How to Troubleshoot Using the Msconfig Utility with Windows

The improvements in the world of technology had made the operating systems more manageable. The credit goes to the speedy improvements of the respective features, graphical interface, and a lot more such things. But is that the only thing that makes the operating system works efficiently? Well, there are things down the line that put their efforts to make things work perfectly. And the wide arrangements of services and applications have become quite complicated to work with. The reason is the fast development of the services and applications at each time a new operating system is launched.

The Msconfig utility automates the routine troubleshooting steps that Microsoft Technical Support engineers use when they diagnose issues with the Windows 98 and Windows 98 Second Edition configuration. When you use this tool to modify the system configuration, you are prompted to select check boxes to eliminate issues that do not pertain to your configuration. This process reduces the risk of typing errors that can occur if you use Microsoft Notepad and Microsoft System Configuration Editor.


When you use Msconfig.exe, you can easily reset or change the configuration settings in Windows to include preferences for the following files and settings:

    The System.ini file
    The Win.ini file
    The Config.sys file
    The Autoexec.bat file
    The Winstart.bat file
    The programs that are set to load during Startup (these programs are specified in the Startup folder and in the registry)

To prevent any of these items from loading when you restart the computer, use either of the following methods:


    Click the General tab, and then click Diagnostic startup. When you use this option, the device drivers and software are loaded interactively when you restart the computer.

    -or-
    Click the General tab, and then click Selective startup. When you use this option, you can choose the configuration files that you do not want loaded when you restart the computer. When you click Selective startup, the options are configured in one of the following ways:

        If the check box is selected, the configuration file that is listed is processed when you restart the computer.
        If the check box not selected, the configuration file that is listed is not processed when you restart the computer.
        If the check box is selected but unavailable, some items are still loading from that configuration file when you restart the computer.
        If the check box not available, the configuration file is not present on the computer.

To ensure that all of the configuration files and all the items that are listed in those files are loaded, click the General tab, and then click Normal startup.


NOTE: You can use the Msconfig utility to create a backup copy of your computer files before you begin a troubleshooting session. To do this, click the General tab, click the Create Backup button, and then click OK. You should create backup copies of your computer files to ensure that the modifications that were made during your troubleshooting session can be reversed.

To restore your backup files, click the General tab, and then click the Restore Backup button.

To prevent individual items or lines of the specific configuration files from loading when you restart your computer, click the tab for that particular configuration file, and then click to select the check box for the individual line or item that you do not want loaded when you restart your computer. If you click to select a check box for a folder in any of the configuration files that contain folders, all items in that folder are cleared. If files or folders contain checked boxes that are unavailable, only some of the items are selected or not selected in that file or folder.

To change the currently active line or item, use your mouse or pointing device to click individual lines, or use the Move Up or Move Down button.


To create a new entry in any of the configuration files, click the New button.

To edit a line that is currently selected, click the Edit button.


In the configuration file, if a line has an icon that is shaped like a Windows flag next to it, the file is a Windows system file that is configured to the Windows default setting.

In a configuration file, if a line has a pencil-shaped icon next to it, the line has been manually edited in the Msconfig utility.


NOTE: When you click to clear a check box for an item or a line, the computer automatically switches to Selective startup mode. This state is reported on the General tab of the utility.

After you make all the selections in the Msconfig utility, and then click OK, you are prompted to restart the computer to initiate the changes.



To access the following computer utilities, click the View menu. The following utilities and folders are displayed:

    Control Panel
    Device Manager
    Printers Folder
    Display Settings
    Multimedia Settings
    Fonts Folder

For additional information about advanced troubleshooting settings, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
With so many things working for a good performance of the operating system, there is one administrative tool that works perfectly and has been the choicest among the advanced users. Getting to the main administrative tool of Windows 10, Computer Management is the most loved one. Here, you will learn all the minute details of Computer Management. This tutorial will let you know about the performance of the Computer Management and also what good things it has to offer you. Let us switch to the details now!
How to Access Computer Management in Windows 10

Before accessing the knowledge about the Computer Management, the beginners must know how to access them in Windows 10. 3 simple and easy ways are being written below following which you can access the Computer Management.

The first method is to navigate the Control Panel and choose the Administrative Tools icon.

Administrative Tools Option in All Control Panel Window


On the newly arrived window of the Administrative Tools, choose Computer Management.

Computer Management in Administrative Tools Wimdow

Alternatively, you can access it through the Power Menu. Just perform a right click on the Start Menu and upon the arrival of the options, choose the Computer Management.

Computer Management in Right Click of Start Menu in windows 10

One more way you can follow is through a command line. Open Run dialog box (Win+R), paste compmgmt.msc and hit Enter.

That’s it! Apply any of the methods and the Computer Management window will be opened on your screen.

Device Manager Tab in Computer Management Window step 5
Components of Computer Management in Windows 10

The Computer Management has three sections to work with. They are System Tools, Storage and Services and Applications. Now we will walk through all these sections of Computer Management.
System Tools


Now the first section that we will deal with is the System Tools. This section has a lot of items to manage things.
Task Scheduler

Task Scheduler will be our first tools under System Tools section. The advanced characteristics of Task Scheduler include the creation of advanced tasks, security options and also setting up the triggers and things like that. You can even run any task at your will, disable or delete any existing task in Task Scheduler. Well, if you wish to learn more about the Task Scheduler, we will recommend you to read our detailed post on Task Scheduler.

Windows 10 Task Scheduler Access, Functions, Operation, Summary

Task Scheduler Summary in Computer Management window
Event Viewer


Going further, the second tool is the Event Viewer. If you are a regular reader of our posts, you must have noticed this term or tool in many of our posts. The event logs of Windows are stored and viewed in the Event Viewer along with the installed applications. You can save logs in Event Viewer, create your own custom view, attach tasks to a log and a lot more such related things can be carried out in Event Viewer. To learn the details of them, see our post on Event Viewer by going through this link:

How to Access Event Viewer and Watch Logs on Windows 10

Event Viewer in Computer Management Window
Shared Folders

The third spot is occupied by the Shared Folders. The folders that you share on your network are all viewed in the Shared Folders. Apart from this, you can also see the running sessions and the active files operating by others on the network. Further details of this tool can be viewed in this article of ours:

3 Ways to View All Shared Folders in Network Windows 10

Shared Folder Details in Computer Management Window
Local Users and Groups

The next tool is of Local Users and Groups. Here you can work on the user groups that you see on your computer. You can also view the details of the user accounts and their integration to other groups. To see more about this tool, follow the link:


Windows 10 – Create Local User Account, User Group, View & Change Properties

Local User and Groups Description in Computer Management Window
Performance Monitor

Here comes the next tool, Performance Monitor. It’s working capacity gets improve when it goes along with the Event Viewer. This tool is very useful when it comes understand the performance of your system. You can even trace out the problem and also the reasons behind them. You can also see which programs works best for your computer. To learn more about this tool, visit its concerned link:

Windows 10 – How to Start and Use Performance Monitor

Overview of Performance Monitor in Computer Management step 8
Device Manager

The last tool of the System Tools section is the Device Manager. The Device Manager tool lets you display all the installed components of your computer which helps you in scanning the drivers and see if there are any problems related to the installed drivers. Recently we have discussed how to roll to the previous version of drivers in Windows 10. You can also check that post as it is of great importance when your newly updated driver fails to perform up to the mark.


Windows 10 – How to Find Device Manager and Use its Functions

Device Manager Tab in Computer Management Window step 5 (1)
Storage

The second section of our today’s discussion is Storage. This Storage section of Computer Management holds only one tool with it:
Disk Management.

When you wish to manage all your disks, this tool is the best to carry out your task. Using this tool, you can manage your disks; hide a partition in Windows and many such related things. You can access the entire study of these functions in our posts of Disk Management.

Windows 10 – How to Access Disk Management, Handle Partition

Storage Via Disk Management of Computer Management
Services and Applications

We have reached the last section of the Computer Management, Services and Applications. Here, you can control all the services of your Windows 10 computer. With this tool, you can control your network connections, the sound of your speaker, display of colors on your screen and many more. To experience its details in a broader way, see the related post:


How to Start, Stop, Configure Windows Services in Windows 10

Service and Applications of Computer Management Window
Final Touch

With so many available tools, Computer Management is really among the favorites. The improvement in technology had made life easier for many users. The Computer Management is more put into use by the advanced users as it holds all the important administrative tools in it. The users don’t have to navigate the individual tools separately to access them. Finding all in one place makes the troubleshooting procedure more easy and convenient for the users. Why don’t you take the tour of Computer Management and explore all your favorite tools? If you have any such best administrative tools in your list, do share with us and let us also have the great experience of them. Don’t forget to share your views with us!