System Configuration Utility Does Not Disable Files

When you attempt to disable startup files using the System Configuration Utility (Msconfig.exe), some or all of the files may still be loaded when you start your computer.

This behavior can occur if any of the following files have the read-only attribute:

• Autoexec.bat
• Config.sys
• Win.ini
• System.ini
• Winstart.bat

To resolve this behavior, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Programs, and then click MS-DOS Prompt.
2. At the command prompt, type the following commands, pressing ENTER after each command
   
   attrib c:\config.sys -r
   attrib c:\autoexec.bat -r
   attrib windowspath\win.ini -r
   attrib windowspath\system.ini -r
   attrib windowspath\winstart.bat -r
   exit where windowspath is the drive and folder where you installed Windows.
   
   
3. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Information.
4. On the Tools menu, click System Configuration Utility.
5. Click to select the check boxes you previously cleared, click OK, and then click Yes when you are prompted to restart your computer.
6. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Information.
7. On the Tools menu, click System Configuration Utility.
8. Click to clear the check boxes of the startup files you want to disable, click OK, and then click Yes when you are prompted to restart your computer.

The System Configuration Utility does not notify you if you attempt to modify a file that has the read-only attribute.

Using the System Configuration Utility tool, you can isolate the specific file entry that is causing the problem after restarting your computer several times. Once the specific file entry that is causing the problem is determined, you should edit the appropriate file or registry entry to remove this entry and return the System Configuration Utility to Normal Startup. For information about clean booting Windows 98 using the System Configuration Utility, please see the "Narrowing the Focus" section in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article: