Enabling boot logging in Windows Server 2008

Whenever you start your computer in Safe Mode, you’ll notice a number of messages scrolling by that tell you which file Windows is loading. Unfortunately, the list can scroll by so fast that you can’t read it. Knowing which file Windows is loading is important because loading the wrong file at the wrong time can prove fatal when getting the operating system to work. Selecting the Enable Boot Logging option slows the Windows loading process considerably because the operating system records everything it loads into the NTBtLog.TXT file, located in the %SystemRoot% folder (normally C:\Windows) of your system. You can open this file using Notepad and see a list of the files that Windows loads.

Of course, all those filenames may not mean much to you. Sure, you might recognize a few of them, but for the most part, the meaning isn’t clear. Fortunately, you can check most of these filenames online. A simple Google search is enough to provide everything you need in most cases. You can also go to sites such as the ones in the following list to view information about the files:

• Program Checker: http://www.programchecker.com/

• Spyware.net: http://www.fbmsoftware.com/spyware-net/

• Software Tips & Tricks: http://www.softwaretipsandtricks.com/necessary_files/

• eConsultant: http://www.econsultant.com/windows-tasks/

You have another option for obtaining information about the individual files that load during the boot process. Because the NTBtLog.TXT file contains the full path to each of the files, you can quickly locate an individual file that Windows loaded. Right-click the file and choose Properties from the context menu. On the Digital Signature tab, you can verify the digital signature of the company that signed the file. The Details tab, provides significant information about the file that you can use for verification purposes on the many Web sites that provide this information.

The whole point of working through the NTBtLog.TXT file is to ensure that you know what’s loading and to look for potential sources of problems. In most cases, the log tells you when files haven’t loaded and tells you about errors that Windows experienced during the boot process. Although it’s perfectly normal to see some drivers fail to load, the failure of an essential driver is something you should note and fix.

Source of Information : For Dummies Windows Server 2008 All In One Desk Reference For Dummies

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