Using MSCONFIG to Make Startup Faster
Note: This may not be a manual for users with Windows 2000
Contents:
CH1 Before You Start
CH2 First Off…
CH3 How to Backup MSCONFIG Settings (*)
CH4 What MSCONFIG Does and How to Change Startup (*)
CH5 How to Revert Back to Original
CH6 How to Remove Windows XP Console/OS Startup Selection SAFETLY (Win XP only)
CH7 I did something, and now I think my computer is DOOMED!
(* Means that you need to read ALL of the information for best results)
CH1, Before You Start
MSCONFIG is a program that edits your startup items. Its not a good idea to go around editing every option in every tab. MSCONFIG is a powerful program when it comes to making a computer start quicker, however, changes can result in damage to your computer.
CH2, First Off…
To start MSCONFIG, you need to be in Windows. (If you are in DOS because you thought you needed to be, type “WIN” to start Windows)
Click Start, then Run (or press WindowsKey+R) and type MSCONFIG.
On some computers, MSCONFIG might not exist. MSCONFIG is NOT a DOS or Windows 3.x program.
CH3, How to Backup MSCONFIG Settings
For computers without Windows XP:
On the MSCONFIG control panel, there should be a “Make Backup” (or similar) button. There should also be a restore backup button. Click the backup button.
Windows XP users:
Windows XP version of MSCONFIG may not have a backup button, instead, you need to make sure that System Restore is on.
Also, make a restore point before changing any settings.
CH4, What MSCONFIG Does
MSCONFIG will modify the following:
Startup, Services, Boot, WIN, and System .INI Files…
In most cases, you should only edit the Startup options.
Checking a checkbox enables a program/option, unchecking disables it.
To start off, click the “Startup” tab.
A list of many programs will appear.
Look through these programs, uncheck the ones you don’t use, or don’t want.
Keep any firewall or virus scanner startup items.
Do not uncheck and RUNDLL programs! Doing so will cause your computer to go nuts!
You will notice that most of these are startup registry keys… and some are actual files that start, both types can be removed.
CH5 How to Revert Back to Original
Windows XP users will need to use “System Restore” to get their settings back the way they were before they were changed.
Users without Windows XP should click the restore backup button to get their settings back.
CH6 How to Remove Windows XP Console/OS Startup Selection SAFETLY (Win XP only)
Do not use these directions if you have more than one Windows Operating System installed!
Any time you modify the MSCONFIG startup settings, you will run into one slight problem: For three seconds on startup, there will be a message letting you choose to either load the Windows XP Recovery Console, or load Windows XP.
You will want to change the three second value to 0 to get rid of the message
Before starting, make sure MSCONFIG is closed, and that you have restarted since the changes you have made.
Right click on the “My Computer” icon, or go into the Control Panel, and edit the system settings.
Once you get to System Properties, click the “Advanced” tab, then go to “Startup and Recovery” then click Settings.
In the settings, you will see “System Startup”, here, there is only one option that you should change. And that is the “Time to Display List of Operating Systems”
Change it from “3” to “0”
CH7 I did something, and now I think my computer is DOOMED!
So, you did something, and now your computer doesn’t start at all!
I laugh, because you probably did something that this guide said NOT to do.
If you can, start in SafeMode.
To enter safe mode:
Right before your computer displays the Windows screen (right after loading the BIOS) start pressing F8
Once you have started in SafeMode, you will be able to go into MSCONFIG again, or even a GUI version of System Restore.
Hope this guide helps you get a faster computer!
