Troubleshooting Windows Flashcards
The options included in the Advanced Boot Options menu are:
Safe Mode: Starts system with a minimal set of drivers.
Safe Mode with Networking: Starts system with a minimal set of drivers and enables network support.
Safe Mode with Command Prompt: Starts system with a minimal set of drivers but loads command prompt.
Enable boot logging: creates a ntbtlog.txt file
Enable low-resolution video: Uses a standard VGA driver
Last Known Good Configuration: Starts the system with the last configuration known to work.
Directory Services Restore Mode: This is used to restore a domain controller’s active directory.
Debugging Mode: Enables the use of a debug program to examine system kernel for troubleshooting.
Disable automatic restart on system failure (7 and Vista only): Prevents Windows from automatically restarting, if an error causes Windows to fail.
Disable driver signature enforcement (7 and Vista only): Enables drivers containing improper signatures to be installed.
Start Windows Normally: This boots to regular Windows.
How do you access the Advanced Boot Options Menu?
Press the F8 key immediately after the computer starts.
What are the ways to access WinRE?
Booting to the Windows 7/Vista DVD: Make sure the DVD drive is the first in the boot order of the BIOS, boot to the DVD, and select Repair your Computer.
Booting to a special partition on the hard drive that has WinRE installed: Press F8 to bring up Advanced Boot Options, Repair your Computer.
The different WinRE options are:
Startup Repair: This automatically fixes certain problems that might prevent Windows from starting.
System Restore: Restores the computer’s system files to an earlier point in time.
System Image Recovery (Win7) or Windows Complete PC Restore (Vista): This restores the contents of a hard disk from a backup.
Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool: Scans the computer’s memory for errors.
Command Prompt: Advanced users can use this to perform recovery related operations .
What is the command-line interface used for repairs such as rebuilding the master boot record in XP?
Recovery Console
You can access Recovery Console in two ways:
Boot the computer to the CD-ROM and run Recovery Console.
Boot from a previously installed Recovery Console.
To run the Recovery Console from CD-ROM:
- Boot the system from the CD.
- When prompted press R to start Recovery Console.
- Log into Recovery Console by selecting the installation to log into and providing the Admin password for the operating system.
To install Recovery Console to hard disk:
- While in Windows, insert CD-ROM.
- Open Run prompt, and type d:\i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons
- Confirm the installation and restart the Computer. Now it will appear on the boot menu.
Windows 7/Vista boot errors:
BOOTMGR is missing: There are two ways to fix this.
- Boot to System Recovery Options and select Startup Repair.
- Boot to System Recovery and select Command Prompt. Type the command bootrec /fixboot
Windows Boot Configuration Data file is missing required info: There are two ways to fix this.
1. Boot to System Recovery Options and select Startup Repair.
2. Boot to System Recovery and select Command Prompt. Type the command bootrec /rebuildbcd
3. Type yes to add to the BCD store.
4. If the Bootrec.exe tool can’t locate any Windows installations. You have to remove the BCD store and recreate it by typing the command:
Bcdedit /export C:\BCD_Backup
ren c: \boot\bcd BCD.old
Bootrec /rebuildbcd
Windows XP boot errors:
NTDETECT failed: This displays if the NTDETECT.COM file is missing or corrupt.
NTLDR is missing: This displays if the NTLDR is missing or corrupt. This can be fixed by typing fixboot or fixmbr in Recovery Console.
Invalid boot.ini: This displays if the boot.ini file is missing or corrupt.
To repair these issues:
Reboot to the Windows CD and access Recovery Console, then recopy the file from Windows CD.
Repair the installation or restore Windows.
Which option starts the system with a minimal set of drivers?
A. Last Known Good Configuration
B. System Restore
C. Safe Mode
D. Debugging Mode
C. Safe Mode
Which tool should be used if a person wanted to do Startup Repair in Windows 7?
A. Recovery Console
B. WinRE
C. System Restore
D. Safe Mode
B. WinRE
What switch should be used to install the Recovery Console to a hard drive?
A. /recovery
B. /winnt32
C. /console
D. /cmdcons
D. /cmdcons
What command repairs the bootmgr.exe file in Windows 7/Vista?
A. bootrec /fixboot
B. bootrec /fixmbr
C. bootrec /rebuildbcd
D. boot\bcd
A. bootrec /fixboot
Which tool should be used to fix the NTLDR if it is missing or corrupt?
A. Safe Mode
B. bootrec /fixmbr
C. Recovery Console
D. WinRE
C. Recovery Console
One of your customers went ahead and updated the software for a wireless adapter on a PC. After rebooting the user logs in and the computer displays a blue screen. What should you do?
A. Install the device on a known good computer.
B. Reboot the computer and use the Last Known Good Configuration.
C. Purchase a new wireless adapter.
D. Roll back the device drivers in Safe Mode.
D. Roll back the device drivers in Safe Mode.
What does the exclamation point, down arrow, and red X indicate in the Device Manager?
The exclamation point means a device is malfunctioning.
The down arrow means a device is disabled in Windows 7/Vista.
A red X means a device is disabled in XP.
How do you access the Event Viewer?
Start > All Programs > Administrative Tools
System Tools node in Computer Management
Typing eventvwr.msc in the Run prompt
What are the three main log files in the Event Viewer?
System: Contains info, warnings, and errors about hardware, device drivers, system files, etc.
Application: Contains events about programs built into Windows
Security: Holds info that was gathered for auditing and security purposes.
An event can be viewed by double clicking it. Events are broken into four categories:
Information: Indicated by an “i” in a circle. Basic info about a service starting or an application that ran successfully.
Warning: Indicated by an exclamation point within a yellow triangle. Example, an installation did not complete or a service timed out.
Error: Indicated by an exclamation point in a red circle. An “X” in XP. Something failed or has been corrupted.
Audit Success: Indicated by a gold colored key. They track what a user attempts to accomplish within the operating system.
What is a program in Vista that enables you to check for solutions to hardware and software problems?
Problem Reports and Solutions
It can be accessed in the Classic view of the Control Panel.
What program in Windows 7 is similar to Problem Reports and Solutions?
The Action Center
It can be accessed by clicking the icon in the Notification area or
Start > Control Panel > System and Security > Action Center
What program in XP is similar to the Action Center?
Dr. Watson: can be accessed by opening Run prompt and typing drwtsn32
What tool in Windows 7 can you use to track the performance of a PC?
Performance Monitor and Resource Monitor
Windows Vista uses the Reliability and Performance Monitor.
Windows XP uses Performance.
Where is Resource Monitor located?
Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools
What are the functions of the Resource Monitor?
Tracks usage of CPU, disks, network, and memory.