[Powercolour]

ever since i reformated my hdd a couple of months ago my msconfig would not work, i tried it many times, no responce, i tried to ignor it but its getting quite annoying since there are about 3billion processes i dont need running in the background. I tried to use regedit instead but that doesnt seem to be able to stop the processes. andy advice? are there any progs that replace msconfig?

[[hobo]eclipse]

id use a prog like jv16 powertools to turn off any process's that get installed with games n such then go to the run command n typ services.msc and visit blackviper.com to see bout the core/OS installed proccess/services, i thought i member hearin the msconfig isnt the best place to turn off services n proccess's n such

[Shaga]

I disable services by typing 'services.msc' and remove programs from startup via regedit(HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Wind ows\CurrentVersion\Run).

[Powercolour]

yea the regedit thing i tried, some come back 2 life.

[Zelig]

Certain programs that reduce the size of windows installation had issuses with removing msconfig. You should be able to just copy the msconfig.exe file from another windows machine into your system32 folder.

[PangingJr]

Or,some viruses/worms terminates or deletes this file.
the "msconfig.exe" file is located in \WINDOWS\pchealth\helpctr\binaries,
and you may have another copy of this file in \WINDOWS\system32\dllcache.
search these two locations and see if this file is in there,
if not, the file may have been deleted by a computer virus in your system...
since this is a new setup as you mentioned you've just done a reformat,
i'd do another reformat and reinstall Windows, again.

if the file is in the location that i mention,
then something has made some changes in your registry,
either a virus or a tweaker program that you use,
and in this case you would receive a warning or error message when you're trying to run msconfig, so exactly, What the message said?

[Judas]

Here is were the usual location of startup processes are in the registry.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Run

Here's the less used alternate location if there is something starting up that isn't found in the above location

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Run

I'd suggest that if your unaware of what the process is.... do a google search for the exact full name and extension.

Also be forwarned that editing your registry is quite dangerous if your unware of what your doing... although typically, the startup shouldn't have any impact on stability if you happen to delete them all. Some hardware devices (typically RealTek Onboard sound) require that you have one program running at startup. SoundMan.exe is for realtek so just to let you know.

[mike2h]

control panel - admin - services. best way to get rid of those pesky, unwanted services. also gives you more options/info. the only way to go imo.

[>GSXR<mrbusa]

this is where i go for all my services needs.i have never shut anything down that viper says is ok and ever had any problems.he explains each service and process for both sp1 and sp2.
P:S: i have my processes down to 14 running including the taskmanger service so actually 13.i have no problems at all.and i used this site to do that.
P:S: if you type msconfig in the run coomand and it doesnt work then i would say you have some problems going on in the background.
P:S: you actually want to type services.msc in the run command to shut down any services.otherwise they will start back up next time you reboot.
http://www.blackviper.com/index.html

[mike2h]

i agree. black vipers guide is terrific.

[swimtech]

Originally Posted by mike2h

i agree. black vipers guide is terrific.

That is definitely the ticket...

[PangingJr]

there are a number of ways and software programs that you can use to stop the unneeded programs/services from starting up with Windows. to do it yourself without using the Msconfig nor any 3rd party software...
if it was a 3rd party program that you want to remove then best to try the options in the program itself first and if there is no option within the program then check and remove the program's shortcut in "Startup" folders (\Docs and Settings\your Windows log in name\Start Menu\Programs\Startup, and ...\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup), and then check registry entries in all Run keys (see articles below) and remove the value names of the unneeded programs from these Run keys. if you want to stop a 3rd party or a Windows service from starting up with Windows then the basic way will be to use the services.msc to change the service's startup configuration. however, make sure that you know all about the programs/services before removing/disbling...

anyway, i suspect you've done all or part of these already (from reading your initial post, if i'm not mistaking), i think, real problem is not about how to stop those processes that you see in the Windows Task Manager from running, nor from starting with Windows, nor about what program should you use for replacing the XP's Msconfig.exe, these should come later. but it's about the msconfig itself, you should find out reason why it's not working or why the file is missing first. then the rest can be done easily.

about the Run keys...
A Definition of the Run Keys in the Windows XP Registry
How to Modify the List of Programs that Run When You Start Windows XP

[Powercolour]

hey i just had a thought, what if u run tunexp and then check 4 errors? wood that fix msconfig
and for the suggestions
1) i have tried regedit, some progs come back 4 some reason
2) i tried a lot of the progs u suggested and they were great but i'm kinda used 2 msconfig, plus they seemed 2 be trials and i wouldnt no what 2 do in 30 days (dont wanna buy)
3) the website is useful, thx but i wanted 2 kno about stopping non-windows processes also
4) the suggested services manager cannot rid of non-windows componets,
thx all

[Powercolour]

Originally Posted by Ctrl-Alt-Del

Or,some viruses/worms terminates or deletes this file.
the "msconfig.exe" file is located in \WINDOWS\pchealth\helpctr\binaries,
and you may have another copy of this file in \WINDOWS\system32\dllcache.
search these two locations and see if this file is in there,
if not, the file may have been deleted by a computer virus in your system...
since this is a new setup as you mentioned you've just done a reformat,
i'd do another reformat and reinstall Windows, again.

if the file is in the location that i mention,
then something has made some changes in your registry,
either a virus or a tweaker program that you use,
and in this case you would receive a warning or error message when you're trying to run msconfig, so exactly, What the message said?

i have actually found the file, and as 4 error messeges: there were none since it did not respond, oh and as 4 transfering msconfig from a diff computer: i was not sucessful in finding another winxp pro computer during my time at home, i might try elsewhere soon tho

[>GSXR<mrbusa]

Originally Posted by Powercolour

hey i just had a thought, what if u run tunexp and then check 4 errors? wood that fix msconfig
and for the suggestions
1) i have tried regedit, some progs come back 4 some reason
2) i tried a lot of the progs u suggested and they were great but i'm kinda used 2 msconfig, plus they seemed 2 be trials and i wouldnt no what 2 do in 30 days (dont wanna buy)
3) the website is useful, thx but i wanted 2 kno about stopping non-windows processes also
4) the suggested services manager cannot rid of non-windows componets,
thx all

i doubt tune xp is going to ever fix anything for anybody.you will learn to reformat real well though.

[Powercolour]

well it does make ur computer more responsive if u have a 400mhz celeron, the effect seems 2 be reversed 4 my newer comp tho
and i have learned 2 format. done it so many times now... and that includes going from linux 2 windows and vice versa, going from different raid arrays 2

[>GSXR<mrbusa]

Originally Posted by Powercolour

well it does make ur computer more responsive if u have a 400mhz celeron, the effect seems 2 be reversed 4 my newer comp tho
and i have learned 2 format. done it so many times now... and that includes going from linux 2 windows and vice versa, going from different raid arrays 2

i wasnt trying to dog you i was dogging tweak xp.

[Powercolour]

oh sorry, not aimed at u, sometimes i get carried away w/what i have 2 say, just saying that i was getting annoyed w/reformatting

[>GSXR<mrbusa]

Originally Posted by Powercolour

oh sorry, not aimed at u, sometimes i get carried away w/what i have 2 say, just saying that i was getting annoyed w/reformatting

i hate reformatting too.
i have been looking arround on what might cause your msconfig app to quit working and the only things i came up with is something is corrupt in the msconfig app itself OR you have ran an app that limits the access to the msconfig program.i know of alot of them.this may sound dumb but are you logged in with full admin privileges.also in the future you want to make sure that you dont use msconfig to stop any services.it will cause headaches eventually.you want to run services.msc and kill them from there.good luck

[PangingJr]

Originally Posted by Powercolour

i have actually found the file, and as 4 error messeges: there were none since it did not respond, oh and as 4 transfering msconfig from a diff computer: i was not sucessful in finding another winxp pro computer during my time at home, i might try elsewhere soon tho

Powercolour,
no need to get the file from friend, unless you have known that the file in the XP CD is a bad file, you can get a new copy of the Msconfig.exe from your XP CD,
to do this go to these two directories and manually remove the Msconfig.exe files,

1) C:\WINDOWS\pchealth\helpctr\binaries
2) C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache

note-- C is the drive that you've installed the Windows.

also search your local drive again for the file, and delete if you find any of it.

then put the XP CD into the CD-Rom drive,
open a CMD window by going to Start ->Run and type in CMD and Enter,
at the prompt type in this below command and Enter.

note-- replace X with your drive letter of your CD drive.
this command extracts a new copy of the file from the CD to default directory.
the file is supposted to be in the folder, Not in the \WINDOWS\system32,
or anywhere else except \WINDOWS\system32\dllcache.

EXPAND -R X:\I386\MSCONFIG.EX_ C:\WINDOWS\pchealth\helpctr\binaries

now, double click the Msconfig.exe file that you just expanded/extracted (instead of running it from the Run box) to start the System Configuration Utility,
and see if it starts. if it worked this time then you're having some problem in your registry as i mentioned before.

note-- you can use Msconfig.exe to diagnose your Windows problem, or startup problem, it's there and it means for that.
i don't recommend you to use the Msconfig.exe to control your programs/services startup items.

and as for this...

Originally Posted by Powercolour

1) i have tried regedit, some progs come back 4 some reason
2) i tried a lot of the progs u suggested and they were great but i'm kinda used 2 msconfig, plus they seemed 2 be trials and i wouldnt no what 2 do in 30 days (dont wanna buy)
4) the suggested services manager cannot rid of non-windows componets,

for # 1)... if the Run registry entries comes back after you've tried to remove it,
then you don't want to alter this program's startup doings, just leave it alone, unless you've already known that the entry is belonged to a virus program.

for # 2)... there are many Free program available, we'll get to this part later, after you've fix the Msconfig problem.

for # 4)... i've said before that - depending on what program/service that you want to remove or disable from starting with Windows, will get to this later as well. believe me it'll be very easy to do...

[md5]

For controlling which programs run on startup, I use StartupCPL, which is small, easy to use and free. Check it out:
http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml