Boot into safe mode from CD, no F8 keypress?

[Dave]

Is it possible to automatically boot from a CD into safe mode via a batch
command, instead of hitting F8 and choosing safe mode from the menu? I'm
not referring to a Windows XP install CD, rather a CD I create that does not
contain any Windows operating system files, but rather uses a batch file to
invoke Windows from the C: drive in safe mode.



I'd like to create an auto running CD that contains a batch file that will
boot up in safe mode, install and run a few freeware programs like
spyware/adware removal tools, anti virus and firewall software, and if
possible to turn on Windows automatic updates.



Why? Because I frequently get asked to fix infected PC's for people and it
takes a long time to clean them up and I'd rather just automate it and hand
them a CD that requires minimal user interaction, if any at all. The people
that ask for my help typically are not at all computer literate and just use
their PC's for internet and email. Timing the F8 key press to avoid a boot
up keyboard error and get to the boot menu is beyond them. I've spent up to
8 hours repairing each PC infected with spyware/adware, trojans and viruses
and downloading all service packs and critical patches, so if I give people
a CD that will clean up their PC using an unattended batch file and turn on
the automatic updates so the user can download patches on their own time, I'
d be eternally grateful.





Also, if it's at all possible to set the following options using a batch
file, please enlighten me:



Outlook Express: Turn on the "Warn me when other applications try to send
mail as me" and the "Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that
could potentially be a virus" button.



Internet Explorer: Uncheck "Enable Install On Demand (Internet Explorer)",
uncheck "Enable Install On Demand (other)", uncheck "Enable Third Party
Browser Extensions"



Turn off all auto complete options in Tools; Internet Options; Content and
clear anything that has been saved.



I'm assuming all of those options are stored in the registry, so I guess if
it's possible to set them in a batch file then I'd need a program that can
update the registry. It's that is accurate, is there a recommended freeware
program that will update the registry in batch?



Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[WTC]

Is it possible to automatically boot from a CD into safe mode via a batch
command, instead of hitting F8 and choosing safe mode from the menu? I'm
not referring to a Windows XP install CD, rather a CD I create that does
not
contain any Windows operating system files, but rather uses a batch file
to
invoke Windows from the C: drive in safe mode.



I'd like to create an auto running CD that contains a batch file that will
boot up in safe mode, install and run a few freeware programs like
spyware/adware removal tools, anti virus and firewall software, and if
possible to turn on Windows automatic updates.



Why? Because I frequently get asked to fix infected PC's for people and
it
takes a long time to clean them up and I'd rather just automate it and
hand
them a CD that requires minimal user interaction, if any at all. The
people
that ask for my help typically are not at all computer literate and just
use
their PC's for internet and email. Timing the F8 key press to avoid a
boot
up keyboard error and get to the boot menu is beyond them. I've spent up
to
8 hours repairing each PC infected with spyware/adware, trojans and
viruses
and downloading all service packs and critical patches, so if I give
people
a CD that will clean up their PC using an unattended batch file and turn
on
the automatic updates so the user can download patches on their own time,
I'
d be eternally grateful.





Also, if it's at all possible to set the following options using a batch
file, please enlighten me:



Outlook Express: Turn on the "Warn me when other applications try to send
mail as me" and the "Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that
could potentially be a virus" button.



Internet Explorer: Uncheck "Enable Install On Demand (Internet Explorer)",
uncheck "Enable Install On Demand (other)", uncheck "Enable Third Party
Browser Extensions"



Turn off all auto complete options in Tools; Internet Options; Content and
clear anything that has been saved.



I'm assuming all of those options are stored in the registry, so I guess
if
it's possible to set them in a batch file then I'd need a program that can
update the registry. It's that is accurate, is there a recommended
freeware
program that will update the registry in batch?



Thanks in advance for your help.

You could always do this, Copy the three files Boot.ini, Ntdetect.com, and
Ntldr from the root directory of the boot drive (C:\) to a "Bootable CD".
Boot the computer from this CD and verify that Windows XP starts (this may
require that you change BIOS settings to boot from CD). Label the disk
clearly and store it in a safe place

Edit the Boot.ini file on the CD. Look for a line similar to this

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

then edit to look like this

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn /safeboot:minimal

Make sure you create a Bootable CD with a Program like UltraISO or Roxio 7.

 

[WTC]

You could always do this, Copy the three files Boot.ini, Ntdetect.com, and
Ntldr from the root directory of the boot drive (C:\) to a "Bootable CD".
Boot the computer from this CD and verify that Windows XP starts (this may
require that you change BIOS settings to boot from CD). Label the disk
clearly and store it in a safe place

Edit the Boot.ini file on the CD. Look for a line similar to this

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

then edit to look like this

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn /safeboot:minimal

Make sure you create a Bootable CD with a Program like UltraISO or Roxio
7.

Note: The following value

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)

may be different than yours. If this is true make sure you use yours when
editing the Boot.ini file on the CD.