Controlling which applications to load at startup

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Mon, 07/18/2005 7:36 AM  |  Life

Question: Last week you explained the drag-and-drop technique to add or remove an application from the Startup folder. Is there an easier way to choose which programs to load during the reboot process? --Y.S., Jakarta

Answer: Actually, there is. Windows comes with a utility that you won't find on any of the menu lists, not even in the Control Panel.

The utility is called Microsoft System Configuration Utility, or MSCONFIG. This utility is available in Windows 98, Windows 98SE, Windows Me and Windows XP. It is included in these operating systems as a diagnostics tool for the system administrator, to help him in troubleshooting. So, to be able to use this utility, you have to log on your computer as the Administrator.

To run this utility, click on Start and then Run. In the Open box, type in MSCONFIG -- you can use upper or lower case -- and then click on OK. You will see a dialog box titled System Configuration Utility.

There are six tabs in this dialog box. If you have Windows XP, you will see the Launch System Restore button in the General page. I would strongly recommend that you create a new Restore Point before you do anything with the configuration utility. At least, if you mess things up, you still have a Restore Point to fall back to. We discussed the Restore Point in this column a couple of months ago.

Back to the utility, in the General page you will get the option to start the system normally, or in a diagnostic mode that allows you to decide whether the system should launch an application or not during the boot process, or to pre-select the applications to be automatically launched.

If you choose the third option, click on the Startup tab. You will get a list of programs that will be launched each time you boot the system. On the left of each of these applications you will see a check box. Uncheck the box next to the applications that you don't want to be loaded, and then click on the Apply and Close buttons. Windows will then ask you whether you want to restart. Click on the Restart button, and see what happens.

Keep in mind that this utility has been provided more for diagnostics purpose. After the reboot, a message window will appear. You can close this window by checking the option ""Don't show this message"" and clicking on OK. If you check this box, the utility will be loaded again, allowing you to continue with your search for the troublemaker.

Some warning must be given here. First, do not tinker with the System.ini, Win.ini, Boot.ini or Services files unless you know precisely what you are doing or a technical support guy is on the phone to guide you through it.

MSCONFIG can be very useful if you think that some of the programs are conflicting with one another, or at least are slowing the entire system down.

Also, if you regularly crash and get an error message telling you that there is a program conflict, you will be able to temporarily exclude the offending programs from loading and see whether this will stop the crashes.

Another warning is that you should be very careful when using the Diagnostics mode. Microsoft says that if you use this mode, some services such as networking, Plug-and-Play and Error Reporting will be temporarily disabled. Also, this mode will erase all your Restore Points, and therefore you will have no way to bring your system back to a previous working state.

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