Article ID: 165748 - Last Review: November 1, 2006 - Revision: 3.1

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

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This article was previously published under Q165748
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
256986  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256986/EN-US/ ) Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry
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SYMPTOMS

If a service or device driver is started automatically and is incompatible with the current version of Windows NT or Windows 2000, the service or device driver may not allow Windows to remain booted long enough for you to shut the service off or disable the outdated device driver.
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CAUSE

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

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk. Perform the following steps to resolve this problem:
  1. Install a parallel copy of Windows to a different folder on your local hard disk.

    NOTE: For the procedure and additional information on parallel installation, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
    259003  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/259003/EN-US/ ) How and Why to Perform a Parallel Installation of Windows NT 4.0
  2. Run Regedt32.exe from the newly installed version of Windows and go to the following key:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
  3. On the Registry menu, click Load Hive, and then open the following registry file in the original Windows installation: 
          %SystemRoot%\System32\Config\System
    Assign it a name other than System (such as "Test") in the next dialog box (the Key Name dialog box).

    NOTE: The file must be open before the key name is changed.
  4. 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
  5. Perform the following steps to disable a service:
    1. 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
    2. Change the value of Start:REG_DWORD: to 0x4.

      NOTE: Other Valid Services start options are: 
               Automatic   0X2
         Manual      0x3
         Disabled    0x4
  6. Perform the following steps to disable a device driver:
    1. 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
    2. 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
    3. 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
    4. Quit Registry Editor, exit the parallel version of Windows, and then reboot the original version of Windows. The service or device that corresponds to the edited key are now disabled.
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APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Edition
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.51
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition
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Keywords: 
kb3rdparty kbenv KB165748
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