programs. This isolated state allows users to troubleshoot problems, uninstall problematic software, update drivers, or perform system scans without interference from the wider array of drivers and services that would normally be active during a standard boot.

The other options serve different roles: Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE) is a recovery option for fixing various startup issues, System Restore helps revert the system to an earlier state without affecting personal files, and Debugging Mode is used for advanced troubleshooting of kernel-level issues with additional debugging information. Neither of these provide the same operational simplicity and effectiveness in isolating problems as Safe Mode does.