Force a pc to not boot?

[celixarts]

I know this is exactly the opposite of what this section of the forum is for, but I have no idea where else to post it. Is there a way I can force my pc not to boot? Want to play a prank on someone by them finding that the computer is failing to boot. I don't want them to lose personal files etc, and it should not be a difficult fix. I don't know if this is possible as I couldn't find much on it.

Thanks!

[manikyath]

... i mean, i thought it was common knowledge that unplugging the hard drive stops a computer from booting...

[DaltonM]

Unplug the power switch cord lolz

Switch the Powersupply switch off lolz

Dip the PC in water while it's on and throw it out the window lolz

[celixarts]

1 minute ago, manikyath said:

... i mean, i thought it was common knowledge that unplugging the hard drive stops a computer from booting...

trueeeee but is there any means via software that this can be done (inb4 delete system32)

[Coaxialgamer]

You could turn of the psu , or unplug it ( this is more obvious though ). You could also unplug the monitor , or the hard drive

[manikyath]

Just now, celixarts said:

trueeeee but is there any means via software that this can be done (inb4 delete system32)

change boot order to set netboot first?

 

netboot is the only one that never "fails" and passes on to the next one on the list.

[Murasaki]

4 minutes ago, celixarts said:

I know this is exactly the opposite of what this section of the forum is for, but I have no idea where else to post it. Is there a way I can force my pc not to boot? Want to play a prank on someone by them finding that the computer is failing to boot. I don't want them to lose personal files etc, and it should not be a difficult fix. I don't know if this is possible as I couldn't find much on it.

Thanks!

Unplugging the front panel connections are a way too but you will need your mobo manual to figure how to plug em back

[AnonymousGuy]

Remove the CMOS battery or the memory sticks.

[phillrulz]

Just now, AnonymousGuy said:

Remove the CMOS battery or the memory sticks.

+ 1 removal all ram easiest to undo

[Sentryy]

You also could reduce performance by going to run and typing in msconfig and then going to 'boot" and setting it to one core and 2gb of ram and then after just uncheck the boxes and reboot and it will be fine.

[xentropa]

Unplug the 8pin cpu power cable.  The motherboard will start up with all the fans whirring but should be a blank screen the whole time.

[Sors]

If you go in the UEFI and change the SATA mode from AHCI to IDE, the system will start booting and then throw a BSOD error.

 

Changing back to AHCI fixes it intermediately.