How to Disable a Service or Device that Prevents NT from Booting

Last reviewed: August 8, 1997
Article ID: Q165748

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.51 and 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.51 and 4.0

SYMPTOMS

If a service or device driver is started automatically and is incompatible with the current version of Windows NT, the service or device driver may not allow Windows NT to remain booted long enough for you to shut the service off or disable the outdated device driver.

CAUSE

This may occur when Windows NT is upgraded to a new version prior to removing or stopping third-party devices or services.

RESOLUTION

Perform the following steps to resolve this problem:

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious, system-wide problems that may require you to reinstall Windows NT to correct them. Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use this tool at your own risk.

Install a parallel copy of Windows NT to a different folder on your local hard disk.
Run Regedt32.exe from the newly installed version of Windows NT and go to the following key:
```
      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
```
Click Load Hive on the Registry menu and open the following registry file on the original Windows NT installation:
```
      %SystemRoot%\System32\Config\System
```
Assign it a name other than System (such as Test).
Go to the following registry key and note the value for Current:REG_DWORD (this selects which ControlSet00x to load when booting and is the one that needs modification):
```
      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\TEST\Select
```

Perform the following steps to disable a service:

a. Go to the following registry key:

         HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\TEST\ControlSet00x\Services
            \<Name of suspected service>

      where x is the value of Current:REG_DWORD

   b. Change the value of Start:REG_DWORD: to 0x4.

      NOTE: Other Valid Services start options are:

         Automatic   0X2
         Manual      0x3
         Disabled    0x4

Perform the following steps to disable a device driver:

a. Go to the following registry key:

         HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\TEST\ControlSet00x\Services
         \<Name of suspect Driver>

      where x is the value of Current:REG_DWORD

   b. Change the value of Start:REG_DWORD: to 0x4.

      NOTE: Other Valid Services start options are:

         Boot        0x0
         System      0x1
         Automatic   0X2
         Manual      0x3
         Disabled    0x4

After you have made the necessary changes, go to the following registry key and then click Unload Hive on the Registry menu:
```
      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\TEST
```
Exit Registry Editor, exit the parallel version of Windows NT, and then reboot the original version of Windows NT. The service or device that corresponds to the edited key are now disabled.

Additional query words: 3.50 3.51 4.00
Keywords : ntboot nthowto kb3rdparty kbenv
Version : WinNT:3.5,3.51,4.0
Platform : winnt

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Last reviewed: August 8, 1997
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