Windows’ System Configuration Utility can significantly reduce your computer’s startup time. Many people either don’t know about the System Configuration Utility (msconfig) or are unsure how to go about using it. We’ll try to simplify it a little.

USE OF THE SYSTEM CONFIGURATION UTILITY CAN CAUSE YOUR COMPUTER’S OPERATING SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION OR TO BECOME UNUSABLE. YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH USING THE SYSTEM CONFIGURATION UTILITY. PLEASE CONSULT THE MICROSOFT WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION. USE THIS TUTORIAL AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Let’s start at the beginning. Go ahead and open the System Configuration Utility by clicking START, the RUN. In the dialog box that opens, type “msconfig” (without the quotes) and click OK.

The System Configuration Utility will open with the GENERAL tab selected.

Click the SELECTIVE STARTUP radio button. Then click the STARTUP tab.

In order to see more information about each process, stretch the COMMAND column.

Click the SERVICES tab and check the All of the items that are checked are going to start when Windows starts. You’ll want to uncheck the items that aren’t needed. It would take a long time to explain which processes are needed and which are not. That’s not what this tutorial is for, though. We just want to give you some basic instructions on how to use the utility.

Once you’ve completed thechanges on the STARTUP tab, click the SERVICES tab. Check the box to HIDE ALL MICROSOFT SERVICES.

Continue unchecking the startup services that you want to disable. When you are finished, click APPLY.

Once the APPLY action has completed, click CLOSE.

When the System Configuration Utility closes, you will be presented with a choice to RESTART the computer or to EXIT WITHOUT RESTART. The choice is yours, however, you should know that when the computer does restart, you’ll see a System Configuration Utility message. Check the box and click OK.

Again, these are just the basics of the System Configuration Utility. You can learn more about it at the Microsoft website.