BAT file to re-start in Safe Mode...?
Kenneth
Howdy,
I have a simple batch file that dumps 4000 contacts from my
database to a TXT file, and then imports them to my
Contacts.
Recently, that last phase has been producing some errors
indicating a problem with the command line text that does
the import. This happens intermittently.
The folks who support the importing software (Contact Genie)
tell me that the command line text is fine (as I would
assume because it usually works properly), and they believe
that something is corrupting the command line text
preventing their software from correctly interpreting it...
I have experimented with the simple work-around of running
the BAT file in Safe Mode with Networking, and this seems to
work.
So, with all that as introduction, here is my question:
Is there a way for me to modify the BAT file so that it
says, in effect, "re-boot into Safe Mode with Networking,
run this routine, then re-boot into full XP?"
Many thanks for any help on this,
--
Kenneth
If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."
ShadowTek
Pegasus (MVP)
"Kenneth" <use...@soleSPAMLESSassociates.com> wrote in message
news:644jd4hue0ten96l4...@4ax.com...
If a program works in Safe Mode but fails in Normal Mode then you have an
agent running in Safe Mode that intereferes with your program. The usual
method to resolve this problem is based on isolating and removing the
interfering agent.
To boot into safe mode, you need to maintain two versions of the hidden file
c:\boot.ini, e.g. c:\boot.norm and c:\boot.safe. The file c:\boot.safe
should have this line:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /noexecute=optin /safeboot:minimal
whereas the file c:\boot.norm lacks the /safeboot:minimal switch.
You also need a batch file c:\windows\MyBoot.bat with these lines inside:
@echo off
if /i "%1"=="Safe" (
copy /y c:\boot.safe c:\boot.ini
shutdown /.. /..
) else (
copy /y c:\boot.norm c:\boot.ini
)
And here is how you put it all together:
1. Create a shortcut on your desktop. Call it "Boot into Safe Mode" and
point it at c:\windows\MyBoot.bat with a parameter of "Safe" (without the
double quotes!).
2. Create a scheduled task. It should invoke c:\windows\MyBoot.bat and it
must run at boot time.
That's all. Now each time you double-click "Boot into Safe Mode", the
machine will reboot in Safe Mode. The next time it will boot normally.
Enjoy!
Kenneth
Hello again,
Many thanks for the great help...!
I realize now that I neglected to say that I need Safe Mode
with Networking.
What modification would I need for that?
All the best,
Kenneth
<use...@soleSPAMLESSassociates.com> wrote:
>>SNIP<<
Hi again,
With some sniffing around, it seems that instead of:
/safeboot:minimal
I would use
/safeboot:network
Would that do the deed?
Thanks again,
Kenneth
<I....@fly.com.oz> wrote:
> run at boot time.
>
>That's all. Now each time you double-click "Boot into Safe Mode", the
>machine will reboot in Safe Mode. The next time it will boot normally.
>
>Enjoy!
>
Hi Pegasus,
There is one thing in your suggestion that I don't
understand...
You wrote:
1. Create a shortcut on your desktop. Call it "Boot into
Safe Mode" and point it at c:\windows\MyBoot.bat with a
parameter of "Safe"
>double quotes!).
but I don't know how to add the Safe parameter.
Also, I need Safe with Networking, so in any case I need a
bit more information.
Many thanks,
Pegasus (MVP)
"Kenneth" <use...@soleSPAMLESSassociates.com> wrote in message
After creating the shortcut, right-click it, then click "Properties". Now
add a space to the far end in the "Target" box and type "Safe". It's as
simple as that!
You previously wrote that you found the switch "/safeboot:network" after
some sniffing about. This sounds quite reasonable. I suggest you try it out.
If it does not work, do some more sniffing and report the result here - I
would have to do the same thing too!
Kenneth
<I....@fly.com.oz> wrote:
Hi again,
I modified the Target as per your description, and the
shortcut points to:
@echo off if /i "%1"=="Safe" (copy /y c:\boot.safe
c:\boot.ini shutdown /.. /..) else
(copy /y c:\boot.norm c:\boot.ini)
I have the other bat files just as you have described.
But, when I fire up the shortcut, all that happens is a
momentary flash of the command line. The system does not
reboot.
That is true whether I set the shortcut target parameter to
safe, or to safe:network.
In the hope that you might spot the problem, I will include
everything I have done.
C:\boot.norm consists of:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft
Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
(I just pasted in my present boot.ini. Was that what you
intended?)
C:\boot.safe consists of:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft
Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /noexecute=optin
/safeboot:network
c:\windows\MyBoot.bat consists of:
@echo off if /i "%1"=="Safe" (copy /y c:\boot.safe
c:\boot.ini shutdown /.. /..) else
(copy /y c:\boot.norm c:\boot.ini)
(Does the above need the [boot loader] line?)
and finally, I have a scheduled task that calls
c:\windows\MyBoot.bat and runs at boot.
Sincere thanks for any further help,
Pegasus (MVP)
"Kenneth" <use...@soleSPAMLESSassociates.com> wrote in message
I can see a few problems in your approach. Firstly, your batch file has the
lines broken up differently from the way I put them. Here is what I wrote:
@echo off
if /i "%1"=="Safe" (
copy /y c:\boot.safe c:\boot.ini
shutdown /.. /..
) else (
copy /y c:\boot.norm c:\boot.ini
)
You must not take liberties when copying & pasting this file.
Secondly, the file c:\boot.safe must be an exact copy of the file
c:\boot.norm, with this switch added to the last line: /safeboot:network.
After making these changes, you MUST test your batch file. You do it in a
Command Prompt so that you can see what's going on. Here is how it's done:
1. Click Start/Run/cmd{OK}
2. Type the following commands:
type c:\boot.ini{Enter}
(Examine what you see on the screen)
MyBoot.bat Safe {Enter}
type c:\boot.ini(Enter)
(Examine the screen again. You should see the "/safeboot" switch.)
MyBoot.bat{Enter}
type c:\boot.ini{Enter}
(Examine the screen again. There should be no "/safeboot" switch.)
If there are error messages then you must make a note of them.
Kenneth
Hi again Pegasus,
Many thanks for hangin' in there with me on this...
Indeed I had taken "liberties" with the text. I
(incorrectly) thought I was seeing some wrapping oddities. I
will redo it shortly.
All the best,
Kenneth
Hi Pegasus,
I have made the modifications you describe (and this time,
strictly with cut & paste...)
When, at the command line, I enter C:\boot.ini, it displays
properly.
But, when, at the command line, I enter "MyBoot.bat Safe"
(without quotes), I get an access denied error.
I experimented with entering "MyBoot.bat", "MyBoot.bat
Safe:network" and got the same access denied error. I also
tried it these will full path as "C:\Windows\MyBoot.bat
Safe" but again, always have the same result.
Thanks for any further help,
Kenneth
Hi again Pegasus,
This might be of interest...
As I thought about this further, I decided to look at my
present boot.ini.
I could not find it in C:\ and so ran a Search (yes, my
hidden files are visible.)
The only instance found is in C:\Documents and
Settings\Kenneth\Recent.
The system boots fine, but it would appear that the bat
files are pointing to a boot.ini that does not exist.
Thanks again,
Pegasus (MVP)
"Kenneth" <use...@soleSPAMLESSassociates.com> wrote in message
The file c:\boot.ini is a hidden file. You must unhide it and remove its
read-only attribute before you can run my batch file. And no, don't believe
your search results. The file DOES exist in the root folder of drive C:. If
you cannot get Windows Explorer to show you where it is, use the
administrator's method: Open a Command Prompt (see my previous reply), then
type this command:
attrib -r -h -s c:\boot.ini {Enter}
Kenneth
Hi again Pegasus,
Well, it appears that we are almost there...
I have run the attrib, and now the bat file is working
properly in the sense that it modifies the boot.ini in the
intended ways.
If I run MyBoot.bat, and then manually re-boot the box, it
comes up in safe mode. If I then run MyBoot.bat again, and
re-boot, it comes up in normal mode.
But, when I attempt to run the shortcut to start the whole
process, I see only a very brief flash of a command screen
and nothing further happens, that is, there is no reboot.
Here is everything I have at this point:
On my desktop, I have a shortcut pointing to:
C:\WINDOWS\MyBoot.bat safe:network
MyBoot.bat is:
@echo off
if /i "%1"=="Safe" (
copy /y c:\boot.SAFE c:\boot.ini
shutdown /.. /..
) else (
copy /y c:\boot.NORM c:\boot.ini
)
boot.SAFE is:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft
Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
/safeboot:network
boot.NORM is:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft
Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
and I have a scheduled task that runs MyBoot.bat at startup.
I saw that in Myboot.bat the criterion is "Safe" but I am
attempting to run "Safe:Network." I tried switching it, but
still had the same result: brief flash, but no reboot.
Many thanks as before,
Kenneth
<use...@soleSPAMLESSassociates.com> wrote:
Hi again,
A few minutes ago, I wrote:
>
>If I run MyBoot.bat, and then manually re-boot the box, it
>comes up in safe mode. If I then run MyBoot.bat again, and
>re-boot, it comes up in normal mode.
but since then, I have tried it again.
Now, if I run MyBoot.bat, it shows 1 file copied, but does
not modify boot.ini, which remains in its normal mode.
If I repeat, exactly the same thing happens.
Sincere thanks,
Pegasus (MVP)
"Kenneth" <use...@soleSPAMLESSassociates.com> wrote in message
You need to acquire a better understanding of the process in order to debug
it. Consider the following points:
- MyBoot.bat does NOT modify c:\boot.ini. It replaces it.
- When you run "MyBoot.bat safe" then c:\boot.ini gets replaced by
c:\boot.safe.
- When you run "MyBoot.bat" then c:\boot.ini gets replaced by c:\boot.norm.
During the debugging phase, change the line "shutdown /.. /.." in MyBoot.bat
to "rem shutdown /.. /.." so that the machine does not reboot all the time.
Armed with the above knowledge you should be able to find out what's wrong.
The whole thing is not "black magic" but rather a "substitution racket" . .
.
Kenneth
Hi Pegasus,
My wording was poor, but I did understand that MyBoot.bat
copies the appropriate version into boot.ini, that is,
replaces it.
You responded as if I had said that MyBoot.bat was causing
rebooting while I was attempting to debug.
The problem I am having now is that when I run MyBoot.bat,
it does NOT reboot the system at all.
Many thanks,
Pegasus (MVP)
"Kenneth" <use...@soleSPAMLESSassociates.com> wrote in message
Sorry - can't tell. I left the exact composition of the "shutdown" command
to you and I get the impression that you never filled in the missing bits.
This command has a number of switches and you need to familiarise yourself
with them by typing shutdown /? at the Command Prompt.
Kenneth
<I....@fly.com.oz> wrote:
Hello again,
Indeed, I did not fill in the "missing bits" as I did not
know that there were any to be filled in.
I'll get on it, and will let you know.
Many thanks, as before,
Kenneth
<use...@soleSPAMLESSassociates.com> wrote:
>>
>>Sorry - can't tell. I left the exact composition of the "shutdown" command
>>to you and I get the impression that you never filled in the missing bits.
>>This command has a number of switches and you need to familiarise yourself
>>with them by typing shutdown /? at the Command Prompt.
>>
>
>Hello again,
>
>Indeed, I did not fill in the "missing bits" as I did not
>know that there were any to be filled in.
>
>I'll get on it, and will let you know.
>
>Many thanks, as before,
Hi again,
I entered the appropriate shutdown switches, and not the
shortcut causes the reboot into safe mode with networking.
Unfortunately, running it a second time leaves it in safe
mode, but before asking anything about that issue, I have
another question:
I had hoped to do all this because I have a BAT file that
invokes a process that often fails when run in normal mode.
If running in safe mode, it always runs properly.
I wanted to create a routine that would boot into safe mode,
run my BAT file, and when it finished, would re-boot back
into normal mode.
In all this, I had neglected the fact that when I enter safe
mode, I have to log in again, and have to enter my password.
Am I correct that there is no way that I could "bypass" that
part of the process? That is, am I correct that even if I
get this working correctly, I will still have to enter that
password manually?
Please let me know, and that will help me to decide if I
should pursue this further.
Many thanks,
Pegasus (MVP)
"Kenneth" <use...@soleSPAMLESSassociates.com> wrote in message
It is possible to fully automate the logon process and to force a specific
process to run after the automatic logon process, either unconditionally or
conditional upon the current mode (Safe Mode / Normal Mode).
Kenneth
Hi Pegasus,
Thanks for that info...
I will pursue this further, and very much appreciate all
your kind help.
All the best,
Kenneth
Hi again,
I remain perplexed, and despite some help from folks in a
batch file group, can't get the routine to work properly.
If I launch the desktop shortcut, the system reboots into
Safe Mode with Networking as I wanted.
But then, if I reboot, it boots again into Safe Mode with
Networking.
If, instead of rebooting, I first run myboot.bat manually,
then when I do reboot, the system boots into Normal Mode.
So, it appears that either myboot.bat is not running when
the system boots, (even though is displays in Scheduled
Tasks as "run at system startup,") or, it does run at boot,
but finds "Safe" to be true, and so keeps the system in Safe
Mode.
Here is the current myboot.bat:
@echo off
if /i "%1"=="Safe" (
attrib -r -a -s -h c:\boot.ini
copy /y c:\boot.SAFE c:\boot.ini
shutdown -r -t 00
) else (
attrib -r -a -s -h c:\boot.ini
copy /y c:\boot.NORM c:\boot.ini
)
Can you spot the problem?
Pegasus (MVP)
"Kenneth" <use...@soleSPAMLESSassociates.com> wrote in message
Since you now have a good understanding how the whole thing holds together,
it should be easy to work out where things get off the rails. We agreed
before that the file c:\boot.ini get replaced by c:\boot.norm or by
c:\boot.safe. We now have this simple fact:
=> At boot time (any boot!) c:\boot.ini should replaced by c:\boot.norm.
You must therefore check if this is the case.
1. Force a safe boot with your newly created shortcut.
2. Wait until the system has rebooted to Safe Mode.
3. Check c:\boot.ini. What does it look like?
If it does not like right, you must check if and when your batch file ran.
This is just as simple - modify it like so and examine c:\test.txt after the
reboot:
@echo off
if /i "%1"=="Safe" (
attrib -r -a -s -h c:\boot.ini
echo Safe boot on %date% at %time% >> c:\test.txt
copy /y c:\boot.SAFE c:\boot.ini
shutdown -r -t 00
) else (
echo Normal boot on %date% at %time% >> c:\test.txt
attrib -r -a -s -h c:\boot.ini
copy /y c:\boot.NORM c:\boot.ini
)
No magic to this one either! By the way, the -a switch in your attrib
command servers no purpose whatsoever. Omit it - it only confuses the issue!
Kenneth
Hi again,
Here are the steps I have taken and the results:
I replaced the earlier myboot.bat with your modified version
(with the echo statements for date and time.)
I removed the "-a" from the attrib command.
I launched the shortcut that starts the process. There was
visible a brief flash of the command screen displaying "one
file copied" and then the system rebooted into Safe Mode
with Networking.
After the boot completed, I checked boot.ini, and it
displayed with the Safe:Network version, that is, boot.ini
had been replaced by boot.safe.
No date or time information ever displayed, but perhaps that
was not the function of the Echo lines you had added.
Next, I looked at my Scheduled tasks and in the summary I
see the Name "MyBoot" (without quotes, and without the
extension "bat"). Its schedule field says: "Run at system
startup."
Finally, I manually ran myboot, to copy boot.norm into
boot.ini. I checked boot.ini, and it was the boot.norm
version, so myboot had done that part of its work.
I then rebooted into Normal Mode.
That's the status to this point.
Thanks for any further thoughts,
Pegasus (MVP)
"Kenneth" <use...@soleSPAMLESSassociates.com> wrote in message
It seems you missed the most important point of the whole exercise. In my
most recent note I wrote ". . . modify it like so and examine c:\test.txt
after the reboot". What's happened to your examination of c:\test.txt? Have
you given any consideration of what the following batch file line actually
does?
Kenneth
<I....@fly.com.oz> wrote:
Hi again,
I take no small measure of pride in the fact that when I
ignore something, it's "the most important point of the
whole exercise." No, I'm not one to ignore anything that
could be considered trivial <g>.
In any case, I ran the bat file, and am now in Safe Mode
with Net. BOOT.INI is boot.safe, and TEST.TXT shows:
Safe boot on Sun 09/28/2008 at 19:35:06.93
Safe boot on Sun 09/28/2008 at 19:35:29.20
Kenneth
<use...@soleSPAMLESSassociates.com> wrote:
I should add:
I just manually ran MYBOOT.BAT (because that seems the
simplest way for me to get out of Safe Mode with Net.)
Having just done that (but before rebooting into Normal
Mode, TEST.TXT shows:
Safe boot on Sun 09/28/2008 at 19:35:06.93
Safe boot on Sun 09/28/2008 at 19:35:29.20
Normal boot on Sun 09/28/2008 at 19:49:22.43
Thanks again,
Kenneth
<use...@soleSPAMLESSassociates.com> wrote:
>On Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:48:07 -0400, Kenneth
><use...@soleSPAMLESSassociates.com> wrote:
>
>I should add:
>
>I just manually ran MYBOOT.BAT (because that seems the
>simplest way for me to get out of Safe Mode with Net.)
>
>Having just done that (but before rebooting into Normal
>Mode, TEST.TXT shows:
>
>Safe boot on Sun 09/28/2008 at 19:35:06.93
>Safe boot on Sun 09/28/2008 at 19:35:29.20
>Normal boot on Sun 09/28/2008 at 19:49:22.43
>
>Thanks again,
and now, having rebooted into Normal Mode, TEST.TXT shows:
Safe boot on Sun 09/28/2008 at 19:35:06.93
Safe boot on Sun 09/28/2008 at 19:35:29.20
Normal boot on Sun 09/28/2008 at 19:49:22.43
Normal boot on Sun 09/28/2008 at 19:53:21.95
Kelly
Use as an example/guideline: Go to Start/Run and type in: C:\boot.ini and
copy/add what you want (Safe Mode or with Command Prompt), then save,
reboot.
Normal, Safe Mode and Command Prompt.
[boot loader]
timeout =15
default = multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS = "Windows XP Normal"
/fastdetect /sos)
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS = "Windows XP SAFE
Mode"/safeboot:minimal)
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS = "XP SAFE Mode with
Command Prompt" /safeboot:minimal(alternateshell)
--
All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)
Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm
SupportSpace
www.supportspace.com/pages?aiu=kellyskorner
"Kenneth" <use...@soleSPAMLESSassociates.com> wrote in message
news:7b50e4h7ddm078e7d...@4ax.com...
Kenneth
<ke...@kelly.com> wrote:
>Another option: Add Safe Mode to the Boot Screen
>
>Use as an example/guideline: Go to Start/Run and type in: C:\boot.ini and
>copy/add what you want (Safe Mode or with Command Prompt), then save,
>reboot.
>
>Normal, Safe Mode and Command Prompt.
>
>[boot loader]
>timeout =15
>default = multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
>[operating systems]
>
>multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS = "Windows XP Normal"
>/fastdetect /sos)
>
>multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS = "Windows XP SAFE
>Mode"/safeboot:minimal)
>
>multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS = "XP SAFE Mode with
>Command Prompt" /safeboot:minimal(alternateshell)
Hi Kelly,
I certainly thank you for the suggestion, but I am
interested in developing a routine that will run without
further intervention once launched.
All the best,
Kelly
--
All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)
Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm
SupportSpace
www.supportspace.com/pages?aiu=kellyskorner
"Kenneth" <use...@soleSPAMLESSassociates.com> wrote in message
news:kdc2e4lpc79re5kir...@4ax.com...