"Rick "Nutcase" Rogers" <rick@mvps.org> wrote in message
news:e2d1YdLDGHA.3920@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> Hi,
>
>> Are device drivers still loaded, even if the device is disabled?
>
> Not if disabled.
>
>> If so, would creating a hardware profile of just the essential hardware
>> restrict the devices loaded?
>
> It would, but simply disabling them should be sufficient.
>
>> Alternatively, is there a way of stepping through driver loading during
>> bootup? (I seem to remember being able to do this in W95, though I could
>> be hallucinating...)
>
> I miss that confirmation boot (Win95/98), it was a nice way to
> troubleshoot a driver related startup problem.
>
> Things work better in Safe mode as your are not loading full driver sets,
> just basic functionality. The problems can be twofold. A full driver set
> may be corrupt, or could be in conflict with other drivers. Start by
> disabling unneeded devices, then by reverting back to base drivers
> (standard VGA, 101/102 keyboard, etc.).
>

Thanks for the advice - and your clarity )

bhd.