How to disable F8 boot key on startup?

You could copy the original NTLDR along with the BOOT.ini and NTDETECT.COM
to a floppy disk and boot with it whenever you need to access the boot
menu - just an idea.

"Walter Schulz" <Walter_Schulz@t-online.de> wrote in message
news:9ghplvghks9p7p8fkub34fgeots6eumeiq@4ax.com...

> >I need to disallow users from using F8 key on boot on
> >a XP Home.

>
> Not implemented. The only solution I know is to patch the NTLDR file.
> But this means that nobody ever will be able to use F8 within the
> default boot method.
>
> Ciao, Walter

And if you have a reason to do that, you have a reason to
lock the computer in a physically secure area.

Anyone with physical access to the machine can just
reverse whatever process you do, and have access to F8
again.

>-----Original Message-----
>You could copy the original NTLDR along with the

BOOT.ini and NTDETECT.COM

>to a floppy disk and boot with it whenever you need to

access the boot

>menu - just an idea.
>
>"Walter Schulz" <Walter_Schulz@t-online.de> wrote in

message

>news:9ghplvghks9p7p8fkub34fgeots6eumeiq@4ax.com.. .

>> >I need to disallow users from using F8 key on boot on
>> >a XP Home.

>>
>> Not implemented. The only solution I know is to patch

the NTLDR file.

>> But this means that nobody ever will be able to use F8

within the

>> default boot method.
>>
>> Ciao, Walter

>
>
>.
>

Be sure you set a password on the Administrator account using "control
userpasswords2" from your other sys admin account. Aside from getting
into an admin account using safe mode, what are your concerns about F8?

--
Kent W. England, Microsoft MVP for Windows



"Carlos" <crodrigues@dnimtib.com> wrote in message
news:1063042453.421829@rhun.esoterica.pt...

> I need to disallow users from using F8 key on boot on
> a XP Home.
>
> Tx. Carlos
>
>

Hi,

Any idea of were I can find this patched NTLDR?

Tx
Carlos

"Walter Schulz" <Walter_Schulz@t-online.de> escreveu na mensagem
news:9ghplvghks9p7p8fkub34fgeots6eumeiq@4ax.com...

> >I need to disallow users from using F8 key on boot on
> >a XP Home.

>
> Not implemented. The only solution I know is to patch the NTLDR file.
> But this means that nobody ever will be able to use F8 within the
> default boot method.
>
> Ciao, Walter

---
Correio enviado está livre de Virus.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.512 / Virus Database: 309 - Release Date: 19-08-2003

>Any idea of were I can find this patched NTLDR?

You have to patch it on your own.
Change attributes for NTLDR from Read-Only to writeable.
Open NTLDR with a binary editor and search for
"CD 16 0F 85 09".
Change to
"CD 16 90 90 90".
Reboot.

The messages are still there but pressing F8 will have no
effect at all.
You may want to change the startup line with blanks or any
text you like.

There are some issues you have to be aware of:
Any new SP or hotfix may install a new NTLDR,
reestablishing the F8 key functions.
Nobody will be able to tell you how a MS patch will work
if a changed NTLDR file is present. It may be possible
that the NTLDR will not be touched by the patch.

You have to establish a test environment to evaluate the
behauviour of each upcoming SP, hotfix, patch together
with your customized NTLDR.

And any times a new NTLDR is delivered by MS you have to
patch the new NTLDR again.

Any software checking the integrity of your system may
cause problems if a changed NTLDR is detected!

Patching a file is not supported by MS. Not at all! Indeed
this is something not to tell MS support ...

And of course: There is nobody in the world taking any
responsibility if you run into problems with this one. Oh,
there is a person indeed: You!

Ciao, Walter

PS: Thanks to Michael J. Reynolds for finding the solution
and telling the world about it in
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=d...e=UTF-8&selm=%
23KHS8PNrAHA.840%40tkmsftngp04

BEWARE: Modifying NTLDR is illegal and will invalidate your EULA license! This is the best thing I found so far to disable F8 LEGALLY:

http://guino.home.insightbb.com/nosafemode.html
NOSafeMode – The LEGAL and ELEGANT way to disable F8 and Advanced Boot Options in Windows NT™ based Operating Systems (Including Windows 2000™, Windows XP™ and Windows Vista™)