Chapter 17: The Windows NT Boot Process

1
Chapter 17 The Windows NT Boot Process
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Overview

• Overview of the Windows NT Boot Process
• Troubleshooting the Boot Process
• Last Known Good Configuration
• Emergency Repair

3

• Overview of the Windows NT Boot Process

• Files Required for System Boot
• The Intel x86 Boot Sequence
• The RISC Boot Sequence
• Windows NT Load Phases

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Files Required for System Boot
RISC
Intel x86
Osloader.exe .pal (Alpha only)
Ntoskrnl.exe System Device Drivers Hal.dll
Ntldr Boot.ini Bootsect.dos Ntdetect.
com Ntbootdd.sys (SCSI only) Ntoskrnl.exe System D
evice Drivers Hal.dll
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The Intel x86 Boot Sequence
Boot Sequence
Steps Prior to the Boot Sequence
1
Change microprocessor to flat memory model
Start minifile system drivers
2
3
Read Boot.ini and build selection screen
Not Windows NT
Load the correct operating system
LoadBootsect.dos
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Windows NT
5
Run Ntdetect.com
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Load and initialize Windows NT
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The RISC Boot Sequence
Boot Sequence
Steps Prior to the Boot Sequence
Osloader.exe
ROM firmware selects a boot device
1
1
Load and initialize Windows NT
The firmware determines if a bootable partition
is present
2
2
The firmware verifies thatthe file system is
supported
3
The firmware finds Osloader.exe in the root
directory, loads it, and then passes control to It
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Windows NT Load Phases
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Troubleshooting the Boot Process

• Common Boot Process Errors
• The Boot.ini File
• Troubleshooting Boot.ini Problems
• Creating a Windows NT Boot Disk

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Common Boot Process Errors

• Missing Ntldr
• Missing Ntdetect.com
• Missing Ntoskrnl.exe
• Missing Bootsect.dos in a Multiple-Boot
  Configuration

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The Boot.ini File
boot loader timeout30 defaultmulti(0)disk(0)rd
isk(0)partition(1)\WINNT operating
systems multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
"Windows NT Workstation Version 4.0"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT"Window
s NT Workstation Version 4.0 VGA mode"
/basevideo C\"Microsoft Windows"
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Troubleshooting Boot.ini Problems

• The Boot.ini File Is Missing
• A (default) Operating System Appears on the Boot
  Loader Operating System Selection Menu
• Invalid Windows NT Path Name
• Invalid Device in the Windows NT Path

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Creating a Windows NT Boot Disk

• Required Boot Files for Intel-Based Computers
• Ntldr
• Ntdetect.com
• Boot.ini
• Ntbootdd.sys (for computers with a BIOS-disabled
  SCSI adapter)
• Required Boot Files for RISC-Based Computers
• Osloader.exe
• Hal.dll
• .pal (Alpha)

13
Last Known Good Configuration
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Emergency Repair

• Creating and Updating an Emergency Repair Disk
• The Emergency Repair Process

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Creating and Updating an Emergency Repair Disk

• Emergency Repair Disk
• Update Repair Info
• Create Repair Disk
• Setup.log
• Files included in the Repair folder and on the
  Emergency Repair disk

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The Emergency Repair Process

• Inspect the Registry Files
• Inspect the Startup Environment
• Verify Windows NT System Files
• Inspect the Boot Sector