Can we startup Windows with a "minimum" set of drivers?

[joseph]

Hi all,

On the Macintosh, a user is allowed to create/customize several profiles. Each of the profile corresponds to a list of drivers (Network, Printer, Display .... Deguging driver, Multimedia QUicktime drivers ... ) to load upon startup. On the Windows system, there are a few modes like the "Safe Mode", "Safe Mode w/Networking" .... but they are quite limited.

In reallty, a programmer might need a profile with lots of drivers even if it takes time to load. The programmer's buddy might only be interested in booting up to IE to get on the Internet. A tool that will allow a user to customize driver list and restart in a different "profile" will be useful.
Windows is really heavy these days. Windows2000 runs slowly on a Pentium 500MHz while a linux runs smoothly. Is there any way we can startup with a "minimum" set of drivers? In other words, how can we maximize the speed of Windows by minimize the burdens on a Windows OS for users in different mode (Dev-mode, Internet-browse-mode, etc)?

I clearly remember the snappiness of my new PC@2GHz. After installing Office, it's slow as a snail. After adding VisualStudio, it's worse. But sometimes I simply don't need to get into any of those.

Is such a tool (maybe WinScript? ) doable? How?

 

[f/fgeorge]

It is called Windows Lite and you can do a google search for it

 

[SaltPeter]

Hi all,

On the Macintosh, a user is allowed to create/customize several profiles.

Each of the profile >corresponds to a list of drivers (Network, Printer,
Display .... Deguging driver, Multimedia >QUicktime drivers ... ) to load
upon startup. On the Windows system, there are a few modes >like the "Safe
Mode", "Safe Mode w/Networking" .... but they are quite limited.

In reallty, a programmer might need a profile with lots of drivers even if

it takes time to >load. The programmer's buddy might only be interested in
booting up to IE to get on the >Internet. A tool that will allow a user to
customize driver list and restart in a different >"profile" will be useful.

Windows is really heavy these days. Windows2000 runs slowly on a Pentium

500MHz while a >linux runs smoothly. Is there any way we can startup with a
"minimum" set of drivers? In >other words, how can we maximize the speed of
Windows by minimize the burdens on a >Windows OS for users in different mode
(Dev-mode, Internet-browse-mode, etc)?

I clearly remember the snappiness of my new PC@2GHz. After installing

Office, it's slow as a >snail. After adding VisualStudio, it's worse. But
sometimes I simply don't need to get into >any of those.

Is such a tool (maybe WinScript? ) doable? How?

If you support multiple accounts, you might try disabling automatic logons
on bootup in order to properly configure seperate accounts. This will give
you a chance to specify what account to login with on each startup or
logoff.

W2K is a user-level OS, it uses a local or domain based Security
architecture and supports hardware configurations. Which means you can
define what a user can process, which application starts with whom and what
hardware profile to boot with.

For hardware profiles: (use the doc as a guide)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q225810

Local Security Policy can restrict applications and a user can't run
anything not installed on his login account profile (documented in W2K help
files). You can use XP's msconfig to help manage / identify applications
starting with W2K from both a system and user profile point of view.
http://www.insideproject.com/downloads/msconfig2k/msconfig.zip

You should revise what services and applications are installed with your
system so as to determine what you need and what you don't. A quick search
at www.google.com for "W2K application stratup" can help you better manage
W2K. In the case of Office, disable FindFast which duplicates the already
useless activity of the indexing service.

You can even run multiple account profiles simultaneously using the "start"
command from prompt or "run as". Type "run as /?" to get help at a command
interpreter (all of which can be scripted in a simple batch file).

Additionally, multiple accounts can hold elevated privileges but be carefull
about how you use an administor.

 

[Kenji Yamamoto [Security MVP]]

Bonjour.

|Subject: Can we startup Windows with a "minimum" set of drivers?
|From: joseph <[email protected]>
|Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 14:59:54 -0800
|Message-Id: <[email protected]>
|X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1165
|User-Agent: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1158

| On the Macintosh, a user is allowed to create/customize several profiles.

Euh, Windows also has "hardware profile" thing. Pls check this
with your machine. I have seen this in 95, 98, NT3.51, NT4, 2000,
XP and 2003. So I believe you can find this easily. sysdm.cpl or
the property of "system" is the one. Is this what you wanted to
see?

Pls let me add a comment to your posting itself. Pls refrain
from multi- or cross- posting to different linguistic groups, as
your post becomes a big public nuisance to that group. You know,
FR means French and JP means Japanese, for example. Never repeat
that kind of silly thing again, please. Let's think about the
audience. ;-)

To French Users:
Je suis desole, mais je n'ai pas l'intention de intrusion.

Ce que l'affiche originale a voulu demander est s'il y a
"hardware profile" dans Windows, comme MacOS.
Il/elle a voulu distinguer et employer les "drivers" appropries
dans le materiel change.

Ainsi, j'ai dirige la propriete du "systeme". Je l'ai vu dans
95,98,NT3.5(1), NT4, 2000, xp, et 2003.

$BF|K\8l$r$*;H$$$N3'$5$s(B:
$B85$N<ALd$O0[$J$k%O!<%I%&%'%"$N2t$r;H$$J,$1$k:]!"%I%i%$%P$N%;%C%H(B
$B$G$I$l$rFI$_9~$`$+$r;H$$J,$1$k$?$a$N!V%O!<%I%&%'%"%W%m%U%!%$%k!W$C(B
$B$F(B Mac $B$G$h$/8+$+$1$F$?$1$I!"(BWindows $B$G$OF1Ey5!G=$C$F$J$$$N(B?$B!"$H(B
$B$$$&<ALd$G$7$?!#$J$N$G!"$9$03NG'$G$-$k$3$H$H$7$F!"!V%7%9%F%`!W$N(B
$B%W%m%Q%F%#!"$r8+$F$M!"$H>e$G%3%a%s%H$rJV$5$;$FLc$C$F$^$9!#(B95, 98,
NT3.5(1), NT4, 2000, XP, 2003 $B$G8+$+$1$^$9$h$M!#(B

Regards,

Kenji Yamamoto [MVP]

--
"La maniere la plus profonde de sentir quelque chose est d'en souffrir."
(Gustav Flaubert, 'Carnet')
Kenji Yamamoto, Microsoft MVP (Security; Windows Server Systems), MCP+I, MCSE (TCP/IP, IIS4, IEAK4)
TechNet ITPro Security Community: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/community/mvp/default.mspx
mailto:[email protected]