Exploring Windows XP Boot Options and Recovery Console

Exploring Windows XP Boot Options and Recovery Console George Vordenbaum Systems Content Developer Global Support Automation Microsoft Corporation

Introduction This presentation will discuss the Windows® XP Advanced Options menu available during startup, as well as the Recovery Console utility and its associated commands. 2

Available Boot Options u u u Safe Mode with Networking Safe Mode with Command Prompt Enable Boot Logging Enable VGA Mode Last Known Good Configuration 3

Available Boot Options (2) u u u Directory Services Restore Mode Debugging Mode Start Windows Normally Reboot Return to OS Choices Menu 4

Starting Boot Options u u Use Microsoft Configuration Utility (msconfig) Press F 8 during the boot process System crash Edit Boot. ini 5

What Is Safe Mode? u u Minimal startup mode for troubleshooting Provides alternative when computer cannot start normally Three options Entering earlier versions There is no support for serial (COM) ports and IEEE 1394 in safe mode 6

Safe Mode u u Minimal list of drivers Standard VGA Core operating system services No startup programs 7

Safe Mode with Networking u Safe mode with networking l u Isolates test from: l l u Provides stable environment to test networking issues Third-party programs Third-party services Ping, IPConfig, Network Diagnostics 8

Safe Mode with Command Prompt u u u Alternate shell Cmd. exe 32 -bit environment This is the same configuration as safe mode, with the explorer shell replaced by Cmd. exe 9

Enable Boot Logging u u u Ntbtlog. txt This file is appended Normal boot Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, and Safe Mode with Command Prompt Adds a list of all the drivers and services that are loaded to the boot log The boot log can be useful to determine problems with drivers or services 10

Enable VGA Mode u u Video resolution is not optimized Video driver prevents normal boot Refresh rate Basic video driver for safe mode 11

Last Known Good Configuration u u u Registry and drivers Use only in cases of incorrect configuration Last successful log on Registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESystemSelect 12

Recovery Console Purpose Commands Recovery Console Getting Started 13

Why Use Recovery Console? u u u Windows XP will not boot Cannot access safe mode Access NTFS, FAT, and FAT 32 partitions 14

Starting Recovery Console u u u Boot floppies CD-ROM Boot menu 15

From Boot Floppies u u u CD-ROM required Web only Six floppy disks Version specific Q 310994, "Obtaining Windows XP Setup Boot Disks" 16

From CD-ROM u u Boot from the CD-ROM Begin setup process Press F 10 or press R CD-ROM drive locks 17

From Boot Menu Selection u u Run Winnt 32/cmdcons Approximately 7 MB Boot. ini Boot menu An example of the Boot. ini entry: C: cmdconsbootsect. dat= “Microsoft Windows Recovery Console” /cmdcons 18

Logon Process u Steps to log on l l l u u Select the installation Select the number Enter administrator password Three tries to log on Windows XP Home Edition 19

Secure Limited Access u u u Limited access to files Limited access to directories System and software hives 20

Recovery Console Commands u u u u Service commands Drive commands MAP command File controls Directory usage and commands Boot. CFG command Other commands 21

Service Commands Enable Service Enable Spooler Service_Demand_Start Disable Service Disable Spooler Listsvc Browser Auto Cdrom Sys Computer Browser CD-ROM Driver 22

Drive Commands – Format u u u Format a partition Drive: the drive to format Uses switches The syntax to use the Format command is: Format [Drive: ] [/Q] [/FS: file-system] 23

Drive Commands – Diskpart u u u Delete partitions Create partitions Similar to setup screen The syntax to use the Diskpart command is: Diskpart [/add | /delete] [Device-name | drive-name | partition-name] [size] 24

Drive Commands – Chkdsk u u Detect bad sectors Common switches l l /P /R The syntax to use the Chkdsk command is: chkdsk [Drive: [/P] [/R] 25

MAP Command u Map l u Example of the MAP command: C: FAT 32 2102 MBdeviceharddisk 0Partition 1 D: NTFS 2102 MBdeviceharddisk 0partition 2 Map ARC l Example of the MAP arc argument: C: FAT 32 2102 MB multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1) D: NTFS 2102 MB multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2) 26

File Controls Copy Delete Copy command syntax : Copy Source [Destination] Delete command syntax: Delete [Drive: ] [path] filename 27

Directory Commands u Directory (DIR) l u Make Directory (MD) l u MD [drive: ] path Remove Directory (RD) l u DIR [drive: ] [path][filename] RD [drive: ] path Change Directory (CD) l CD [path] [. . ] [drive: ] Be sure to use a space with the commands 28

Bootcfg Commands u Bootcfg l l l /default /add /rebuild /scan /list /redirect /disable redirect 29

Other Commands Command Description Batch Permits the Recovery Console commands to run from a batch file CLS Clears the screen UP Arrow Retrieves previously typed commands Attrib Adds or removes attributes from files 30

Other Commands (2) Command System. Root Description Moves you back to %windir% from the current location More or Type Displays a text file Ren Permits you to rename an existing file Exits from the Recovery Console 31

Repair Functionality Fix. MBR Rewrites the master boot record Fixboot Writes a new boot sector Warning: Changing the master boot record can remove data 32

Expand Functionality u u Extracts from cabinet (. cab) files Expands Destination directory must have permitted access Switches l /Y /F /D The syntax to use the Expand functionality is: Expand source [/F: filespec] [destination] [/y] [/D] 33

Policy Changes u u Administrative password Environment variables Registry changes Set command Allow. All. Paths = TrueFalse All. Wild. Cards = TrueFalse All. Removable. Media = TrueFalse No. Copy. Prompt = TrueFalse 34

Additional Resources Knowledge Base Articles u u u Q 315222, "A Description of the Safe Boot Mode Options in Windows XP" Q 305595, "HOW TO: Create a Boot Disk for an NTFS or FAT Partition" Q 240831, "How to Copy Files from Recovery Console to Removable Media" Q 316434, "HOW TO: Do Advanced Clean-Boot Troubleshooting in Windows XP" Q 310602, "How to Disable a Service or Device that Prevents Windows from Booting" 35

Additional Resources (2) Knowledge Base Articles u u Q 307654, "HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console in Windows XP" Q 291980, "A Discussion About the Bootcfg Command Its Uses" Q 314058, "Description of the Windows XP Recovery Console" Q 307852, "HOW TO: Start Your Computer with Last Known Good Configuration" 36

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