Boot Normally, Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, Safe Mode with Command Prompt
As with Windows 9x, the Windows NT/2000 operating systems provide a means of loading the system into Safe Mode with the minimum requirements to boot up to effectively troubleshoot the system. Refer to the section in the Windows 9x troubleshooting section of this chapter for a review of what Safe Mode allows users to accomplish and the different variations of Safe Mode that can be used.

Enable Boot Logging
If the Enable Boot Logging Startup mode is chosen, a NTBTLOG.TXT file will be created. This works in a fashion that is similar to the BOOTLOG.TXT file, as it will contain a listing of all the drivers and services that the system attempts to load during the Boot up process. Use this Startup Mode to determine what device or service is causing the system to fail.

Enable VGA Mode
Use the Enable VGA Startup mode if any display problems are experienced while booting up. This mode will load the standard VGA driver instead of the driver for the video card. Boot into VGA mode and reconfigure the display setting with the "Enable VGA mode" Startup Mode.

Last Known Good Configuration
If a new device driver is loaded to the system and then afterwards the system begins to fail, use the Last Known Good Configuration Startup Mode option. This will enable the system to start from the point of the last successful user log on without the new device drivers installed.

Debugging Mode
The Debugging Mode Startup feature enables the use of special debugger utilities to access the kernel for troubleshooting and analysis by starting the operating system in a kernel debug mode.
 

Lab Activity  (PDF, 11 KB)   In this lab, students will be able to boot the PC utilizing the advanced troubleshooting options of Windows 2000.