How to perform a clean boot to troubleshoot a problem in Windows 8, Windows 7, or Windows Vista

What is a "clean boot"?

To help troubleshoot error messages and other issues, you can start Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8 by using a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This kind of startup is known as a "clean boot." A clean boot helps eliminate software conflicts.

This article describes how to troubleshoot problems in Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8 by performing a clean boot. This article also describes how to start the Windows Installer service and how to reset the computer so that it starts as usual.

Note When you perform a clean boot, you may temporarily lose some functionality. When you start the computer as usual, the functionality returns. However, you may receive the original error message. Or, you may experience the original behavior.

This information is not intended to troubleshoot specific problems. Therefore, before you follow these steps, search the Microsoft Knowledge Base for information about your problem. When you search, use the text of the error message or a description of the problem. To search the Knowledge Base, go to the following Microsoft website: Note If the computer is connected to a network, network policy settings may prevent you from following these steps. We strongly recommend that you do not use the System Configuration utility to change the advanced boot options on the computer unless a Microsoft support engineer directs you to do this. Doing this may make the computer unusable.

Windows 8

1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search. Or, if you are using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, and then click Search.
2. Type msconfig in the search box, and then tap or click msconfig.
   
   
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3. On the Services tab of the System Configuration dialog box, tap or click to select the Hide all Microsoft services check box, and then tap or click Disable all.
   
   
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4. On the Startup tab of the System Configuration dialog box, tap or click Open Task Manager.
   
   
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5. On the Startup tab in Task Manager, for each startup item, select the item and then click Disable.
   
   
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6. Close Task Manager.
7. On the Startup tab of the System Configuration dialog box, tap or click OK, and then restart the computer.
   
   
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Windows 7 and Windows Vista

1. Log on to the computer by using an account that has administrator rights.
2. Click Start
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   , type msconfig.exe in the Start Search box, and then press Enter to start the System Configuration utility.
   
   
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   If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, you should type the password or provide confirmation.
   
   
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3. On the General tab, click the Selective startup option, and then click to clear the Load startup items check box. (The Use Original Boot.ini check box is unavailable.)
   
   
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4. On the Services tab, click to select the Hide all Microsoft services check box, and then click Disable all.
   
   
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   Note This step lets Microsoft services continue to run. These services include Networking, Plug and Play, Event Logging, Error Reporting, and other services. If you disable these services, you may permanently delete all restore points. Do not do this if you want to use the System Restore utility together with existing restore points.
5. Click OK, and then click Restart.

Video: How to do a clean boot in Windowsuuid=8c884a98-6334-4d34-82ae-acdfe8959440 VideoUrl=http://aka.ms/o1h3lc

How to determine what is causing the problem by performing a clean boot

Windows 8

1. Log on to the computer by using an account that has administrator rights.
2. On the Start screen, type msconfig, and then press Enter.
3. Tap or click the Services tab, and then tap or click to select the Hide all Microsoft services check box.
4. Tap or click to select half of the check boxes in the Service list.
5. Tap or click OK, and then tap or click Restart.
6. After the computer finishes restarting, determine whether the problem still occurs.
   • If the problem still occurs, repeat steps 2a through 2e, but clear half of the check boxes in the Service list that you originally selected.
   • If the problem does not occur, repeat steps 2a through 2e, selecting only half of the remaining check boxes that are cleared in the Service list. Repeat these steps until you have selected all the check boxes.
   • If you still experience the problem when only one service is selected in the Service list, this means that the selected service causes the problem. and you should go to step 2j. If no service causes the problem, go to step 2g.
7. step2gPerform a clean boot. To do this repeat steps 2a and 2b in this section.
8. Tap or click the Startup tab, and then tap or click to select half of the check boxes in the Startup Item list.
9. Click OK, and then click Restart.
   • If the problem still occurs, repeat steps 2g and 2h, but clear half of the checked boxes in the Startup Item list that you originally selected.
   • If the problem does not occur, repeat steps 2g and 2h, selecting only half of the remaining check boxes that are cleared in the Startup Item list. Repeat these steps until you have selected all the check boxes.
   • If you still experience the problem after only one Startup Item is selected in the Startup Item list, this means that the selected Startup Item causes the problem. You should step 2j. If no Startup Item causes this problem, a Microsoft service probably causes the problem. To determine which Microsoft service may be causing the problem, repeat 1-6 in Step 2 without selecting the Hide all Microsoft services check box in either step.
10. step2jAfter you determine the startup item or the service that causes the problem, contact the program manufacturer to determine whether the problem can be resolved. Or, run the System Configuration utility, and then tap or click to clear the check box for the problem item.

Windows 7 and Windows Vista

1. Log on to the computer by using an account that has administrator rights.
2. Click Start
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   , type msconfig.exe in the Start Search box, and then press Enter to start the System Configuration utility.
   
   
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   If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, you should type the password or provide confirmation.
   
   
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3. Click the Services tab, and then click to select the Hide all Microsoft services check box.
4. Click to select half of the check boxes in the Service list.
5. Click OK, and then click Restart.
6. After the computer finishes restarting, determine whether the problem still occurs.
   • If the problem still occurs, repeat steps 2a through 2e, but clear half of the checked boxes in the Service list that you originally selected.
   • If the problem does not occur, repeat steps 2a through 2e, selecting only half of the remaining check boxes that are cleared in the Service list. Repeat these steps until you have selected all the check boxes.
   • If you still experience the problem after only one service is selected in the Service list, this means that the selected service causes the problem. Go to step 2j. If no service causes this problem, go to step 2g.
7. step2gPerform a clean boot by repeating steps 2a and 2b.
8. Click the Startup tab, and then click to select half of the check boxes in the Startup Item list.
   
   
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9. Click OK, and then click Restart.
   • If the problem still occurs, repeat steps 2g and 2h, but clear half of the checked boxes in the Startup Item list that you originally selected.
   • If the problem does not occur, repeat steps 2g and 2h, selecting only half of the remaining check boxes that are cleared in the Startup Item list. Repeat these steps until you have selected all the check boxes.
   • If you still experience the problem after only one Startup Item is selected in the Startup Item list, this means that theselected Startup Item causes theproblem. Go to Step 2j. If no Startup Item causes this problem, a Microsoft service probably causes the problem.To determine which Microsoft service may be causing the problem, repeat steps 2a through 2f without selecting the Hide all Microsoft services check box in either step.
10. step2jAfter you determine the startup item or the service that causes the problem, contact the program manufacturer to determine whether the problem can be resolved. Or, run the System Configuration utility, and then click to clear the check box for the problem item.

How to reset the computer to start as usual after clean boot troubleshooting

After you have finished troubleshooting, follow these steps to reset the computer to start as usual.

Windows 8

1. On the Start screen, type msconfig, and then press Enter.
2. On the General tab, tap or click the Normal Startup option.
3. Tap or click the Services tab and clear the check box beside Hide all Microsoft services, and then tap or click Enable all.
4. Next, tap or click the Startup tab, and then tap or click Open Task Manager.
5. In task manager, enable all of your startup programs, and then tap or click OK.
6. When you are prompted to restart the computer, tap or click Restart.

Windows 7 and Windows Vista

1. Click Start
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   , type msconfig.exe in the Start Search box, and then press Enter.
   
   
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   If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, you should type the password or click Continue.
2. On the General tab, click the Normal Startup option, and then click OK.
3. When you are prompted to restart the computer, click Restart.

Additional resources

How to start the Windows Installer service when system services are not loaded

If you run a Setup program without starting the Windows Installer service, you may receive the following error message: The Windows Installer service does not start if you clear the Load system services check box in the System Configuration utility. To use the Windows Installer service when system services are not loaded, you must start the service manually. To do this, follow these steps.

Windows 8

1. From the Start screen, type computer.
2. Right-click or swipe down on Computer, and then tap or click Manage.
3. In the console tree, tap or click Services and Applications, and then tap or click Services.
4. In the details pane, right-click or swipe down on Windows Installer, and then tap or click Start.

Windows 7 and Windows Vista

1. Click Start
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   , right-click Computer, and then click Manage.
   
   
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   If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
2. In the console tree, click Services and Applications, and then click Services.
3. In the details pane, right-click Windows Installer, and then click Start.