Guest spamlet Posted October 10, 2008 Posted October 10, 2008 I am puzzled as to the operation of the configuration utility in XP Pro. When I use it, it appears to offer a range of dialogues for changing system settings, but whenever I change any, it just opens next time, with a message that I should go back to a 'normal' start up. What is the point of having a utility with the settings all in one convenient place, and then making it so that (apparently) changes can only be made on a temporary basis? Is this the way it is meant to work, or am I missing something? Cheers, S
Guest Mick Murphy Posted October 10, 2008 Posted October 10, 2008 RE: Msconfig question You have to read the message properly. Select a "Selective" startup, and not to remind you again. -- Mad Mike "spamlet" wrote: > I am puzzled as to the operation of the configuration utility in XP Pro. > When I use it, it appears to offer a range of dialogues for changing system > settings, but whenever I change any, it just opens next time, with a message > that I should go back to a 'normal' start up. What is the point of having a > utility with the settings all in one convenient place, and then making it so > that (apparently) changes can only be made on a temporary basis? > > Is this the way it is meant to work, or am I missing something? > > Cheers, > S > > >
Guest Twayne Posted October 10, 2008 Posted October 10, 2008 Re: Msconfig question > I am puzzled as to the operation of the configuration utility in XP > Pro. When I use it, it appears to offer a range of dialogues for > changing system settings, but whenever I change any, it just opens > next time, with a message that I should go back to a 'normal' start > up. What is the point of having a utility with the settings all in > one convenient place, and then making it so that (apparently) changes > can only be made on a temporary basis? > Is this the way it is meant to work, or am I missing something? > > Cheers, > S Yes, right or wrong, that's how it was intended to work. MSConfig is actually intended as a troubleshooting tool, not a tool for system control. It gives you a lot of useful possibilities in how and with what you boot and which services run, etc., but then it sort of just walks away from you. You CAN use it to change settings, but in general you're asking for trouble doing that because a year or so from now you may not going remember what you did or why something is changed that doesn't seem to make sense. Woulda/shoulda/coulda, the program SHOULD have a method of making those setting permanent and doing them properly. But ... it doesn't. So, once you've used MSConfig to work out what to install, uninstall, modify, tweak, start, stop or whatever, then it's assumed you will go and do that on your own. Which isn't hard to do IF you happen to know where to go to accomplish everything you might need. That part of it, there is often help for right here; lots of people here are good with whatever you might need, so feel free to ask. HTH Twayne
Guest Terry R. Posted October 10, 2008 Posted October 10, 2008 Re: Msconfig question The date and time was 10/10/2008 1:24 PM, and on a whim, spamlet pounded out on the keyboard: > I am puzzled as to the operation of the configuration utility in XP Pro. > When I use it, it appears to offer a range of dialogues for changing system > settings, but whenever I change any, it just opens next time, with a message > that I should go back to a 'normal' start up. What is the point of having a > utility with the settings all in one convenient place, and then making it so > that (apparently) changes can only be made on a temporary basis? > > Is this the way it is meant to work, or am I missing something? > > Cheers, > S > > Hi S, Use Autoruns instead: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx You can uncheck an item to disable it, or right click & select Delete to remove it. A tool designed to do what you want. -- Terry R. ***Reply Note*** Anti-spam measures are included in my email address. Delete NOSPAM from the email address after clicking Reply.
Guest Kayman Posted October 11, 2008 Posted October 11, 2008 Re: Msconfig question On Fri, 10 Oct 2008 21:24:17 +0100, spamlet wrote: > I am puzzled as to the operation of the configuration utility in XP Pro. > When I use it, it appears to offer a range of dialogues for changing system > settings, but whenever I change any, it just opens next time, with a message > that I should go back to a 'normal' start up. What is the point of having a > utility with the settings all in one convenient place, and then making it so > that (apparently) changes can only be made on a temporary basis? > > Is this the way it is meant to work, or am I missing something? > Instead of using msconfig it's much safer to 'play' around with AutoRuns for Windows http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx
Guest spamlet Posted October 11, 2008 Posted October 11, 2008 Re: Msconfig question "Kayman" <kaymanDeleteThis@operamail.com> wrote in message news:%23aHCN70KJHA.5972@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... > On Fri, 10 Oct 2008 21:24:17 +0100, spamlet wrote: > >> I am puzzled as to the operation of the configuration utility in XP Pro. >> When I use it, it appears to offer a range of dialogues for changing >> system >> settings, but whenever I change any, it just opens next time, with a >> message >> that I should go back to a 'normal' start up. What is the point of >> having a >> utility with the settings all in one convenient place, and then making it >> so >> that (apparently) changes can only be made on a temporary basis? >> >> Is this the way it is meant to work, or am I missing something? >> > > Instead of using msconfig it's much safer to 'play' around with AutoRuns > for Windows > http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx Thanks to all for the handy tips. I've downloaded AutoRuns, and it looks just the job - very comprehensive indeed! Can it be run like msconfig from the run box? Cheers, S
Guest Bruce Chambers Posted October 11, 2008 Posted October 11, 2008 Re: Msconfig question spamlet wrote: > I am puzzled as to the operation of the configuration utility in XP Pro. > When I use it, it appears to offer a range of dialogues for changing system > settings, but whenever I change any, it just opens next time, with a message > that I should go back to a 'normal' start up. What is the point of having a > utility with the settings all in one convenient place, and then making it so > that (apparently) changes can only be made on a temporary basis? > > Is this the way it is meant to work, or am I missing something? > > Cheers, > S > > Remember, Msconfig was designed to be a troubleshooting tool, not a "startup configurer." Use MSConfig to determine the location of the command that is attempting to start the program, and remove it. To cease the selective startup notifications, either return your settings to the way they were, or permanently remove the undesirable programs from your startup configuration. In most cases, with "well-mannered" applications, it's usually as simple as opening the undesired program and deselecting the option to "display icon in the system tray" or to "start when Windows starts." Additionally, Look in the C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Start Up and C:\Documents and Settings\username\Start Menu\Programs\Start Up folders, and in the system registry, primarily in the HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run and HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run keys. How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310560 -- Bruce Chambers Help us help you: http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375 They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has killed a great many philosophers. ~ Denis Diderot
Guest olfart Posted October 11, 2008 Posted October 11, 2008 Re: Msconfig question "Bruce Chambers" <bchambers@cable0ne.n3t> wrote in message news:ebhEUk9KJHA.1156@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... > spamlet wrote: >> I am puzzled as to the operation of the configuration utility in XP Pro. >> When I use it, it appears to offer a range of dialogues for changing >> system settings, but whenever I change any, it just opens next time, with >> a message that I should go back to a 'normal' start up. What is the >> point of having a utility with the settings all in one convenient place, >> and then making it so that (apparently) changes can only be made on a >> temporary basis? >> >> Is this the way it is meant to work, or am I missing something? >> >> Cheers, >> S > > > Remember, Msconfig was designed to be a troubleshooting tool, not a > "startup configurer." Use MSConfig to determine the location of the > command that is attempting to start the program, and remove it. To cease > the selective startup notifications, either return your settings to the > way they were, or permanently remove the undesirable programs from your > startup configuration. > > In most cases, with "well-mannered" applications, it's usually as > simple as opening the undesired program and deselecting the option to > "display icon in the system tray" or to "start when Windows starts." > > Additionally, Look in the C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start > Menu\Programs\Start Up and C:\Documents and Settings\username\Start > Menu\Programs\Start Up folders, and in the system registry, primarily in > the HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run and > HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run keys. > > How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310560 > > > > -- > go to http://www.mlin.net/ and get the free Startup Control Panel use it instead of msconfig to control which programs start up
Guest spamlet Posted October 12, 2008 Posted October 12, 2008 Re: Msconfig question "Bruce Chambers" <bchambers@cable0ne.n3t> wrote in message news:ebhEUk9KJHA.1156@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... > spamlet wrote: >> I am puzzled as to the operation of the configuration utility in XP Pro. >> When I use it, it appears to offer a range of dialogues for changing >> system settings, but whenever I change any, it just opens next time, with >> a message that I should go back to a 'normal' start up. What is the >> point of having a utility with the settings all in one convenient place, >> and then making it so that (apparently) changes can only be made on a >> temporary basis? >> >> Is this the way it is meant to work, or am I missing something? >> >> Cheers, >> S > > > Remember, Msconfig was designed to be a troubleshooting tool, not a > "startup configurer." Use MSConfig to determine the location of the > command that is attempting to start the program, and remove it. To cease > the selective startup notifications, either return your settings to the > way they were, or permanently remove the undesirable programs from your > startup configuration. > > In most cases, with "well-mannered" applications, it's usually as > simple as opening the undesired program and deselecting the option to > "display icon in the system tray" or to "start when Windows starts." > > Additionally, Look in the C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start > Menu\Programs\Start Up and C:\Documents and Settings\username\Start > Menu\Programs\Start Up folders, and in the system registry, primarily in > the HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run and > HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run keys. > > How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310560 > > > > -- > > Bruce Chambers > Thanks Bruce, good advice in a nutshell. I was not at all sure where to look for the different bits of programmes. There are indeed not so "well mannered" progs... For example, in trying out Avast instead of our usual McAfee, I find, after unchecking as many McAfee things as I could see, I still got the programme's start up logo... and in writing this, I now notice the whole thing has actually managed to start itself this time around too, and its little shield has appeared in the notification area telling me it is scanning despite me having supposedly turned it off, and it not showing in Process Explorer! Autoruns, now shows me that the McAfee (Network Associates) updater and 'virus statistic's are still running, and has a number of 'shell extension' entries (whatever they are), but still can't see anything to explain why the notification area still tells me the on access scanner is still working! I didn't want to uninstall the whole McAfee package until I had a decent comparison with the Avast, but there appears to be no simple way of actually turning it all off temporarily. Anyhow, I now have more tools at my disposal than before. So thanks once again. S
Guest spamlet Posted October 12, 2008 Posted October 12, 2008 Re: Msconfig question "olfart" <olfart65@excite.com> wrote in message news:6lchioFbeep6U1@mid.individual.net... > > "Bruce Chambers" <bchambers@cable0ne.n3t> wrote in message > news:ebhEUk9KJHA.1156@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... >> spamlet wrote: >>> I am puzzled as to the operation of the configuration utility in XP Pro. >>> When I use it, it appears to offer a range of dialogues for changing >>> system settings, but whenever I change any, it just opens next time, >>> with a message that I should go back to a 'normal' start up. What is >>> the point of having a utility with the settings all in one convenient >>> place, and then making it so that (apparently) changes can only be made >>> on a temporary basis? >>> >>> Is this the way it is meant to work, or am I missing something? >>> >>> Cheers, >>> S >> >> >> Remember, Msconfig was designed to be a troubleshooting tool, not a >> "startup configurer." Use MSConfig to determine the location of the >> command that is attempting to start the program, and remove it. To cease >> the selective startup notifications, either return your settings to the >> way they were, or permanently remove the undesirable programs from your >> startup configuration. >> >> In most cases, with "well-mannered" applications, it's usually as >> simple as opening the undesired program and deselecting the option to >> "display icon in the system tray" or to "start when Windows starts." >> >> Additionally, Look in the C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start >> Menu\Programs\Start Up and C:\Documents and Settings\username\Start >> Menu\Programs\Start Up folders, and in the system registry, primarily in >> the HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run and >> HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run keys. >> >> How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP >> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310560 >> >> >> >> -- >> > go to http://www.mlin.net/ and get the free Startup Control Panel > use it instead of msconfig to control which programs start up Thanks OLfart, I already installed the Autoruns viewer, but this simpler display may come in handy too. (Previously I'd used the start up viewer in SpyBot, but these dedicated progs are quicker.) Cheers, S
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