Lab 2: Modifying the Start Display List

Lab 2

Modifying The Startup Display List

Zulfadli Bin Mohd Saad

Computer Technology, Department of Electronic

MARA Vocational Institute, Sik, Kedah.

Lab 2: Modifying the Start Display List
You have successfully installed Windows Server 2003 on the computer and it is now running. You should currently be logged in as Administrator. Close any dialog boxes that are active.

After installing Windows Server 2003, the computer now has two operating systems on it. The default operating system that the computer starts has been changed from Windows XP to Windows Server 2003.

In this exercise, you will alter the startup settings of the computer so that it reverts back to Windows XP instead of Windows Server 2003. You will also modify the startup display list to include an adequate description of your installation, so that you can readily identify it from other installations on the same computer (the computer may end up with two or more Windows Server 2003 installations due to the size of student groups, so you need to know which your installation is).

The file boot.ini resides on the boot partition [drive c:] and allows the computer to display a list of installed operating systems at boot time.

Accessing Boot.ini
1. Click on My Computer (Start – My Computer)
2. Double-click on Local Disk (C:)

You will note that the file boot.ini does not appear in the window. This is because the folder view for the current window does not display hidden files, so you will now need to change the folder view.

Changing the folder view
3. Click on the Tools option on the menu bar and select Folder Options
4. Select the View tab
5. Select the option Show hidden files and folders

6. Uncheck the box Hide protected operating system files

7. Click YES to the warning dialog box that appears concerning the hiding of protected operating system files.

8. Click Apply
9. Click OK

You will now have an icon that represents the file boot.ini in the window.

Editing boot.ini
10. Double click boot.ini

This will load boot.ini into a text editor (notepad) so you can edit it. The file will look similar to

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Windows Server 2003, Enterprise" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

11. Change the line

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Windows Server 2003, Enterprise" /fastdetect

to

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Your domain name here" /fastdetect

(replace "Your domain name here" with the domain name given to you by your instructor [e.g. 3a Server 21]).

example :

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="3a Server 21" /fastdetect

12. Save the file and exit notepad.

13. Close My Computer.

SPECIFYING BOOT OPTIONS
Currently, the computer will boot Windows Server 2003. This is not what it used to be prior to the installation you just performed.

In this section you will set the default boot operating system back to Windows XP. You could have done this when you were modifying boot.ini earlier (as that is where it is specified).

1. Open System (click Start, Control Panel, System)

2. Click the Advanced tab

3. Click Setting on Startup and Recovery section.

4. Select "Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect as the startup operating system

5. Click OK

6. Click OK to close System Properties

RESTART THE COMPUTER