Run Batch file before Windows XP loads

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

I am an old school PC user, since the days of old DOS. Back in the day, I
used to make batch files and put calls into the autoexec.bat file to run
them. Being the computer guru I am, I tried to show that to a friend of mine,
but it didn't work!

After a bunch of headache and heart break I realized the autoexec.bat file
doesn't get called in WinXP. But there's an autoexec.nt file in the system32
folder! However that only gets run when you open CMD. I found a solution
about installing a service called AutoExNT, which worked, but too late. The
batch file I am trying to run needs to be run BEFORE I even get a logon
prompt. It needs to be run either during or before the Windows XP logo load
screen shows up. I tried the Win.ini file, I tried making a WinStart.bat file
under C:\Windows, I tried everything I can think of. I really need some help
with this. If anyone has a possible solution, please share, I'd really
appreciate it.

Thanks,
Raven
 
This article may help.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=137890

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
|I am an old school PC user, since the days of old DOS. Back in the day, I
| used to make batch files and put calls into the autoexec.bat file to run
| them. Being the computer guru I am, I tried to show that to a friend of
mine,
| but it didn't work!
|
| After a bunch of headache and heart break I realized the autoexec.bat file
| doesn't get called in WinXP. But there's an autoexec.nt file in the
system32
| folder! However that only gets run when you open CMD. I found a solution
| about installing a service called AutoExNT, which worked, but too late.
The
| batch file I am trying to run needs to be run BEFORE I even get a logon
| prompt. It needs to be run either during or before the Windows XP logo
load
| screen shows up. I tried the Win.ini file, I tried making a WinStart.bat
file
| under C:\Windows, I tried everything I can think of. I really need some
help
| with this. If anyone has a possible solution, please share, I'd really
| appreciate it.
|
| Thanks,
| Raven
 
Sorry, Dave, but that's something I tried. Services run under windows, not
before it. I'm trying to get this batch file to run _before_ windows boots up.
 
Drivers and services are generally the first things to be started. AFAIK it
won't be possible for the operating system to start something earlier but
then again I don't know what it is either.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Sorry, Dave, but that's something I tried. Services run under windows, not
| before it. I'm trying to get this batch file to run _before_ windows boots
up.
 
Hey,
TweakUIXP will transfer desktop settings to the Welcome screen, including
your screensaver, if that helps. So, it can be done to some extent. Look
under "Logon">"Settings" in TweakUI. If your prog can be run as an *.scr,
you're in. -DB
 
I created a cleanup.bat in my c: root directory, then created a shortcut and
put it in Start Menu | Programs | Startup in the first position and it runs
before the other crap starts. This may solve the problem.

Old Codger

Hey,
TweakUIXP will transfer desktop settings to the Welcome screen, including
your screensaver, if that helps. So, it can be done to some extent. Look
under "Logon">"Settings" in TweakUI. If your prog can be run as an *.scr,
you're in. -DB
 
I created a cleanup.bat in my c: root directory
Click to expand...

I hope you aren't cleaning out your temp directories at bootup. If
so, I made that mistake a while back with a cleanup bat file to run on
startup and found out that I was deleting needed files placed in the
temp directory(s) by some installation processes which need you to
reboot before the installation is final.

Just a frinedly thought......

Regards,
 
My bat file rotates my background by renaming all my background image files.

David Candy said:
What does your bat file do?

--
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.uscricket.com
Dave Patrick said:
Drivers and services are generally the first things to be started. AFAIK it
won't be possible for the operating system to start something earlier but
then again I don't know what it is either.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Sorry, Dave, but that's something I tried. Services run under windows, not
| before it. I'm trying to get this batch file to run _before_ windows boots
up.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Sorry, but that actually gets run AFTER all the other crap starts. Things in
the startup folder get loaded last.
 
RavenDT said:
I am an old school PC user, since the days of old DOS. Back in the
day, I used to make batch files and put calls into the autoexec.bat
file to run them. Being the computer guru I am, I tried to show that
to a friend of mine, but it didn't work!
Click to expand...
===> Me, too! Nice to meetcha; wasn't that a great world?
After a bunch of headache and heart break I realized the autoexec.bat
file doesn't get called in WinXP.
Click to expand...
===> Umm, yes, it does, actually. It will also do config.sys. I have XP
Pro and it was defaulted to use them IFF they weren't a 0 length.
Unfortunately, I use Norton System Works Optimizer to make it read those
files on boot, so if they're defaulted to not be read, I don't know where
that is. Maybe an MVP will.

===> From what I've seen, autoexe.nt should work too, but I've never used it
for anything.
I think the important thing to figure out is the what/when all of those
files are used. That same article, when found, will describe several such
files a la ms.dos, autoexec.dos, and so on; a whole lot of them. I searched
my machine ofr them and can't seem to find them - sorry - but maybe an MVP
can step in here to help. You MIGHT get a hint by using the boot funciton
to create bootlog.txt (different name in XP; forgotten that too!)

But there's an autoexec.nt file in
the system32 folder! However that only gets run when you open CMD. I
found a solution about installing a service called AutoExNT, which
worked, but too late. The batch file I am trying to run needs to be
run BEFORE I even get a logon prompt. It needs to be run either
during or before the Windows XP logo load screen shows up. I tried
the Win.ini file, I tried making a WinStart.bat file under
C:\Windows, I tried everything I can think of. I really need some
help with this. If anyone has a possible solution, please share, I'd
really appreciate it.

Thanks,
Raven
Click to expand...

How's that for a non-answer? <g> Sorry, wish I knew what you needed, but
at least I can tell you I use autoexec.bat on XP Pro, and it does work prior
to the loading of the XP gui.

Pop
 
Here's something might help to see what's doing what/when during boot.
Different intent, but might work for you.

Fast Boot /Fast Resume Design

Bootvis is a Boot performance trace visualization tool for use with Windows
XP systems. It gives a graphical view of what processes are doing what and
when during boot and allow you to optimise your boot up. A very handy tool.

Download Bootvis:
http://www.microsoft.com/hwdev/platform/performance/fastboot/default.asp
http://download.microsoft.com/download/whistler/BTV/1.0/WXP/EN-US/bootVis-tool.exe

This is a self extracting ZIP file. Double click the file you just
downloaded and unzip it to the folder of your choice. Locate Bootvis.exe
click on it. You will now see the GUI of bootvis.

Now go to File/New and choose "Next boot trace" or "Next boot and drivers
chase". Leave everything else as is and get ready for a reboot in 15
seconds.

Then click on the Bootvis.exe, it will now output the results, once it has
finished generating the report, you will see graphs 5
or 6 graphs. They look a bit confusing at this stage.

From the main menu .. Click on Trace >> optimize system, then reboot.

You will see a message box "Please wait for bootvis to load" ... about 20
seconds later another message box will appear "Optimizing system for boot
performance" basically bootvis is rearranging the boot files for a faster
startup
 
Back
Top