System Configuration Utility (Msconfig.exe) automates the routine troubleshooting steps that Microsoft Product Support Services te...
System Configuration Utility (Msconfig.exe) automates the routine troubleshooting steps that Microsoft Product Support Services technicians use when they diagnose Windows configuration issues. You can use this tool to modify the system configuration and troubleshoot the problem by using a process-of-elimination method.You must be logged on as Administrator or as a member of the administrative groups to use System Configuration Utility. If your computer is connected to a network, network policy settings may prevent you from using the utility. As a security "best practice," consider using the Run as command to perform these procedures.Note Microsoft strongly recommends that you do not use System Configuration Utility to modify the Boot.ini file on your computer without the help of a Microsoft support professional. Doing so may render your computer unusable.
To Create a Clean Environment for Troubleshooting
Click Start, click Run, type msconfig in the Open box, and then click OK. (To use the Run as command, type runas /user:administrator Path\msconfig.exe in the Open box, and then click OK. )
Click the General tab, click Diagnostic startup - load basic devices and services only, click OK, and then click Restart to restart your computer.
After Windows starts, determine whether the problem still occurs.
To Isolate Problems by Using System Startup Options
Click Start, click Run, type msconfig in the Open box, and then click OK.
Click the General tab, and then click Selective Startup.
Click to clear the following check boxes:
Process SYSTEM.INI FileProcess WIN.INI FileLoad System ServicesYou will not be able to clear the Use Original BOOT.INI check box.
To test the software loading process, make sure the Load Startup Items check box is selected, and then click OK.
Restart the computer when you are prompted to do so.
To Isolate Problems by Using Selective Startup Options
Click Start, click Run, type msconfig in the Open box, and then click OK.
Click the General tab, and then click Selective Startup.
Click to clear all the check boxes under Selective Startup. You will not be able to clear the Use Original BOOT.INI check box.
Click to select the Process SYSTEM.INI File check box, click OK, and then restart the computer when you are prompted.Repeat this process and select each check box one at a time. Restart your computer each time. Repeat the process until the problem occurs.
When the problem occurs, click the tab that corresponds to the selected file. For example, if the problem occurs after you select the Win.ini file, click the WIN.INI tab in System Configuration Utility.
To Isolate Problems by Using the Startup Tab
The Startup tab lists items that load at startup from the Startup group, Win.ini load= and run=, and the registry.
Click Start, click Run, type msconfig in the Open box, and then click OK.
Click the Startup tab.
Click to clear all check boxes.
To start troubleshooting, click to select the first check box, click OK, and then restart the computer when you are prompted.Repeat this process and select each check box one at a time. Restart your computer each time. Repeat the process until the problem occurs.
To Troubleshoot System Services
Click Start, click Run, type msconfig in the Open box, and then click OK.
Click the Services tab.
Make a note of any services that are not selected. IMPORTANT Do not skip this step. You will need this information later.
Click Disable All, click OK, and then restart your computer.
Click Start, click Run, type msconfig in the Open box, and then click OK.
Click the Services tab.
Click to select the check box of a service to turn it on, and then click OK.
Restart your computer, and see if the problem occurs.
Repeat steps 5 through 8 for each service until the problem occurs. When the problem occurs, you will know that the last service you turned on is causing the problem. Make a note of this service, and go to step 10.
Click Enable All, click to clear the check box next to the faulty service, click to clear the check boxes of any other services you made note of in step 3, click OK, and then restart your computer. As a workaround, you can leave the faulty service turned off (not selected). Contact the manufacturer of the faulty service for more assistance. Note You might be able to determine more quickly which service is causing the problem by testing the services in groups. Divide the services into two groups--select the check boxes of the first group, and clear the check boxes of the second group. Restart your computer, and then test for the problem. If the problem occurs, the faulty service is in the group with the selected check boxes. If the problem does not occur, the faulty service is in the group with the cleared check boxes. Repeat this process on the faulty group until you have isolated the faulty service.
To Troubleshoot the System.ini FileClick Start, click Run, type msconfig in the Open box, and then click OK.
Click the SYSTEM.INI tab.
Make a note of any items that are not selected. You might have to expand some items (such as [drivers]) to determine if any sub-items are not selected. IMPORTANT Do not skip this step. You will need this information later.
Click Disable All, click OK, and then restart your computer.
Click Start, click Run, type msconfig in the Open box, and then click OK.
Click the SYSTEM.INI tab.
Expand all items in the list, click the check box of an item to turn it on, and then click OK.
Restart your computer, and see if the problem occurs.
Repeat steps 5 through 8 for each item until the problem occurs.When the problem occurs, you will know that the last item you turned on is causing the problem. Make a note of this item, and then go to step 10.
Click Enable All, click to clear the check box next to the faulty item, click to clear the check boxes of any other items you made note of in step 3, click OK, and then restart your computer.As a workaround, you can leave the faulty item turned off (not selected). If possible, contact the manufacturer of the faulty item for more assistance. Note You might be able to determine more quickly which System.ini item is causing the problem by testing the items in groups. Divide the items into two groups--select the check boxes of the first group, and clear the check boxes of the second group. Restart your computer, and then test for the problem. If the problem occurs, the faulty service is in the group with the selected check boxes. If the problem does not occur, the faulty service is in the group with the cleared check boxes. Repeat this process on the faulty group until you have isolated the faulty System.ini item.
To Troubleshoot the Win.ini File
Click Start, click Run, type msconfig in the Open box, and then click OK.
Click the WIN.INI tab.
Make a note of any items that are not selected. You might have to expand some items (such as [OLFax Ports]) to determine if any sub-items are not selected. IMPORTANT Do not skip this step. You will need this information later.
Click Disable All, click OK, and then restart your computer.
Click Start, click Run, type msconfig in the Open box, and then click OK.
Click the WIN.INI tab.
Expand all items in the list, click the check box of an item to turn it on, and then click OK.
Restart your computer, and see if the problem occurs.
Repeat steps 5 through 8 for each item until the problem occurs.When the problem occurs, you will know that the last item you turned on is causing the problem. Make a note of this item, and then go to step 10.
Click Enable All, click to clear the check box of the faulty item, click to clear the check boxes of any other items you made note of in step 3, click OK, and then restart your computer.As a workaround, you can leave the faulty item turned off (not selected). If possible, contact the manufacturer of the faulty item for more assistance.Note You might be able to determine more quickly which Win.ini item is causing the problem by testing the items in groups. Divide the items into two groups--select the check boxes of the first group, and clear the check boxes of the second group. Restart your computer, and then test for the problem. If the problem occurs, the faulty service is in the group with the selected check boxes. If the problem does not occur, the faulty service is in the group with the cleared check boxes. Repeat this process on the faulty group until you have isolated the faulty Win.ini item.
To Troubleshoot the Boot.ini File
Only system administrators and advanced users should try to change the Boot.ini file. Steps for troubleshooting Boot.ini are beyond the scope of this article. For additional information, search the Microsoft Knowledge Base. To do this, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
Microsoft Product Support Serviceshttp://support.microsoft.com (http://support.microsoft.com/)
To Reset System Configuration Utility to Normal Startup
To reset System Configuration Utility to normal startup, follow these steps:
Click Start, click Run, type msconfig in the Open box, and then click OK.
On the General tab, click Normal Startup - load all device drivers and services, and then click OK.
Restart your computer.
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