The System Configuration Utility is used to disable startup programs and services selectively one at a time or several at once. This graphical utility reduces the chances of possible typing errors, deleting files, and other misfortunes that occur when technicians work from a command prompt. Only an Administrator or a member of the Administrators group can use System Configuration Utility. To start System Configuration utility, click on the Start button, click on the Run option, type in msconfig and press Enter. The System Configuration Utility's General tab.

The General tab has three radio buttons: Normal Startup, Diagnostic Startup, and Selective Startup. Normal Startup is the default option and all device drivers and services load normally when this radio button is selected. The Diagnostic Startup radio button is selected when you want to create a clean environment for troubleshooting. When Diagnostic Startup is chosen and Windows XP restarts, the system boots to Safe Mode and only the most basic device drivers and services are active. The Selective Startup radio button is the most common troubleshooting tab on the General tab. When Selective Startup is chosen, you can selectively pick which startup options load.

You can narrow down the startup file that is causing boot problems. Start with the first check box, Process SYSTEM.INI File, and deselect the check box. Click on the OK button and restart the computer. Once you determine which file is causing the problem (the problem reappears), click on the System Configuration Utility tab that corresponds to the problem file and deselect files until the exact problem file is located.

The System Configuration Utility Services and Startup tabs are also quite useful when troubleshooting boot problems. Certain applications, such as an anti¬virus program, run as services and many services are started during the boot process. The Services tab can be used to selectively disable and enable these boot services. Enabling the Hide All Microsoft Services option allows you to view and manipulate third-party (non-Microsoft) services. The Startup tab allow; you to enable and disable Windows-based startup programs.

Tab Windows XP does not support creating an Emergency Repair Disk (ERD) in the same way that NT Workstation and Windows 2000 Professional do. A set of installation disks can be obtained from Microsoft and would onJy be needed if the computer does not support booting from CD. Ler's perform an exercise to help you understand the System Configuration Utility. The goal of this exercise is to make you able to use the System Configuration Utility to troubleshoot boot problems. You will need a computer with Windows XP installed, and also Administrator rights. The steps used in troubleshooting boot problems are:

1. Turn the computer on and verify that the operating system is loaded. Log in to Windows XP using the userid and password provided by the instructor or lab assistant. Ensure the use rid is one that has Administrator rights.

2. Right-click on the Start button and clickon the Explore option.

3. Locate the Documents and Settings folder and expand it if necessary. Locate the All Users folder (located under Documents and Settings) and expand it if necessary. Locate the Start Menu subfolder (located under All Users) and expand it if necessary. Locate the Programs sub folder (located under the Start Menu folder) and expand it if necessary. Click on the Start'up folder located under the Programs folder,

4. Use the Search Start button option to locate the original Notepad application (notepad.exe). Create a shortcut to the Notepad application and place it in the Startup folder located under the Programs folder (see step 3). A previous exercise explains how to create a shortcut.

Have a c1a;smate verify your shortcut (especially that it is a shortcut and not a copy of the application or the application itself). Is the icon in the STARTUP folder a shortcut icon?
Classmate's printed name:
Classmate's signature:

5.Restart the computer and verify that the Notepad program starts automatically when the computer boots. If it does not. re-do step 4.

6. Click on the Start button, click on the Run option, type in msconfig and press Enter. The System Configuration utility window opens.

7. Click on the Diagnostic Startup-load basic devices and serVices only radio button. Click on the Apply button and then click on the Close button. A System Configuration message box appears. Click on the Restart button. When the computer restarts, log in with the same use rid as was used previously. What is different about the way Windows XP loads? Did the Notepad application automatically start?

8.Click on the OK button. Click on the Selective Startup radio button found on the General tab. Check boxes are now available that you can select the startup files that are to be loaded the next time the computer boots. Click in the Load Startup Items check box. Click on the Apply button and then click on Close. Click on the Restart button and the system restarts. Log in using the same userid and password. Did the Notepad application automatically start? Why or why not?

9. Click on the OK button. Click on the Normal Startup¬load all device drivers and services option located on the General tab.

10. Click on the Startup tab. Click on the Shortcut to notepad check box to disable it.

11. Click on the Apply button and then click on Close. Click on the Restart button.
When the computer restarts, log in using the same use rid and click on OK. Did the Notepad application automatically start? Why or why not? What is different about the System Configuration Utility's General tab?

12. Click on the General tab and select the Normal Startup radio button. Click on the Apply button and then Close. Click on the Restart button. Log in using the same userid.

13. Once the computer reboots, remove the shortcut to the Notepad application from the Startup folder.