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System Configuration Utility For Win98

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Windows 98 has a seriously cool utility called System Configuration Utility.  The program file name is "MSCONFIG.EXE" and is located in the \windows\system folder.

This white paper explains what it does, what you can use it for, and how you can use it during performance tuning.

Where is it?

The official way to start it (thanks Microsoft) is to go to start | programs | accessories | system tools | System Information, then when that program opens, go to tools | System Configuration Utility.  If you only use it occasionally then it's a bit more simple to go start|run, type MSCONFIG, then click ok (grin).  I prefer to make a shortcut directly to it.

What is it?

From the Windows 98 Resource kit:
"Automates routine Windows troubleshooting steps. System Configuration Utility allows you to modify the system configuration with check boxes. This tool allows you to troubleshoot problems through a process of elimination using check boxes."

While the above explanation tells you all you want to know (ya, right), more importantly it allows you to change many facets of Win98 without either editing files or the registry!  The most cool feature is that you make these changes by simply un-checking boxes.  To put the setting(s) back in, simply re-check the box.  And if you make your system unbootable, just boot into safe mode, start the program, re-check the boxes and reboot.  It's very safe to use this utility!

How do I use it?

This is the first screen you see when you start the program.  The help for this utility isn't too bad.

Under Startup Selection, Normal Startup is the default choice.  It means just that, a normal boot.  The only time I use Diagnostic startup is when my system is so hosed I can't boot unless it's into safe mode.  This is a good way to start if you have no idea what is keeping your system from starting normally.  With Selective Startup, you can check, un-check boxes or go to the other tabs to keep only certain items from loading.

Notice how the check box Load startup group items is checked but also gray?  This means that it is loading some but not all of the items.

Before you start playing with this utility (hehe) I recommend that you press the Create Backup button.  If you forget or get lost you can at any time, press the Restore Backup button to bring it back to how it was before you started.

If you decide to chicken out, some may think wisely, you can hit the cancel button to quit without making any changes.  The apply button makes the changes without closing the utility, Although now it's too late to cancel.

The Advanced button gives you this screen.  Here you can do all sorts of geeky stuff without hacking the registry.  Notice that the only check box checked here is the Disable fast shutdown box.  My laptop won't shut down properly unless this box is checked.

By left-clicking on the "?" in the upper right corner, then by left-clicking on the words next to a box you can get a basic explanation of what a box means.

This is the Config.sys tab.  Here you see the contents of your config.sys file.  Some 'puters won't have anything here, which is great!.  Some 'puters have a lot of crap loading from here like real-mode CD-ROM drivers.  If you're trying to get a faster, cleaner boot you can try un-checking some boxes here.  Just be sure to make sure everything works after re-booting, if something breaks, simply re-check one box at a time and re-boot till everything works ok.

This is the Autoexec.bat tab.  Here you see the contents of your autoexec.bat file.  Again, some 'puters have a lot of crap loading from here.  If you're trying to get a faster, cleaner boot you can try un-checking some boxes here.  Just be sure to make sure everything works after re-booting, if something breaks, simply re-check one box at a time and re-boot till everything works ok.  This file too, may be empty so not to worry.

This is the System.ini tab. Here is the contents of your system.ini file.  Unless you really know what you're doing, I'd recommend you leave this file alone.

This is the Win.ini tab.  Here you see the contents of your win.ini file.

Again, as a rule I leave this file alone.

This is the Startup tab.  This is where every program is listed that starts at bootup!

Whether it loads from the registry, system.ini, win.ini, config.sys, autoexec.bat, or from the startup group on the start menu, it will be listed here.

Can you see the possibilities?  Prior to Win98 you would have to search each of the above files, 4-6 places in the registry, and the startup group just to find out what's loading!

NEW INFO! 04/17/2001

After a number of emails from Ron Martell (Microsoft MVP), I have decided to add some more info to this section.  His concern is that this can be a dangerous area to play in if you don't know what it's for.  That by disabling certain items shown above, you can really screw-up your 'puter.  While I completely agree with him on this issue, I felt that what I wrote above was enough of a caution, Ron convinced me that I was wrong!

Here is only a partial list of programs that *may* show-up in the startup tab that you should *NOT* disable!

• SchedulingAgent
• LoadPowerProfile (NOTE: there are two of these...leave them both alone)
• SystemTray
• TaskMonitor
• ScanRegistry

There may be more / others, depending on your 'puter.  So the short version here is to use great caution, that by disabling the wrong item you can have long-term effects that aren't noticeable to you.  One of the things I look at is the path,  If it points to a non-windows folder, that is a good clue that it is probably safe to uncheck for testing.

Here you can keep a program from loading simply by un-checking the box next to it.  Remember, if un-checking a box causes your 'puter to act funny, just re-check the box and re-boot.  And yes, you can do this from safe mode if need be.

This is so much better than editing a file or hacking the registry!  Have you ever had to restore a hosed registry from DOS mode? Assuming you thought to make a backup copy.  It's not fun at all.

You'll need to learn what programs normally load at bootup.  Some simply load, do something, and then exit.  Some need to be running at all times.

As you can see in the above image, there are two programs running on my laptop, AtiCwd32 and AtiKey.  These are both for my video card.  The first is needed, but the second is un-necessary.  So, to save memory and to get a slightly faster bootup I un-checked the box for the second one.

I suggest that you un-check only one box at a time, re-boot, and make sure all is well before you try another box.  That way you won't get too confused if something starts to act funny.

I try to look here after installing any applications.  Some programs are very rude and load programs on bootup without telling you.

So, in a nut shell, not only is this utility great for trouble-shooting, I find it to be a great tool for increasing the performance of your 'puter.

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Last Revised: 10/27/2000

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Thanks for the help Thomas!