Sams Teach Yourself MCSE Windows NT Server 4 in 14 Days
(Publisher: Macmillan Computer Publishing)
Author(s): David Schaer, et al
ISBN: 0672311283
Publication Date: 12/15/97

The first option enables you to choose the hardware configuration with which you want to start the computer. The second option enables you to invoke the Last Known Good configuration. The last option is self-explanatory.

Although you might not see the capability for multiple hardware configurations as a benefit for a server, you should be able to see the benefit for a workstation. Keep in mind that Windows NT Workstation was built around the concepts of Windows NT Server. NT Workstation can be extremely powerful on a laptop. However, because version 4.0 does not support plug-n-play, having the multiple configuration option can be beneficial. One example of the need for multiple configurations is the capability that enables you to place laptops into a docking station and remove them with relative ease. With the absence of plug-n-play, the capability to change the hardware configuration at bootup can be necessary in situations in which the change from docking station to an undocked status might cause the machine to lock up during boot.

Invoking the Last Known Good configuration by pressing L doesn’t appear to change the screen at all. However, don’t let this deceive you. If you look at the bottom of the screen, you see the following selections:

•  Use the up and down arrow keys to make the selection that you want. Then press Enter.

•  To switch to the Default configuration, press D.

•  To Exit this menu and restart your computer, press F3.

Pressing Enter now will boot the machine to the Last Known Good configuration of the particular hardware profile that you specify. Press D to return to the previous screen.

If you made several configuration changes to the computer before restarting it, and you invoke the Last Known Good configuration, all changes you made since you saved the Last Known Good configuration will be lost.

14.4. Restoring a Corrupt Registry

There might be a time when one or more of the registry files becomes corrupt or missing. In this unlikely event, there are several ways that you can fix this situation.

The first and most obvious way to restore information to a server including the registry would be by restoring it from backup tape. Hopefully, you are backing up the registry as part of your regular backup routine. The Windows NT Backup program and many third-party backup utilities provide you with the capability to back up the registry. If your backup utility does not give you that capability, you should buy another program or use the Windows NT Backup utility.

Another way to restore the registry is through an emergency repair. The emergency repair process should be your last resort for fixing a server short of reinstalling Windows NT.

To perform an emergency repair, perform the same steps as if you were going to reinstall the server. After you see the Welcome to Setup screen, notice the option at the bottom to repair. After you press R for repair, a screen of repair options appears. You can choose any combination of the following options:

•  Inspect registry files

•  Inspect start-up environment

•  Verify Windows NT system files (Windows NT setup files needed)

•  Inspect boot sector

After you specify which options you want to perform and then continue the operation, you are prompted as to whether you want Windows NT to detect hard disk, floppy, and other controller hardware. (Remember, this is very similar to setting up Windows NT for the first time.)

After the hardware detection occurs, or you specify any additional devices, Windows NT setup asks whether you have the Emergency Repair Disk (ERD). If you specify that you do not, setup will attempt to perform the emergency repair from information in the Repair directory, which is located as a subdirectory of the Windows NT root directory.

The information in the Repair directory is not updated automatically. You must update this information manually by using RDISK.EXE. Performing an emergency repair with outdated information returns the computer to the state it was in when the Repair directory or ERD last was updated.

After doing a quick disk check, Windows NT asks you what information in the registry you would like to restore. The choices are

•  System (System configuration)

•  Software (Software information)

•  Default (Default user profile)

•  NTUSER.DAT (New user profile)

•  Security (Security accounts policy and SAM database)

Again, you can choose any combination of the choices depending on what information might be corrupt. After you make your choices and continue the operation, Windows NT replaces the information you specified and then prompts you to restart the computer.