Safe Mode

• To boot in safe mode, the /safemode switch is checked. Booting in safe mode means only minimum programs and system files are loaded. Programs users have installed to run during startup will not be loaded in safe mode. Four parameters are available when the safe mode switch is checked. The "minimal" parameter loads the default system files of Windows without networking available. The "minimal (alternateshell)" parameter boots the computer in safe mode with the command prompt available. The "network" parameter makes networking available, while the "dsrepair" parameter is available for domain controller servers.
  
  

No Graphics Boot

• The /noguiboot switch suppresses any images during the startup process. The Windows logo, progress bar and logon screen are omitted when this switch is checked. The bootvid.dll, the Windows system file that supports video, also is suppressed. This option is useful for troubleshooting problems with the computer's video software. When the computer crashes and it reboots just fine after checking this boot option, it could mean that the crash is caused by the video software installed.
  
  

Boot Log

• The /bootlog switch is also important for troubleshooting computer errors. When this switch is checked, it generates a log file in the C:\Windows folder called "ntbtlog.txt." The text file contains the list of drivers that was loaded when the computer booted up. The drivers are listed chronologically the way the computer loaded them. In the event of an error or a crash during the startup process, the log can be checked to see the last driver loaded before the computer encountered an error.
  
  

Base Video

• Computer monitors now come in high-definition resolutions that, at times, may not be compatible with the computer hardware. There are certain video resolutions that are out of range to some computers. When a user accidentally sets the resolution to one that is incompatible with the computer hardware, the computer crashes. When this happens, the computer repeatedly crashes because it's set to the wrong resolution. The /basevideo switch reverts the resolution to 640 by 480, which is compatible with any video adapter. This option allows the user to correct the resolution error during startup.