COMPUTER TIPS & TRICKS

May 2005

If your Windows machine takes forever to come on,
there are too many programs starting automatically.

You can speed up the boot process by stopping the un-needed programs.

• You can find out what programs start up when you turn on your computer using the System Configuration Utility that comes with Windows 98, ME and XP. To get to it, go to the Start menu and select Run. In the Run box, type msconfig to start the utility.
• Click the Startup tab in the System Configuration box to see the list of programs that open when Windows starts up, along with check boxes to turn each program off or on during the next start-up.

As an example, "msmsgs.exe" is a program you probably don't need. This is the Microsoft Messenger program that looks on the Internet every few minutes for a chat message for you. If you don't use this service, stop this program from running and using up your computer resources. If you aren't sure what some of the listed programs actually do for your PC, you can look them up at the Windows Startup Online Search page (www.windowsstartup.com/wso/search.php).

Microsoft has a page of instructions for using the System Configuration Utility to troubleshoot start-up problems with your PC at support.microsoft.com/kb/310560/EN-US.

This next web page has step-by-step help for using the utility, including images of the windows you will see, www.netsquirrel.com/msconfig. For more detail then you probably want, go to vlaurie.com/computers2/Articles/startup.htm.

System Restore

Before using the System Configuration Utility, if you are using Windows XP, it would be prudent to create a System Restore Point. Then if you do something unintended, you can restore to the configuration before the change. If you are about to use the utility, you can create a restore point from there by clicking the General tab, and then click Launch System Restore. Otherwise, you can create a restore point as follows.

• Go to the Start menu and select Help & Support. Under Pick a Task, click on "Undo changes to your computer with System Restore."
• Select Create a Restore Point, and click Next. This will lead you through the process.