Transcript continued
Operating system troubleshooting
Unit objectives:
Identify the stages of the Windows
startup process
Identify operating system problems
Topic A
Topic A: Windows startup
Topic B: System troubleshooting
Startup files
BOOTMGR (7/Vista)
NTLDR (XP/2000)
Boot Configuration Data (BCD) (7/Vista)
Boot.ini (XP/2000)
Bootsect.dos
Ntdetect.com
Ntbootdd.sys
Ntoskrnl.exe
Hal.dll
System Registry hive
Smss.exe
continued
Startup files, continued
Pagefile.sys
Winlogon.exe
Lsass.exe
Startup process x86
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
ROM BIOS bootstrap process
Boot phase, using NTLDR
Load phase
Kernel-initialization phase
Services-load phase
Win32 subsystem start phase
User logon
Last Known Good control set created
Activity A-1
Identifying phases in the startup process
Topic B
Topic A: Windows startup
Topic B: System troubleshooting
Computer startup problems
Boot errors
Operating system startup errors
Operating system load errors
Boot errors
Invalid boot or non-system disk error:
– Non-bootable floppy or CD-ROM is in a
bootable drive
– System BIOS or CMOS isn’t configured
properly to boot to the hard disk
– Hard drive doesn’t contains Windows
boot files
– Hard drive isn’t connected properly
– Hard disk is bad
continued
Boot errors, continued
Inaccessible boot device:
– System BIOS or CMOS isn’t configured
properly to boot to hard disk
– Hard drive isn’t connected properly
– Motherboard was recently changed, or
you moved the Windows system disk to
another computer with a different
motherboard
– Hard disk is bad
continued
Boot errors, continued
NTLDR is missing, or Couldn’t find
NTLDR:
– Boot.ini file is configured incorrectly
– Ntldr file is missing or corrupt
– Non-bootable floppy or CD-ROM is in a
bootable drive
– System BIOS or CMOS isn’t configured
properly to boot to hard disk
– Hard drive isn’t connected properly
continued
Boot errors, continued
NTLDR is missing, or Couldn’t find
NTLDR, continued:
– Corrupt boot sector or MBR
– You’re trying to upgrade from FAT32 to a
Windows version that doesn’t support
FAT32
– Hard disk is bad
continued
Boot errors, continued
Bad or missing Command interpreter:
– Non-bootable floppy or CD-ROM is in a
bootable drive
– System BIOS or CMOS isn’t configured
properly to boot to hard disk
– The command.com, msdos.sys, io.sys,
or drvspace file was deleted, was
renamed, or has become corrupt
– Hard disk is bad
Startup errors
Himem.sys not loaded:
– Himem.sys is missing or corrupt
– Problem with physical memory
Missing or corrupt himem.sys:
– Himem.sys is missing or corrupt
– Problem with physical memory
Device/service has failed to start:
– Windows is trying to load a device or
service that won’t load properly
Operating system load errors
Failure to start GUI:
– Explorer.exe is missing or corrupt
Windows Protection Error—illegal
operation:
– An application asks the OS to process an
operation that the OS doesn’t recognize
– Outdated device drivers need to be
updated
continued
OS load errors, continued
User-modified settings cause improper
operation at startup:
– User has changed a system setting that
causes the computer to hang at startup
Application install, start, or load failure:
– Someone tries to install or start an
application that isn’t compatible with the
operating system
Windows Vista shutdown error
Startup messages
Computer boots successfully, but
reports error message when loading
the OS
Common message:
– Device/service has failed to start
Resolution:
1. Check Event Viewer
2. Check Device Manager and the
Services console
3. Reinstall device or service
Activity B-1
Troubleshooting Windows startup errors
Advanced startup options
Use to diagnose and fix problems
Press F8 after you hear computer’s startup
beep
Modes:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Repair your computer (Windows 7 and Vista)
Safe Mode
Safe Mode with Networking
Safe Mode with Command Prompt
Enable Boot Logging
Enable low-resolution video (640x480)
(Windows 7 and Vista)
continued
Advanced startup options, continued
Modes, continued:
– Enable VGA mode (XP/2000)
– Last Known Good Configuration
– Directory Services Restore Mode
(Windows 7, Vista, and Server products)
– Debugging Mode
– Disable automatic restart on system
failure (Vista)
– Disable Driver Signature Enforcement
(Windows 7 and Vista)
– Start Windows Normally
Advanced Boot Options menu
Activity B-2
Booting the computer in various
startup modes
System Configuration utility
Msconfig
Use to view, disable, and enable
services and software that run at
startup
Quickly test solutions to startup
problems
Click Start, choose Run, type
msconfig, and click OK
Services tab
Startup modes for troubleshooting
On the General tab:
– Normal Startup
– Diagnostic Startup
– Selective Startup
In Windows 7 and Vista
In Windows XP
–Load system services
–
System.ini
–Load startup items
–
Win.ini
–Use original boot configuration
–
System services
–
Startup items
–
Choice of boot.ini file
Activity B-3
Using the System Configuration utility
System File Checker
Windows File Protection (WFP)
prevents application installations from
replacing critical Windows system files
Use System File Checker to scan all
protected files to verify their versions
Retrieves correct version of file from
cache folder or Windows CD-ROM
and replaces the incorrect file
sfc /scannow
Activity B-4
Using System File Checker
Recovery Console
Use to recover when computer doesn’t
start properly or at all
Access FAT, FAT32, and NTFS
volumes from command line
Use to:
– Repair the boot sector
– Replace missing or corrupt operating
system files
– Create and format partitions
– Enable or disable services or devices
Folder access in Recovery Console
Root folder
%systemroot% folder and the
subfolders of Windows XP
Professional or Windows 2000
Professional installation you selected
when loading the Recovery Console
Cmdcons folder
Removable media drives, such as
CD-ROM and DVD drives
System Recovery Options menu
Available in Windows 7 and Vista
Replaces XP/2000 Recovery Console
Use to:
–
–
–
–
Repair startup problems
Restore system files from restore point
Test computer’s RAM
Restore entire computer and system files
from backups (in some Vista versions)
System Recovery Options
Startup Repair
System Restore
Windows Complete PC Restore
– Not available in Windows Vista Starter,
Home Basic, or Home Premium
Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool
Command Prompt
Emergency Repair Disk
Contains basic system configuration
files
Use to restore computer to a bootable
state if:
– Registry is damaged
– NTFS partition isn’t successfully booting
%systemroot%\Repair folder
Not bootable; use with Windows
installation CD-ROM
continued
Emergency Repair Disk, continued
Use to:
– Inspect and repair the boot sector
– Inspect and repair the startup environment
– Verify Windows 2000/XP system files and
replace missing or damaged files
Update ERD whenever you change
configuration of computer
Not a substitute for full Registry backup
ASR in Windows XP
Windows 2000 Professional ERD
Autoexec.nt
Config.nt
Setup.log
No Registry information
Automated System Recovery
Creates a backup of your system
partition, and floppy disk containing
critical system settings
Recover from a system failure caused
by problems with the system/boot
volume
Not available in Home Edition or
Media Center
Vista uses VSS and the ASR writer
ASR tasks
1. Restores the disk configuration
2. Formats your system and boot
volumes
3. Installs a bare-bones version of
Windows
4. Runs Backup to rebuild your system
and boot volumes from your ASR
backup set
Activity B-5
Explaining recovery option basics
Unit summary
Identified the stages of the Windows
startup process
Identified operating system problems