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BOOT CAMP 335 (20/07/04)
WHEN XP GOES WRONG... part 2
Persistent and often
indecipherable error messages and glitches that occur during or soon after
booting up your Windows XP computer can be a real pain. These are mostly caused
by ‘services’ and configuration settings that load with Windows, which have
become corrupted or disabled.
In the main these
programs and settings are automatically instigated by Windows system files,
including the infamous ‘Registry’, which as regular readers will know is
strictly off-limits to novices. Fortunately Windows has a built-in utility that
provides access to these files, it’s called Windows System Configuration, known
to its friends as ‘msconfig’. This is an extremely powerful troubleshooting tool
that can solve all sorts of problems moreover it is very safe and easy to use.
Incidentally earlier editions of Windows (98, SE & ME) also have
msconfig -- albeit with slightly
different options -- but much of what follows also applies to these versions.
To use msconfig in
Windows XP you must be logged on as Administrator, to launch it go to Run on the
Start menu and type ‘msconfig’ (without the quotes). The first time you use it
in a fault finding session it is a good idea to go straight to the General tab,
click ‘Launch System Restore’ and set a Restore Point (see last week’s Boot
Camp) so that in the unlikely event anything goes wrong you can return Windows
to its previous state.
Once that is done you
can set about isolating the fault by a simple, though often lengthy process of
elimination. On the General tab, under Selective Startup you will see a list of
four items: ‘Process SYSTEM.INI file’, ‘Process WIN.INI file’, ‘Load System
Services’ and ‘Load Startup Items’. If you click Selective Startup all four
should be checked.
To begin deselect one
item at a time, I usually begin with the last one, Load Startup Items as this is
where most problems associated with boot up are to be found. Click OK and
Windows will request a restart. When Windows reappears you will see a message to
the effect that it is in ‘Diagnostic Mode’, click OK and the boot-up will
continue, hopefully without the error message or problem materialising. If so
you can go to the next step, otherwise go back to msconfig, recheck the
deselected item and try another one.
Once you have identified
the section where the problem lies you can start localise the fault. Let’s
assume that the error message or problem disappears when Load Startup Items is
disabled, open msconfig once again re-enable the item then click the Startup tab
along the top edge of the msconfig window. You will now see a list of ‘Startup
Items’ each with its own check box. If your PC is more than a few months old
then the list could be quite long with 20 or more entries.
Most of these Startup
items will have been created by programs that you’ve installed on your PC, some
of which you want to start with Windows, such as your virus scanner and firewall
etc. Others you don’t want or need and there may even be some spyware or adware
components surreptitiously downloaded by malicious web sites. Some of the
legitimate entries are responsible for ‘control panels’, for peripherals or
running programs, accessed via icons in the System Tray next to the clock, which
you probably only use once in a blue moon. The point is that most entries in the
Startup list are not needed; they sap
your PCs resources and make use of your Internet connection, often without your
consent or knowledge so this can be a useful opportunity to thin them out and
reclaim control of your computer.
When you get an error
message during Windows boot up look down the list for an entry that contains a
matching or similar reference. If you find one then uncheck this first, click OK
reboot and see if that fixes the problem and this should help you to identify
the offending program. You can then take the appropriate action, which will
normally be to uninstall, or reinstall the application, update a driver, or
visit the manufacturer’s web site to look for a solution. If there is no obvious
link between an error message and an entry in the Startup list then you will
have to go though the items one by one, unchecking each one in turn.
If the problem isn’t
associated with a vital program, such as those associated with your virus
scanner, firewall, a device like a CD/DVD writer, video card or a program that
you absolutely must load with Windows then you should re-enable them if they
prove to be innocent. The rest I would leave unchecked for the time being. If
you later receive another error message that is related to an unchecked item
then by all means tick the box but if, after the initial fault has been fixed
your PC behaves normally you can assume that the item isn’t required and is just
wasting space and resources, see also Tip of the Week.
The same basic procedure
can be used if the fault lies in one of the other three sections, though
generally speaking it is wise to re-enable unchecked items once they have been
ruled out. If you manage to successfully resolve the problem you can return
msconfig to its previous state by selecting ‘Normal Startup’ on the General tab,
though you can safely leave it in Diagnostic mode, but check ‘Don’t show this
message again’ box in the reminder that appears every time you start
Windows.
Next week – XP Repair Install
JARGON FILTER
SERVICES
Programs that load with Windows, often used to automatically
request updates and upgrades using a PC’s Internet connection
SYSTEM.INI
Windows initialisation file used to configure such things as
fonts, keyboard and language
WIN.INI
Windows initialisation file that loads fonts, wallpaper,
screensavers, languages and some drivers
TIP OF THE WEEK
It’s not always clear what the items on the Startup list are
for and whether or not they’re important, superfluous or possibly even
dangerous, like a spyware or adware component. If you are not sure whether to
uncheck an entry refer to the very comprehensive list of common Startup items
at: www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php.
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