Microsoft KB Archive/244876

= How to Determine if Windows Is Started in Debug Mode =

Article ID: 244876

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
 * Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.5
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition

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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:  Start Registry Editor. Locate the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control

 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.

