Has your PC slowed down after you have installed programs and defragged your hard drive? Well there is no need to worry, you can use a little tool hidden away in Windows 98, ME and XP to sort this out. The tool is called msconfig.

Procedure
To get to the msconfig tool you need to go to start and then click on run. You then need to type msconfig in the run box and click OK or press enter.

After you have done that wait a few seconds and you should see a box come up with information and tabs across the top. Click on the STARTUP TAB ONLY!.

Once you have done this you will see a list of Programmes that are set to startup. You do not need all of them because they slow the system down so much that you will drive yourself to reformat and start again from scratch. Once in the startup tab you will see boxes down the left handside. Also at the bottom you will find an option called DISABLE ALL. Click this option. After you have done this DO NOT exit msconfig. stay within the startup tab because you will need to re enable programs such as your anti-virus and firewall. You do this by clicking on the appropriate boxes that represent these antivirus and firewall programs.

Once you have done that click APPLY.

Come out of msconfig by clicking on the red or grey cross depending on your version of windows to come out of the msconfig tool.

You will then get a box asking you if you want to restart now or later. Click on RESTART WINDOWS NOW.

After Windows has booted and you appear back at the desktop you will get another box saying the following message.

"You have used the system configuration utility to make changes to the way windows starts." You will then get a little tick box below saying "to avoid seeing this message again at startup tick this box." if the little box below with that precise text doesn't say it exactly it will appear with somthing similar. you then click on OK.

I hope this guide is helpful to the many people that may struggle.

MadGamer

Merlin, if you dont mind, could youi knock up a guide for Services that can be disabled completely?

Sure thing Madgamer. I will do the list in order /disable completly or set to manual.