How to Determine if Windows Is Started in Debug Mode (244876)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.5
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
This article was previously published under Q244876
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 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SUMMARY

This article describes how to determine if your Windows-based computer is started in Debug mode.

MORE INFORMATION

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.

To determine if a Windows-based computer is started in Debug mode, verify the computer's startup options in the registry:
  1. Start Registry Editor.
  2. Locate the following registry key:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control

  3. In the Control key, locate the SystemStartOptions string value. If the computer is in Debug mode, one or more of the debug switches are displayed in the string (for example, /debug, /crashdebug, /debugport, or /baudrate). Any combination of one or more of these switches indicates that the computer is currently in Debug mode. If the computer was started with no options specified, this value is blank.NOTE: This registry value is updated every time the computer starts, and contains the options specific for your current boot selection in the Boot.ini file.

REFERENCES

For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

102987 REG: CurrentControlSet, PART 1

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:5/14/2003
Keywords:kbenv kbinfo KB244876
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