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Blind Login and Blind Shutdown of Windows 7


Blind Login and Blind Shutdown of Windows 7

My laptop has dual operating systems: Linux and Windows 7.

Maybe it was a recent update to Windows. Maybe it was the aftermath of an unsuccessful viral attack. Whatever the reason, I found that it suddenly became very difficult to log into Windows 7.

Linux puts up a purple screen while booting. Windows would boot behind the purple screen, but the purple screen would not go away. For a while, I could only get into Windows by starting the Windows login and then inducing a power failure by pulling the battery while the laptop was unplugged. When I restarted the laptop, it would often (but not always!) bring up the option to start in Safe Mode. For some reason, selecting “Start Normally” would usually get me into Windows. That said, it was an unhappy Windows 7. It was no longer possible to Hibernate, Sleep, or Sign Off of the login ID. The only option to stop Windows was “Shut Down.” And even then, it would often hang on shutdown.

I decided to try recording the steps for startup and shutdown so that I could do it blind;

1. Blind Startup

Select Windows Bootlogger
When purple screen appears, wait for the opening Windows chime (“New York New York”)
Password [enter]
Wait for two-tone system startup tone (low-high).
The system is now logged in and running, whether you can see it or not!

2. Blind Shutdown

[Ctrl][Alt][Del] Wait 30 seconds for the shutdown options menu to load.
[Down Arrow] Once
[Enter] to select ID Logout
Wait 30-60 seconds for ID Logout tone (high-low)
[tab][tab][tab][Enter] to turn off computer

Results

Doing a blind startup and blind shutdown often (but not always!) allowed me to log into Windows 7 normally several times after that.

Resolution

After a recent Win 7 Update, the purple screen no longer interfered with Win 7 login. I no longer need this procedure—But it occurs to me that I might someday need to log in or log off without being able to see the screen. So to the blog it goes...
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