Chapter 3

MSCONFIG and the Task Manager

IN THIS CHAPTER

Bullet Discovering the MSCONFIG utility

Bullet Accessing the various tools

Bullet Finding other tools in Windows

Bullet Viewing options, settings, and controls

Bullet Reviewing startup services

Bullet Deactivating a startup service

For diagnosing and repairing Windows startup issues, nothing beats MSCONFIG. The utility is called System Configuration, but it’s better known as MSCONFIG. Regardless, it’s a handy tool for controlling how Windows starts and which services are started, as well as a central location for accessing other Windows tools and utilities.

The System Configuration Utility

I use the System Configuration utility so frequently that it’s generally the default item that appears in the Run dialog box. To display this dialog box, press the Windows+R keyboard shortcut and type msconfig. Press Enter.

Figure 3-1 shows the General tab in the System Configuration ...

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