I thought we would talk a little about MSCONFIG

Built into Windows 98, 98SE, ME, and XP  is a special tool called the 
"Microsoft System Configuration Utility" or simply "MSCONFIG."

Designed to help you troubleshoot problems with your computer,
MSCONFIG can also be used to ensure that your computer boots faster and 
crashes less. 

Most people know that the more programs you have running on your computer 
at once, the more likely it is that your computer will either run slowly 
or even crash.

What most people don't know is that every time you boot your computer 
a whole mess of "hidden" programs load in the background. 
Some of these hidden programs are essential, but most aren't.

Turning off some of these hidden programs can significantly increase 
your computer's performance and reliability.

1. Go to Start > Run

2. Type MSCONFIG

3. This launches Microsoft's System Configuration Utility. 
Click on the Startup tab (the tab at the far right).

If you use Windows XP, you'll notice that the Microsoft System Configuration 
Utility screen looks a little different than the one in Windows 98, 98 SE, 
or ME. 
But it still works the same. Click on the Startup tab

4. This takes you to a page with a list of "startup items." 

Startup items are programs that are automatically loaded every time 
you turn on your computer. 
Some startup programs are absolutely necessary, 
others are simply a waste of RAM.

The only startup items you absolutely need are: 

ScanRegistry 
TaskMonitor 
SystemTray 
LoadPowerProfile 
Your antivirus program (trust me, you won't have a hard time figuring 
out which one is your antivirus program. It is pretty obvious.) 

Since you need these startup items to be running all the time in order 
for your computer to work properly, 
make sure there is always a check mark next to all of these startup items. 

If you don't see one or two these items in your list of startup items, 
that's cool. 
For example, some people may not have a LoadPowerProfile while others 
may have two. 

The big thing to remember is that you don't want to uncheck any of these files 
If you have them.

The rest of the startup items, however, are completely optional.

Whether you leave these optional startup items on or turn them off is 
completely up to you. 
A good rule of thumb is to disable only those programs that you recognize 
and don't need to have running all the time. When in doubt, leave it on. 

Here's a good example. On my computer I have a mess of MP3s and 
I listen to those MP3s with a program called WinAmp.

For some reason or other, WinAmp decided that it should always 
be running on my computer even when I am not using the program. 

That's silly. To prevent WinAmp from automatically starting every time 
I boot my computer, I ran MSCONFIG and unchecked "WinampAgent." That's it.

Remember, disable only those programs that you recognize 
and don't need to have running all the time. When in doubt, leave it on.

Windows XP is a little different. 
In Windows XP, all of Windows essential programs are loaded through 
something called "Windows Services." 

This means that most of the startup items you see in XP are completely 
optional and can be turned off. 
Still, the rule of thumb applies: disable only those programs that 
you recognize and don't need to have running al the time. 
When in doubt, leave it on. 

5. Click on the OK button.

6. A message will pop up telling you that you must restart your computer 
before these changes will take effect. Click on "Yes" 
and your computer will automatically reboot.

7. That's it! Your computer should now boot faster and crash less.

And if you ever want to turn on any of the startup items you disabled 
with MSCONFIG, just run MSCONFIG again.


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