& concept explained easily

1. A+ Guide to Software, 4e
Chapter 5
Troubleshooting Windows 2000/XP
Startup

2. A+ Guide to Software, 4e
What Happens When Windows
2000/XP Starts Up
• The procedure applies to an Intel-based PC
• Programs involved in the initial steps
– Startup BIOS (firmware)
– MBR program
– Boot sector program
– Ntldr
• Table 5-1 describes the steps in detail
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3. A+ Guide to Software, 4e
Table 5-1 Steps in the Windows 2000/XP boot process for
systems with Intel-based processors
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4. A+ Guide to Software, 4e
Table 5-1 Steps in the Windows 2000/XP boot process for
systems with Intel-based processors (continued)
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5. A+ Guide to Software, 4e
Table 5-2 Files needed to boot Windows 2000/XP successfully
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6. A+ Guide to Software, 4e
Table 5-2 Files needed to boot Windows 2000/XP successfully (continued)
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7. A+ Guide to Software, 4e
Important Folders Used in the Startup
Process
• List of key folders used by Windows 2000/XP:
– C:Windows: the Windows XP installation
– C:WindowsSystem32: core system files and subfolders
– C:WindowsSystem32config: registry hives
– C:WindowsSystem32drivers: device driver files
– C:Documents and Settings: user account information
– C:Program Files: installed applications
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8. A+ Guide to Software, 4e
Figure 5-2 A sample Windows XP Boot.ini file
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9. A+ Guide to Software, 4e
Figure 5-4 You can access startup and recovery options from the
System Properties dialog box
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10. A+ Guide to Software, 4e
Troubleshooting Tools to Solve
Startup Problems
• Sources of information about troubleshooting tools:
– Microsoft Knowledge Base at support.microsoft.com
– Microsoft Windows XP Professional Resource Kit
Documentation (a book)
– Table 5-3 in the text
– Help files for a command tool
• Examples of the many tools available:
– Last Known Good Configuration
– Safe Mode
– System Information (Systeminfo.exe)
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11. A+ Guide to Software, 4e
Figure 5-7 The System Information window displays important
information about the system’s hardware, software, and environment
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12. A+ Guide to Software, 4e
Advanced Options Menu
• Used to diagnose and fix boot-related problems
• Press F8 key to display Advanced Options menu
• A list of the options
– Safe Mode: boots OS with minimal configuration
– Safe Mode with Networking: includes network access
– Safe Mode with Command Prompt: text-based only
– Enable Boot Logging: records files used during boot
– Enable VGA Mode: substitute for regular display
– Last Known Good Configuration: stored in the registry
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13. A+ Guide to Software, 4e
Advanced Options Menu (continued)
• A list of the options (continued)
– Directory services restore mode: for domain controllers
– Debugging mode: for moving system logs to another PC
– Disable automatic restart on system failure: stops reboot
• Blue screen of death (BSOD)
– Also called a stop error or system failure
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14. A+ Guide to Software, 4e
Recovery Console
• A command-driven OS for serious troubleshooting
• Functions performed with the Recovery Console
– Repair a damaged registry, system files, or file system
– Enable or disable a service or device driver
– Repair master boot program on hard drive
– Repair boot sector on the system partition
– Repair a damaged Boot.ini file
– Recover data when the Windows OS is beyond repair
• Recovery Console is protected from illegal access
• Table 5-4 (partially reproduced) lists commands
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15. A+ Guide to Software, 4e
Table 5-4 Commands available from the Recovery Console
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16. A+ Guide to Software, 4e
Recovery Console (continued)
• Use the recovery console to fix hard drive problems
– Fixmbr: restores the master boot program in the MBR
– Fixboot: repairs the OS boot record
– Diskpart: used to view, create, and delete partitions
– Chkdsk: repairs file system and recovers data
• Restore the registry following steps in Table 5-5
• Disabling a service or device driver
– Listsvc: lists all services currently installed
– Disable: disables a service
– Enable: shows current status or reinstates a service
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17. A+ Guide to Software, 4e
Table 5-5 Steps to restore the Windows 2000/XP registry
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18. A+ Guide to Software, 4e
Recovery Console (continued)
• Use the Recovery Console to restore system files
– Map: displays the current drive letters
– Systemroot: sets Windows directory as default directory
– Delete: deletes a file
– CD: changes directory
– Copy: makes a backup of the current Ntldr file
– Bootcfg: lets you view and edit the Boot.ini file
– Expand: extracts files compressed in cabinet (.cab) files
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19. A+ Guide to Software, 4e
Recovery Console (continued)
• Use the recovery console to recover data
– First step: change some Recovery Console settings
– Second step: copy data from hard drive to other media
• Optional installation of the Recovery Console
– Open a command window
– Navigate to i386 folder on Windows 2000/XP CD
– Enter the command winnt32 /cmdcons
• The Recovery Console is installed at this step
– Restart your computer
• Recovery Console should be on the boot loader menu
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20. A+ Guide to Software, 4e
Strategies for Troubleshooting
Windows 2000/XP Startup
• Topics to cover
– General guidelines for troubleshooting
– How to respond to startup errors
– How to clean up a sluggish startup
– How to restore system files
– Methods to use as a last resort
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21. A+ Guide to Software, 4e
Guidelines for Troubleshooting Boot
Problems
• Ask the user what happened before problem started
• Back up data before trying to solve an OS problem
• Determine what point in boot the system fails
• Check the simple things first; e.g., loose cables
• Boot to Advanced Options, select Last Known Good
Configuration
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22. A+ Guide to Software, 4e
Respond to Any Startup Errors
(continued)
• Errors that occur before the windows load begins
– Startup BIOS is still in control
– All core startup components must work for success
– Essential hardware: CPU, boot device, power supply
– Example: BIOS cannot find a hard drive
• Stop error
– Drastic error that causes Windows to hang or lock up
– Search Microsoft support site for help with problem
– Example: a bad USB device causes BSOD to appear
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23. A+ Guide to Software, 4e
Respond to Any Startup Errors
(continued)
• Program not found error
– Entry in the registry or a startup folder, but no program
– Cause: uninstall routine leaves entry behind
– You can use Msconfig to identify orphan entry
– If the entry is in registry, delete entry to eliminate error
• Errors from when a device or service has failed to start
– Use Device Manager to update the driver
– Uninstall and reinstall the device
– Boot from Last Known Good Configuration
– Try Safe Mode, System Restore, Recovery Console
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24. A+ Guide to Software, 4e
Cleaning Up Startup
• Locations to check for cleanup
– Startup folders for startup processes
– Unwanted scheduled tasks
– Group Policy startup entries
– Installed fonts
• Msconfig: used to find other startup entries
• Services Console: used to disable unwanted services
• Check startup folders
– Move unwanted programs or shortcuts to another folder
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25. A+ Guide to Software, 4e
Cleaning Up Startup (continued)
• Look for unwanted scheduled tasks
– Tasks launched at startup are in C:WindowsTasks
– Inspect folder for unwanted or malicious tasks
• Check Group Policy for unwanted startup events
– Group Policy scripts are placed in one of four folders
– Malicious software is sometimes placed in these folders
• Check for too many installed fonts
– Fonts stored in C:WindowsFonts folder
– Install or uninstall a font: move font into or out of folder
– Make sure folder does not hold more than 260 files
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26. A+ Guide to Software, 4e
Cleaning Up Startup (continued)
• Use Windows XP Msconfig to limit startup events
– To access utility, enter Msconfig in the Run dialog box
– Click Services tab to view all services set to start
– Click Startup tab to view/edit list of startup programs
– Deselecting a startup item is not a permanent solution
• Check for corrupted or unneeded files
– Service: support program running the background
– Identify services from the Services Console
– Investigate the service on the Internet
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27. A+ Guide to Software, 4e
Restore System Files
• Return to a previous Windows XP restore point
– Try Driver Rollback before System Restore
– If using System Restore, select a close restore point
– Accessing System Restore when Windows GUI is down
• Try booting into Safe Mode
• Use Windows 2000/XP boot disk to verify boot files
– If OS boots from disk, problem is in root folder of C drive
– To create boot disk, copy boot files from PC or setup CD
– A repair suggestion: replace Ntldr, Ntdetect.com, Boot.ini
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28. A+ Guide to Software, 4e
Recover or Repair the Windows
2000/XP Installation
• Recovery partitions and recovery CDs
– If provided, use a recovery CD instead of a setup CD
• Recovery CD has drivers specific to system and OS build
– Hidden partition may also be used for recovery
• Windows XP Automated System Recovery (ASR)
– Recovers system from time of last full backup of drive C
– Access ASR backup from setup CD (press F2)
– Follow directions onscreen to restore drive C
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29. A+ Guide to Software, 4e
Recover or Repair the Windows
2000/XP Installation (continued)
• The Windows 2000 Emergency Repair Process
– Method of last resort (all changes to system are lost)
– Process uses Emergency Repair Disk (ERD)
• In-place upgrade of Windows 2000/XP
– Software/hardware are reinstalled, user data preserved
– Use repair utility on Windows 2000/XP setup CD
• Clean installation of Windows 2000/XP
– First step: copy data files to a safe place
– Destroy current Windows 2000/XP installation
– Reinstall the OS from the Windows 2000/XP setup CD
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