Tip of the day: Troubleshoot slow startups, Part 2

Tips, Windows 1 Minute

Yesterday, I explained how to rule out startup problems that are specific to your user profile.

If you’ve determined that your system’s slow startup happens even with a clean user account, you can move on to the next step. In this case, the problem could be a system service, a driver, or a program that is attempting to load before you get a chance to log on. To rule out this possibility, try disabling everything that starts automatically.

The easiest tool for this job is the System Configuration Utility, aka Msconfig.exe. This utility lets you fine-tune startup options for diagnostic purposes. I recommend you use it as follows:

  1. Close all running programs and save any data files you’re working on. Click Start, Run. In the Open box, type msconfig and press Enter.
  2. In the System Configuration Utility dialog box, select the Diagnostic Startup option on the General tab.

    3. diagnostic startup from Msconfig

  3. Click OK.
  4. When prompted, choose the option to restart your computer.

The Diagnostic Startup option disables every startup program and most system services (leaving only a handful of core services such as DCOM and RPC running). When you restart, you’ll be greeted with the option shown here.

MSConfig restart

Click OK, but do not select the check box here. When the informational dialog box goes away, the System Configuration Utility opens again.

Did your system start without the delays you’ve been experiencing? If so, you can conclude that the culprit is one (or more) of the programs or services that are starting up automatically. Tomorrow’s tip will explain how to find that troublemaker.

If your startup was still unacceptably slow, the problem could be a defective piece of hardware, a corrupted Windows installation, or a faulty driver. I’ll tackle those topics later in the week.

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Published by Ed Bott

Tech journalist. Author of 25+ books. ZDNET Contributing Editor since 2006. Contact info: https://edbott.com/contact-me/

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10 thoughts on “Tip of the day: Troubleshoot slow startups, Part 2”

  1. Ed, thanks for that. I’m surprised you didn’t mention your tip to download the enhanced MSCONFIG:
    http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1066

    Thanks for your website, which I’ve just discovered.

    PS, One request: is there an article on your site (or a site elsewhere) that you recommend for advice on which default XP services to disable? You posted a criticism of BV, but I don’t know what you DO recommend.

    Dan

  2. Or you can take my solution: Wipe it all and start fresh!

    Sadly, diagnosing the problem can take longer than backing up and reinstalling everything from scratch… Of course for most people reinstalling everything would probably be the more difficult of the two evils, not to mention there’s no guarantee you wouldn’t experience the exact same problem again in a few months.

    I’m liking this series Ed, keep it up. Very useful information! Shouldn’t there be a spyware and virus scan step at the beginning, or is that implied?

  3. Chris, I’ll get to AV and spyware scanning later this week.

    And in general I agree with you that wiping out the system and starting fresh is the correct answer if you can’t diagnose the fundamental problem. In my experience, though, there’s often one cause that can be fairly easily identified and fixed. It shouldn’t take more than about 30 minutes to go through this protocol and find that one thing, if possible.

    In the case of a system that’s FUBAR, it will become obvious with an hour, in my experience.

  4. I find that when one upgrades certain products the install script will quietly insert a line in Startup. Quicktime and Musicmatch are well known culprits. I deactivate them through msconfig, but when I upgrade/update, they come back. Maddening.

  5. Pingback: Windows Tips and Tricks

  6. The Diagnostic Startup option disables every startup program and most system services (leaving only a handful of core services such as DCOM and RPC running). When you restart, you’ll be greeted with the option shown here.

    Click OK, but do not select the check box here. When the informational dialog box goes away, the System Configuration Utility opens again.
    DO I GO BACK TO SYSTEM CONFIGURE UTILITY,GENERAL TABWHAT DO I SELECT?? NORMAL SETUP??HERE IS HOW I HAVE TO GET ON AOL MOST OF THR TIME..TECH HELP TOLD ME THIS..START AOL SOFTWARE CLICK HELP AND THEN(AOL HELP)NOTE: In order to access the AOL© Offline Help content you must have the AOL software running, but not be signed on to the AOL service.

    1. On the AOL© menu, click HELP, then click AOL HELP.
2. Click the INDEX tab. This tab has a Gold Key icon.
3. In the box in the upper left, type FIX, then tap the ENTER key.
4. On the right side, click THE AOL WEB BROWSER link, then follow the onscreen instructions.

    I HAVE TO DO THIS 2/3 TIMES SOMETIMES TO GET ON.AS YOU CAN TELL I AM NO TECH.YOU WOULD THINK MICROSOFT WOULD TELL US WHAT TO DO.THE LAST TIME I CONTACTED AOL THEY SAID IT WAS MICROSOFT PROBLEM.MY SON WORKED FOR DELL FOR A LONG TIME ,HIS COMPUTER DOES THE SAME THING.THANKS JACK

  8. What about the comment from Mousky 10/18/05)? I have been trying to delete-kill-remove-uninstall-bomb Quick Time for 18 months. How in the world is this uninstalled and/or removed from msconfig permanently without buying another computer? It reappears like a ghost!

  9. Ed,I did something terribly wrong in following the system restore. I followed your directions to the letter. I now know it is a software startup problem, thanks to your direction. However,when I tried to go back to my user account IT’S GONE. I was going to try to then restore it to an earlier date but it won’t let me. Can you give me any advise? I would sure appreciate it. Thanks

    1. Sue, I have no idea what you could have done. System Restore can’t wipe out your user account. If you can log on, open Windows Explorer and look in C:\Documents and Settings in XP or C:\Users in Vista. You should see your user account there.

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