Computer and Software Support


 Limiting MSCONFIG

 One of the steps to troubleshoot windows is to limit what starts in Windows MSCONFIG provides a means to limit what starts in windows. MSCONFIG provides a means to limit what starts without having to delete the item. If you delete the item, and want it back, you have to re-install it. In MSCONFIG, you can turn it off or on as many times as you like. If you disable something and you realize you should have left it on, you can just re-enable it.

You can also disable items to limit what runs in the background. The more items you have running in the background the more resources are used. If you do not have much memory, you may need to limit what is running in the background.

Click the step you need help with

To limit MSCONFIG for troubleshooting purposes follow the steps below

Click on the hyperlink for instructions for that step

For troubleshooting do the following

  1. Access Run or Search window

  2. Type in MSCONFIG in the run or search window

  3. Click OK

  4. Under General tab, if the radio button for Normal is checked, skip to step 6

  5. Write down all items under each tab that is unchecked so you can return MSCONFIG back to the original state when you are finished troubleshooting the system. Once they are written down proceed to next step. (Don't us the order to remember what is checked because the order may change on reboot so write them down)

  6. Click Startup tab

  7. Click Disable All

  8. Click on the Services tab

  9. Place a check in Hide All Microsoft services checkbox

  10. Click on Disable All

  11. Click on Apply

  12. Click OK

  13. Click OK

  14. When you are finished, you can return the system back to the original state by reversing the steps here.

 

To limit MSCONFIG to limit the resources that is being used follow the steps below

Click on the hyperlink for instructions for that step

  1. Access Run or Search window

  2. Type in MSCONFIG in the run or search window

  3. Click OK

  4. Under General tab, if the radio button for Normal is checked, skip to step 6

  5. Write down all items under each tab that is unchecked so you can return MSCONFIG back to the original state when you are finished troubleshooting the system. Once they are written down proceed to next step. (Don't us the order to remember what is checked because the order may change on reboot so write them down)

  6. Click Startup tab

  7. Uncheck the items you do not want to run automatically (the program can still run but you have to manually tell it to run. It will not run without user interaction)

  8. Click on the Services tab

  9. Uncheck the items you do not want to run automatically  (the program can still run but you have to manually tell it to run. It will not run without user interaction)

  10. Click on Apply

  11. Click OK

  12. Click OK

 

NOTES

 

Sometimes you disable a program but it will get re-enabled. This is because another program, or that program was activated and it enabled itself. If that happens, you will have to decide if you want to live with it or remove the program entirely.

 

If you notice a program that you do want to run is not running, you may have disabled it. Check the items you disabled and re-enable any that you want to run.