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Week 5 - LAB 5 - Startup Modes for Debugging and Maintenance

The document outlines the Advanced Startup Options in Windows, which provide various troubleshooting modes for system recovery and maintenance. Key options include Safe Mode, Boot Logging, and Repair your Computer, each serving specific purposes for diagnosing and resolving startup issues. It also details how to analyze boot log files to identify problematic drivers and restore normal operation of the system.

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5 views

Week 5 - LAB 5 - Startup Modes for Debugging and Maintenance

The document outlines the Advanced Startup Options in Windows, which provide various troubleshooting modes for system recovery and maintenance. Key options include Safe Mode, Boot Logging, and Repair your Computer, each serving specific purposes for diagnosing and resolving startup issues. It also details how to analyze boot log files to identify problematic drivers and restore normal operation of the system.

Uploaded by

92130063
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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LAB 05

Startup Modes for Debugging and


Maintenance
Microcomputer Support CSIT320

What is Advanced Startup Options?


The Advanced Boot Options screen lets you start Windows in advanced
troubleshooting modes.

Benefits of Advanced Startup Options?


Some options, such as safe mode, start Windows in a limited state, where only
the bare essentials are started. If a problem doesn't reappear when you start
in safe mode, you can eliminate the default settings and basic device drivers
and services as possible causes. Other options start Windows with advanced
features intended for use by system administrators and IT professionals.

Advanced Startup Options


The Advanced Startup Options are as follows:

 Repair your Computer


o Shows a list of system recovery tools you can use to repair startup
problems, run diagnostics, or restore your system. This option is
available only if the tools are installed on your computer's hard
disk. If you have a Windows installation disc, the system recovery
tools are located on that disc.
 Safe Mode
o Starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and services.
 Safe Mode with Networking
o Starts Windows in safe mode and includes the network drivers
and services needed to access the Internet or other computers
on your network.
 Safe Mode with Command Prompt
o Starts Windows in safe mode with a command prompt window
instead of the usual Windows interface. This option is intended for
IT professionals and administrators.
 Enable Boot Logging
o Creates a file, ntbtlog.txt, that lists all the drivers that are installed
during startup and that might be useful for advanced
troubleshooting.
 Enable low-resolution video (640×480)
o Starts Windows using your current video driver and using low
resolution and refresh rate settings. You can use this mode to
reset your display settings.
 Last Known Good Configuration (advanced)
o Starts Windows with the last registry and driver configuration that
worked successfully.
 Directory Services Restore Mode

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Microcomputer Support CSIT320

o Starts Windows domain controller running Active Directory so that


the directory service can be restored. This option is intended for IT
professionals and administrators (it will be discussed in CSIT485
course).
 Debugging Mode
o Starts Windows in an advanced troubleshooting mode intended
for IT professionals and system administrators.
 Disable automatic restart on system failure
o Prevents Windows from automatically restarting if an error causes
Windows to fail. Choose this option only if Windows is stuck in a
loop where Windows fails, attempts to restart, and fails again
repeatedly.
 Disable Driver Signature Enforcement
o Allows drivers containing improper signatures to be installed.
 Start Windows Normally
o Starts Windows in its normal mode.

Prompt Advanced Startup Options Menu


You can access the menu by turning on your computer and pressing the F8
key before Windows starts.

Choose Safe Mode option in order to start the computer with safe status. You
will notice after running the PC in the safe mode state the Windows GUI
changed to hold minimum graphical information. To return the computer to
its normal state, restart Windows.

Enable Boot Logging and Analyzing Boot Log Files


Boot logging lists the files that successfully and unsuccessfully processed
during startup. You use boot logging to log the Windows features that are

Lebanese International University 3


Microcomputer Support CSIT320

processed when you start your computer in safe mode and also in normal
mode. By comparing the differences between the two logs, you can
determine which features are not required to start.

Windows records the name and path of each file that runs during startup in a
log, %WinDir%\Ntbtlog.txt (located in the Windows folder). The log marks
each file as successful ("Loaded Driver...") or unsuccessful ("Did Not Load
Driver..."). Boot logging appends entries to Ntbtlog.txt when you start
Windows in safe mode. Comparing normal mode and safe mode entries
enables you to determine which services run in normal mode only-one of
which must be the cause of the startup problem if Windows is able to start in
safe mode successfully. The following lines are sample Ntbtlog.txt entries.

Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\flpydisk.sys


Did not load driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\sflpydisk.SYS

Note that not every "Did Not Load Driver" message necessarily indicates an
error that would prevent Windows from booting, because many drivers are
not required for Windows to start. To repair problems caused by problematic
drivers when you can start safe mode, follow these steps:

1. Restart the computer and


enable boot logging.
2. Restart the computer after it
fails and then start safe mode.
3. Click Start and then type
%WinDir%\ntbtlog.txt. The boot
log file opens in Notepad.
4. Compare the list of drivers
loaded in normal mode (Check
the time header at the top file)
to the list of drivers loaded in
safe mode (Check the next
time header at the middle file).
The driver that is causing the
system to fail is one of the
drivers listed with "Loaded
Driver..." in the normal mode
boot log, but listed with "Did
Not Load Driver..." in the safe mode boot log.
5. In safe mode, use Device Manager to replace or roll back potentially
problematic drivers (Explained in future labs). After replacing a driver,
repeat this process until the system starts successfully in normal mode.

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