Advanced Options MenuConcepts |
methods for starting WS2003 in order to troubleshoot various kinds of
startup problems. Using these options, you can usually bring up
WS2003 to the point where you can make any repairs needed so that
normal startup can then be achieved. This topic explains these
advanced options and how to use them to troubleshoot startup and
shutdown problems.
Safe Mode
Safe mode starts your system with drivers for
mouse, keyboard, mass storage, base video, and essential system
services. Safe mode doesn't enable network
connections or services, and it bypasses any programs in the Startup
menu. Safe mode also creates a boot log file,
Ntbtlog.txt , in the
/Windows folder that records the success or
failure of initialization of device drivers and system services and
that may be useful for troubleshooting startup problems. If you can
successfully boot your system to Safe Mode, you may be able to repair
any problem preventing a normal boot. For example, you can remove or
roll back a recently installed device driver, disable a service that
is causing problems, or uninstall a faulty application.
Safe Mode with Networking
This is the same as Safe Mode except that networking support is
included. A boot log file is also created. Use this option if a
device driver or service is preventing a successful boot and you need
to connect to shared network resources to resolve the problem.
Safe Mode with Command Prompt
This is the same as Safe Mode except that a command prompt is opened
instead of the GUI interface. A boot log file is again created. You
might use this option if a GUI problem is preventing a successful
boot.
Enable Boot Logging
This performs a normal boot
with the addition of creating a boot log file,
Ntbtlog.txt , in \Windows .
This is not a toggleyou have to select this option each time
you want to create a boot log for a normal boot.
Enable VGA Mode
This is the same as a normal boot except
that a generic VGA video driver is used instead of the OEM or vendor
driver that was installed. Use this option if a problem with your
video driver is preventing a successful boot or preventing the GUI
from appearing.
Last Known Good Configuration
This is the same as a normal boot except that
it uses the registry settings and device drivers from your last
successful boot. You might use this option if you made one or more
configuration changes to your system such as installing new devices
or updating device drivers, and the system failed to boot
successfully afterward. If you select this option and the boot is
successful, remove the device you installed or roll back the driver
you updated that caused the problem. Alternatively, if you have some
idea of which configuration change might be causing the problem, you
can use Safe Mode instead to reconfigure your system the way it was
previously and, if necessary, roll back any device drivers you
installed to earlier versions.
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Directory Services Restore Mode
Selecting this mode on domain
controllers lets you boot without starting Active Directory so you
can repair or restore Active Directory using command-line tools like
ndsutil.exe . If you select this option on a
member server or standalone server, the system simply boots to Safe
Mode.
Debugging Mode
This option is used by
qualified technicians to troubleshoot
"stop" screens and other serious
errors. It boots the system and transmits debugging information
through a serial port to a second computer for debugging purposes. If
you plan to use this option, use the System utility in Control Panel
to specify which action should occur when a stop screen occurs,
including what debugging information is saved. Such debugging
information may be of use for Microsoft support specialists when
trying to determine the cause of the crash. You can also use this
utility to specify whether to automatically boot to the operating
system or the Recovery Console if the Recovery Console is installed
and how long the boot menu is displayed during startup. Note that no
boot menu is displayed if only a single operating system is installed
and there is no Recovery Console.The other two menu options are Start Windows Normally and Reboot. If
you installed your server using Remote Installation Services (RIS),
there may be additional menu options related to this.