How to eliminate unused startup entries in msconfig.

[shanmuga]

Though there may not be any appreciable performance increase by removing these entries, If you just don't like them there, like I do, then try this trick. This involves editing of the registry. Do it at your risk.

Open Msconfig and click on startup tab.
Now run regedit.
Navigate to HKLM/Software/Microsoft/Sharedtools/MSconfig/startupreg.
Compare the list of registry keys under startupreg with their counterparts in msconfig.
You will probably find that all your unticked entries appear in startupreg.
Delete the keys which are no longer valid. Don't remove ScanRegistry.
Exit msconfig without restarting
Voila! You've cleaned up msconfig.


Note: I have tested this only in Windows XP Pro SP1.

[Budfred]

I believe you can also use the tools in Spybot to do the same thing without opening the Registry...

[shanmuga]

Nope,as it is spybot won't do it, i.e if you mean it this way, spybot > tools > system startup and change or delete. This screen shows only the enabled items in msconfig startup list not the unchecked items. But I believe there are number of 3rd party programs that can do it like regcleaner, x-setup etc. If you really want to do it through spybot, first enable (check) all entries in startup tab in msconfig, then delete whatever is not required through spybot. :)

[jeeza]

There is no "msconfig" at all in the register in Win98, so Spybot would be the way.
Just tick off anything but registry inconsistensies in the filesets, and Spybot has been turned in a perfect tool for doing just this !

[shanmuga]

Originally posted by jeeza
There is no "msconfig" at all in the register in Win98
Jeeza, msconfig, a utility primarily used for troubleshooting purposes is available in all recent windows operating systems except win95 & win2k. It is accessed among other ways by the following procedure;
Click start
Click Run
Type 'msconfig' in the dialogue box
Troubleshooting Problems using the Utility MSCONFIG (http://pcsupport.about.com/library/weekly/aa121502a.htm)

The windows 98 msconfig looks similar to the attachment.

[jeeza]

Originally posted by shanmuga
Jeeza, msconfig, a utility primarily used for troubleshooting purposes is available in all recent windows operating systems except win95 & win2k. It is accessed among other ways by the following procedure;
shanmuga, you got my meaning wrong.
I know msconfig and know about those startup entries, what I meant to say was that I didn't find msconfig in regedit. There is nowhere an entry for it in regedit.
But thanks for your effort.

[Sylvander]

In Win98 the method is similar but slightly different.

Go into Regedit to:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run Services
These show the ones which are ticked in "MSConfig".

There are also "RunOnce" and "RunServicesOnce" keys.

Those which you untick are put into keys with similar names
but ending
"-" [minus] &
"Ex" [Excluded].

So if you untick them in "MSConfig", then go to the data values in these keys ["-" & "Ex"] and delete them, then they no longer show in "MSConfig".

I've done this successfully a number of times.