[Mark McLeod]

It depends on the actual error message, as to whether the Safe Mode has anything to do with it.
For instance, some error messages mention checking the Safe Mode switch as one possible solution, but it is rarely the cause.

If the Safe Mode is actually set and you attempt to format the cRIO it will give you a special dialog that asks if you really want to do this, but it allows a special formatting to continue. There are reasons this is sometimes necessary and useful.
If you didn't see the special dialog, then the error is going to be due to some other cause, not the Safe Mode DIP switch.