Dumb Query - RunLevels?

[Filthy McNasty]

Does XP Pro have any accessible equivalent to the RunLevel of Unix/Linux?
I'd like to be able to log into safe mode without rebooting (Don't ask). I
suppose I could just shut down services manually, but if this could be
automated it would be a start. Ideas?

Many thanks

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

How to perform a clean boot in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310353

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.mspx

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| Does XP Pro have any accessible equivalent to the RunLevel of Unix/Linux?
| I'd like to be able to log into safe mode without rebooting (Don't ask). I
| suppose I could just shut down services manually, but if this could be
| automated it would be a start. Ideas?
|
| Many thanks
|
| --
| Will Cornish of Cardigan, UK - No nastier than you; No filthier than usual

 

[Walter Clayton]

Does XP Pro have any accessible equivalent to the RunLevel of Unix/Linux?

Assuming that RunLevel specifies basically a permissions level, then the
closest would be the RunAs option. You'd create a user profile with the
specific permissions level and have the app run with those credentials.

I'd like to be able to log into safe mode without rebooting (Don't ask). I
suppose I could just shut down services manually, but if this could be
automated it would be a start. Ideas?

Safe mode isn't that simple. Not only are some services and startup apps
disabled, but some drivers and OS centric code behaves differently. And with
XP HE the difference is even more dramatic since it's only in formal safe
mode that the security tab on the properties sheet for the explorer GUI is
exposed.

 

[Filthy McNasty]

Using at least one appendage, the entity known in this space-time continuum

How to perform a clean boot in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310353

Not what I meant. In Linux one can adjust one's run-level on the fly, ie Go
from a fully booted system with all bells and whistle to the equivalent of
Windows Safe Mode, and even lower, all without rebooting the computer.
That's what I want. I can disable services selectively to attain a level of
reduced functionality, but I want much more. Thanks for your advice though.
I'd quite forgotten MSConfig's diagnostic startup options

 

[David Candy]

You are a grade A moron. Ask in a linux group if you want to know about legacy systems. If you want to know about XP ask what you want to know. Most of us here ignore legacy systems (as most of us were using real computers when unix was only a toy for poor people like universities).

You could ask MS as they were a unix company untill they wrote XP (NT) to replace Unix. They sold Unix before they sold Dos.

 

[Malke]

Using at least one appendage, the entity known in this space-time
continuum


Not what I meant. In Linux one can adjust one's run-level on the fly,
ie Go from a fully booted system with all bells and whistle to the
equivalent of Windows Safe Mode, and even lower, all without rebooting
the computer. That's what I want. I can disable services selectively
to attain a level of reduced functionality, but I want much more.
Thanks for your advice though. I'd quite forgotten MSConfig's
diagnostic startup options

The answer is "no". You have to reboot to go into Safe Mode or Safe Mode
Command Prompt.

Malke

 

[Filthy McNasty]

Using at least one appendage, the entity known in this space-time continuum

You are a grade A moron

But I'm not rude, and I did hope to head such comments off by the wording
of the thread. I am asking in a Windows XP group for information on
something I would like to know about XP's capabilities. And let's not get
into what is or is not legacy. If it works ... Now I hope I have not
offended you. The degree of sincerity of that wish is in inverse proportion
to the offensiveness of any follow up. And I'd still be grateful for any
pertinent (or good-humouredly impertinent) info. Even a "not possible"
would do, and save wasting anyone else's time

 

[Filthy McNasty]

Using at least one appendage, the entity known in this space-time continuum

The answer is "no".

Thanks. I'd suspected I was out of luck, but some of the
scripting/scheduling tricks used by Disk Imagers/Partion Tools/Similar low-
level stuff to function in a sort of boot-up twilight zone had made me
optimistic

 

[David Candy]

If you don't want to say what you want then none can help you. This is a forum for real computer users not toy OSs.

 

[Filthy McNasty]

Using at least one appendage, the entity known in this space-time

If you don't want to say what you want then none can help you. This is
a forum for real computer users not toy OSs.

Windows XP a toy OS? I said what I wanted, and received civil replies from
others. So, not only uncouth, but only semi-literate. So now I've said
almost all I want. Imagine the rest if you're capable

 

[David Candy]

Well if you think you answers are right...? But then what does it matter, you are a linux user. A clone of MS written software (oh, you didn't realise MS wrote the Intel version of the REAL Unix).

 

[Bob Dietz]

Does XP Pro have any accessible equivalent to the RunLevel of Unix/Linux?
I'd like to be able to log into safe mode without rebooting (Don't ask). I
suppose I could just shut down services manually, but if this could be
automated it would be a start. Ideas?

Many thanks

I'm not a Unix/Linux user and this is the first time I've heard of
RunLevel. You're not going to be able to do precisely what you're asking
for.

As to automatic shut-down of services see -
http://www.overclockersclub.com/guides/windows_xp_services_3.php
and
http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm
(Be sure to read the service descriptions and note dependencies.)

Not what you're asking for at all, but possibly of interest in this context.
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/runas.mspx
http://nonadmin.editme.com/DropMyRights
and
Aaron Margosis' WebLog
The Non-Admin blog - running with least privilege on the desktop
http://weblogs.asp.net/aaron_margosis/

Also
http://www.cygwin.com/

HTH

 

[Admiral Q]

Being a "hobbyist" Linux user and "professional" AIX developer to answer
your question - "NO", to change windows mode (safe, recovery console,
regular windows, even shutdown) like an *ix "run-level" requires a reboot.
For you windows users: Run-Level on *ix machines, which is initiated on
boot or by issuing a "telinit" command by a superuser and a level you wish
to transition to:

0 or 6 - shutdown (Depends on the flavor/distro of *ix).
1 - single user mode
2 - single user mode, with networking
3 - multi user mode, text only boot up
4 - not used
5 - multi user mode, Xwindow boot up

The default boot up mode is set in the /etc/inittab, normally a 3 or 5

--
Star Fleet Admiral Q @ your service!
"Google is your Friend!"
www.google.com

***********************************************

 

[Filthy McNasty]

Using at least one appendage, the entity known in this space-time

Being a "hobbyist" Linux user and "professional" AIX developer to
answer your question - "NO", to change windows mode (safe, recovery
console, regular windows, even shutdown) like an *ix "run-level"
requires a reboot. For you windows users: Run-Level on *ix machines,
which is initiated on boot or by issuing a "telinit" command by a
superuser and a level you wish to transition to:

I'd like to thank most of the people who've replied. Had a recent glitch
which obliged me to go trawling through the horrors of the recovery
console when even Safe Mode was denied to me ("uncleanly dismounted
disk" or similar - 2 partitions invisible to XP Pro, even in the RC, but
accessible to other disk utils which the RC disallowed). Anyway, got me
wondering if there might be some place between RC and Safe Mode, in
which the extremely limited RC command line (No wildcards, no use of
accessible console recovery progs etc) might be improved on. Wouldn't
have gotten me out of the specific problem I had, but for something a
bit less complex perhaps

It was the RC which bailed me out in the end (I think), though perhaps
it was a combo of External tools and a lot of squinting into that black
RC box. Having a 12-hour old backup also helped . That said, before
diskpart (not much use when it can't even see 2 parts)/format/restore, I
wanted to find out WHAT had laid me low so that I could take whatever
steps needed

Too much, and too many brackets. Again thanks. Did I just meet my first
troll here? What was that all about?

--
Will Cornish of Cardigan, UK - No nastier than you; No filthier than
usual

To EMail Remove Anti-Spam Spaces: filthy-mcnasty @
btconnect.com

 

[David Candy]

Unlike toy OSs Windows is designed for security. This makes repair difficult. It is trying to allow enough access to repair but not allowing you to suck or alter data off the disk.

 

[Bob Dietz]

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

--
Bob Dietz

Using at least one appendage, the entity known in this space-time
continuum as "Admiral Q"
<Star_Fleet_Admiral_Q(NOSPAM)@(SPAMNOT)hotmail.com> revealed in




I'd like to thank most of the people who've replied. Had a recent glitch
which obliged me to go trawling through the horrors of the recovery
console when even Safe Mode was denied to me ("uncleanly dismounted
disk" or similar - 2 partitions invisible to XP Pro, even in the RC, but
accessible to other disk utils which the RC disallowed). Anyway, got me
wondering if there might be some place between RC and Safe Mode, in
which the extremely limited RC command line (No wildcards, no use of
accessible console recovery progs etc) might be improved on. Wouldn't
have gotten me out of the specific problem I had, but for something a
bit less complex perhaps

It was the RC which bailed me out in the end (I think), though perhaps
it was a combo of External tools and a lot of squinting into that black
RC box. Having a 12-hour old backup also helped . That said, before
diskpart (not much use when it can't even see 2 parts)/format/restore, I
wanted to find out WHAT had laid me low so that I could take whatever
steps needed

Too much, and too many brackets. Again thanks. Did I just meet my first
troll here? What was that all about?

 

[Sharon F]

Using at least one appendage, the entity known in this space-time

[6 quoted lines suppressed]

I'd like to thank most of the people who've replied. Had a recent glitch
which obliged me to go trawling through the horrors of the recovery
console when even Safe Mode was denied to me ("uncleanly dismounted
disk" or similar - 2 partitions invisible to XP Pro, even in the RC, but
accessible to other disk utils which the RC disallowed). Anyway, got me
wondering if there might be some place between RC and Safe Mode, in
which the extremely limited RC command line (No wildcards, no use of
accessible console recovery progs etc) might be improved on. Wouldn't
have gotten me out of the specific problem I had, but for something a
bit less complex perhaps

It was the RC which bailed me out in the end (I think), though perhaps
it was a combo of External tools and a lot of squinting into that black
RC box. Having a 12-hour old backup also helped . That said, before
diskpart (not much use when it can't even see 2 parts)/format/restore, I
wanted to find out WHAT had laid me low so that I could take whatever
steps needed

Too much, and too many brackets. Again thanks. Did I just meet my first
troll here? What was that all about?

Bob mentioned Bart's PE in his reply to you. Another approach I've read
about but have not tried is Knoppix. This operating system can be burned to
a CD that one can use to boot. Use the Knoppix interface. If repairs are
out of reach, you can at least grab data files. Use the cd burning tool in
Knoppix to copy those files from the hard drive.

 

[Filthy McNasty]

Using at least one appendage, the entity known in this space-time continuum

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

I've been meaning to have a look at BartPE. Now downloading. Off to go play
with my new toy. No more black box - Till the next panic

 

[Filthy McNasty]

Using at least one appendage, the entity known in this space-time

Another approach I've read
about but have not tried is Knoppix.

Got it somewhere on a Linux Format Magazine CoverDVD. One real help was
my SuSE system (Source ditto) which has helped before. I really only use
Linux as a fallback for the smellier moments. It could see the absent
partitions that XP couldn't, so I was able to copy to safety the very
few altered files since Backup (Acronis TrueImage to the 2nd HD it
shares with SuSE - Thanks to a PC Plus CoverDVD. I DO love Future
Publishing)

The scornful gent did make one valid point - Microsoft hardly want us
crawling easily through XP's innards. Would be an open invitation to
every script kiddy. Sigh

--
Will Cornish of Cardigan, UK - No nastier than you; No filthier than
usual

To EMail Remove Anti-Spam Spaces: filthy-mcnasty @
btconnect.com