Operating system troubleshooting

1. Operating system troubleshooting Unit objectives: • Identify the stages of the Windows startup process • Identify operating system problems

2. Topic A • Topic A: Windows startup • Topic B: System troubleshooting

3. 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

4. Startup files, continued Pagefile.sys Winlogon.exe Lsass.exe

5. Startup process x86 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

6. Activity A-1 Identifying phases in the startup process

7. Topic B • Topic A: Windows startup • Topic B: System troubleshooting

8. Computer startup problems Boot errors Operating system startup errors Operating system load errors

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. Windows Vista shutdown error

18. Startup messages Computer boots successfully, but reports error message when loading the OS Common message: Device/service has failed to start Resolution: Check Event Viewer Check Device Manager and the Services console Reinstall device or service

19. Activity B-1 Troubleshooting Windows startup errors

20. 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

21. 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

22. Advanced Boot Options menu

23. Activity B-2 Booting the computer in various startup modes

24. 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

25. Services tab

26. Startup modes for troubleshooting On the General tab: Normal Startup Diagnostic Startup Selective Startup

27. Activity B-3 Using the System Configuration utility

28. 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

29. Activity B-4 Using System File Checker

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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)

33. 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

34. 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

35. 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

36. Windows 2000 Professional ERD Autoexec.nt Config.nt Setup.log No Registry information

37. 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

38. ASR tasks Restores the disk configuration Formats your system and boot volumes Installs a bare-bones version of Windows Runs Backup to rebuild your system and boot volumes from your ASR backup set

39. Activity B-5 Explaining recovery option basics

40. Unit summary • Identified the stages of the Windows startup process • Identified operating system problems