How to identify if a Startup or System Services item is causing an error.

Follow these steps to identify if a Startup or System Services item is causing an error.

IMPORTANT: If you have received an error message or prompt that references a specific Startup or Services item, follow steps 1 and 2, click either the Startup or Services tab, and click to remove the check mark to disable that specific item.

1. Click the Start button and in the Search field, type MSCONFIG, and then press the Enter key.

   NOTE: If prompted for an administrator password or a User Account Control prompt is displayed, type the appropriate password or click Continue.

2. In the System Configuration Utility window, click the Startup tab.
3. On the Startup tab, click the Disable all button.
4. Click the OK button.
5. In the System Configuration dialog box, click the Restart button.

   NOTE: If other users are currently logged into the computer, a warning will appear that they may lose data if the computer is shut down. To restart the computer, in the Windows dialog box, click the Yes button.

6. Once the computer has restarted completely, click the Start button and in the Search field, type MSCONFIG, and then press the Enter key.

   NOTE: If prompted for an administrator password or a User Account Control prompt is displayed, type the appropriate password or click Continue.

7. In the System Configuration Utility window, click the Startup tab.
8. On the Startup tab, click to place a check mark in half of the items listed.
9. Click the OK button.
10. In the System Configuration dialog box, click the Restart button.
11. Once the computer has restarted completely, try to recreate the issue.

    IMPORTANT:

    • At this point, if the issue reoccurs then one of the item selected in step 8 is causing the problem.
      1. Repeat steps 6 thru 11, this time removing the check marks from half of the checked items listed.
      2. Repeat this process, each time eliminating half of the remaining items, until the issue stops occurring. In this manner you can narrow down the item causing the issue.
    • If the issue does not occurs, then one of the item not selected in step 8 is causing the problem.
      1. Repeat steps 6 thru 11, this time clicking to place a check mark in half of the remaining unchecked items listed.
      2. Repeat this process, each time eliminating half of the remaining items, until the issue occurs again. In this manner you can narrow down the item causing the issue.
12. Once the problem item has been identified, click to remove the check mark to disable that item on the Startup tab.

    NOTE: Contact the manufacturer of the program that added or edited the item for additional assistance with the product.

13. If the issue has not reoccurred after all the boxes on the Startup tab have been selected, repeat the entire procedure on the Services tab.
14. When the problem reoccurs, disable the last item selected on the Services tab.

    NOTE: Contact the manufacturer of the program that added or edited the item for additional assistance with the product.