Fast reboot NT4/w2k/XP/2003

by Axxie (axxieX@mail.ru (remove X)), Alter (alterX@alter.org.ua (remove X))

This utility can

  • perform quick system reboot correctly with possibility of saving User Profile. It also allows to initiate usual shutdown/reboot/logoff/poweroff process from command prompt or when Ctrl-Alt-Shift-Del is pressed.
  • initiate reboot to any OS defined in BOOT.INI when by Ctrl-Alt-Shift-Break hot-key.
  • force applications to terminate

Usage

When freboot.exe is started without any switches for the first time, it displays GUI configuration dialog. If freboot.exe is already installed, it will operate according to Registry settings:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run],"FastReboot"

GUI configuration dialog can also be called with --setup switch.

-q (Quick Reboot) and -m (Reboot Manager) keys enables hot-keys Ctrl-Alt-Shift-Del and Ctrl-Alt-Shift-Break respectively. Ctrl-Alt-Shift-Del initiates quick reboot or shutdown according to additional keys -r, -s, -p, -l. Ctrl-Alt-Shift-Break displays OS selection list constructed from BOOT.INI. When OS is chosen, machine reboots to it like when Ctrl-Alt-Shift-Del is pressed. The main advantage is that freboot.exe rebuilds BOOT.INI and makes selected OS default. You need not waiting for WinNT boot-manager's manu and select item there.

-f forces applications to terminate before ending session.

If you use -u User Profile of the current user will be saved before quick reboot (thus, FReboot is also useful under NT4 OS).

To use quick reboot mode you need Administrator privileges.
If none of -q, -m and -u keys is specified, normal shutdown/reboot/logoff/poweroff process with optional forcing applications to terminate shall be performed.

If you have some services, those must be correctly stopped before shutdown, you can add '--script <script_full_path>' key. After that FReboot will execute your script before initiating shutdown process. For example I use the following script 'stop_crit_svc.bat':

net stop "Apache"
net stop "OracleServiceRECOGN"
net stop "OracleOraHome81TNSListener"

Here is the list of all available switches:

key description
<none> wait for Ctrl-Alt-Shift-Del and initiate Quick Reboot
-i reboot immediately (can be used with -u)
-q initiate reboot when Ctrl-Alt-Shift-Del is pressed
-m invoke 'Reboot to' OS selection menu when Ctrl-Alt-Shift-Break is pressed
-r reboot
-s shutdown
-l logoff
-p poweroff
-u save User Profiles when performing Quick Reboot
-f force applications to terminate
--script <script_path> execute specified application or bat-file before reboot
--setup run GUI setup dialog

Install notes

setup.bat runs FReboot.exe in configuration mode. After successful setup 2 Registry values are set.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run],"FastReboot"

This string value instructs shell (explorer.exe) to run FReboot.exe with some switches.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment],"BootDrive"

This value defines BootDrive system variable, which is used by FReboot to locate BOOT.INI.



Please, send your comments and propositions here: axxieX@mail.ru (remove X) , alterX@alter.org.ua (remove X)