Xp Boot Option that Shows File Opening Progress

I am looking for the boot switch that shows the files opening progress in XP. I'm aware of the /noguiboot, and while that may be part of it, it blanks the screen instead of showing the file progress that is similar to a Linux boot. This was a boot.ini command, not a registry entry.

After scouting Google, I can't seem to find the boot.ini command that enables this boot option. If I remember correctly, I was made aware of the option in a windows-help.net newsletter, though I can't seem to find it there either.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Try editing the boot.ini file and adding /sos at the end of the operating system string; eg.

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS= "Microsoft Windows Whistler Personal" /fastdetect /sos

Then upon saving and rebooting, press the pause key quickly when you see the drivers start to load. Then press enter and very quickly press pause. It's rather tricky so try more than once to get the hang of it.

Then of course you could engage the bootlog option from the F8 boot screen. That will create a Ntbtlog.txt file in your Windows directory.

Another option is the bootvis file from MS that is supposed to demonstrate how long each item takes to boot.

Bootvis Source

 

FYI, here is as complete of a list of boot switches as I have ever found.

http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/1268/

That opens up some opportunities for alternate booting methods when Windows fails to load properly. It would require using a boot.ini editor boot disk which is freely available. Alternately, you can make your own XP quick boot disk that will have your customized boot.ini settings already on it. Just format a floppy on your XP machine and then copy the NTDETECT.COM, NTLDR, and the BOOT.INI file to it. Then edit the boot.ini to include the switches you desire (or do them on the fly as needed). That floppy can then be used to boot the system for troubleshooting bootloader files, shell corruption and video driver corruption. It's a neat tool to have around.

I especially like the /BASEVIDEO switch and the /SAFEBOOT with the added alternate shell option. Those are nice for troubleshooting video card and explorer.exe problems respectively.

 

My own boot.ini on my Quick Bootloader floppy is rather different but it is just what I like:

Code:

[boot loader]
timeout=-1
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS= "disk1-partition1-STANDARD SYSTEM" /BASEVIDEO /sos /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS= "disk1-partition2-systems w/hidden restore partition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS= "disk1-partition3-other multi boot systems" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(4)\WINDOWS= "disk1-partition4-other multi boot systems" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS= "disk2-partition1-boot second drive" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINDOWS= "disk2-partition2-boot second drive w/hidden restore partition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(3)\WINDOWS= "disk2-partition3-other multi boot systems" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(4)\WINDOWS= "disk2-partition4-other multi boot systems" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
C:\= "Previous Operating System on C:\" 

Anyway, you'll get the idea. Post back if any ??

 

Thank you!

The /sos switch was what I was looking for! I appreciate your posts and accurate replies; they were very helpful.

 

Thanks for the feedback so others can be helped.

This kind of stuff is not widely known and some of it is rather unique so I wanted to list it for future searchers even though it may have been more than you needed to know.

Best regards.