Microsoft KB Archive/331796

= How to perform a clean boot procedure to prevent background programs from interfering with a game or a program that you currently use =

Article ID: 331796

Article Last Modified on 11/13/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Flight Simulator X Deluxe
 * Microsoft Flight Simulator X Standard
 * Halo 2 for Windows Vista
 * Microsoft Links 2003 Championship Edition
 * Microsoft Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings
 * Microsoft Age of Empires II: The Conquerors Expansion
 * Microsoft Age of Empires II Gold Edition
 * Microsoft Age of Empires III
 * Microsoft Age of Empires III : The WarChiefs
 * Microsoft Age of Mythology
 * Microsoft Age of Mythology Gold
 * Microsoft Age of Mythology: The Titans
 * Microsoft AutoRoute 2006
 * Microsoft AutoRoute 2007
 * Microsoft AutoRoute 2007 with GPS Locator
 * Microsoft Bicycle Board Games 1.5
 * Microsoft Bicycle Card Games 1.0
 * Microsoft Bicycle Casino Games 1.5
 * Microsoft Classic Board Games 1.0
 * Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 3: Battle for Europe
 * Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 2: WWII Pacific Theater
 * Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator: WWII Europe Series
 * Microsoft Crimson Skies
 * Microsoft Digital Image Standard 2006
 * Microsoft Digital Image Starter Edition 2006
 * Microsoft Digital Image Suite 2006
 * Microsoft Digital Image Suite 2006 Trial Edition
 * Microsoft Dungeon Siege
 * Microsoft Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna
 * Microsoft Dungeon Siege II
 * Microsoft Encarta Standard 2007
 * Microsoft Encarta Premium 2007
 * Fable: The Lost Chapters PC
 * Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: Century of Flight
 * Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 Professional Edition
 * Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000 Professional Edition
 * Microsoft Freelancer
 * Microsoft Gears of War (PC)
 * Microsoft Halo: Combat Evolved for PC
 * Microsoft Impossible Creatures
 * Microsoft Links 2001 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Links 2003
 * Microsoft Links 2003 Championship Edition
 * Microsoft MapPoint 2006 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft MechCommander 2
 * Microsoft MechWarrior 4: Black Knight
 * Microsoft MechWarrior 4: Clan Mech Pak
 * Microsoft MechWarrior 4: Inner Sphere Mech Pak
 * Microsoft MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries
 * Microsoft MechWarrior 4: Vengeance
 * Microsoft Midtown Madness 2
 * Microsoft Midtown Madness
 * Microsoft Pandora's Box
 * Microsoft RalliSport Challenge PC
 * Microsoft Rise of Nations
 * Microsoft Rise of Nations: Gold Edition
 * Microsoft Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends
 * Microsoft Rise of Nations: Thrones and Patriots
 * Microsoft Shadowrun (PC)
 * Microsoft Streets & Trips 2007
 * Microsoft Streets & Trips 2007 with GPS Locator
 * Microsoft Streets & Trips 2006
 * Microsoft Student with Encarta Premium 2007
 * Microsoft Student 2006
 * Microsoft Viva Pinata (PC)
 * Microsoft Zoo Tycoon
 * Microsoft Zoo Tycoon 2
 * Microsoft Zoo Tycoon Complete Collection
 * Microsoft Zoo Tycoon: Dinosaur Digs 1.0
 * Microsoft Zoo Tycoon: Marine Mania
 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional
 * Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
 * Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
 * Microsoft Zoo Tycoon 2: African Adventure
 * Microsoft Zoo Tycoon 2: Dino Danger
 * Microsoft Zoo Tycoon 2: Endangered Species
 * Microsoft Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania

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This article was previously published under Q331796



SUMMARY
This article describes how to perform a clean boot procedure to start a Windows Vista-based computer or a Microsoft Windows XP-based computer. When you use a clean boot procedure to start a computer, Microsoft Windows starts only basic devices and services when it starts.

When you start Windows by using a regular startup, several programs start automatically and run in the background. These programs may include third-party antivirus programs and system utility programs. These programs may interfere when you install, run, or use a game or program such as Microsoft Flight Simulator or Microsoft Streets and Trips. If this occurs, you can use a clean boot procedure to prevent these programs from starting automatically. You must be logged on as an administrator or as a member of the Administrators group to complete a clean boot procedure. If the computer is connected to a network, the network policy settings may also prevent you from completing the clean boot procedure.

This article is intended for a beginning to intermediate computer user.

You may find it easier to follow the steps if you print this article first.



Method 1: How to perform a clean boot procedure on a Windows Vista-based computer
Note You may experience a temporary loss of some services functionality when you follow these steps. When you restore the settings, the functionality will be restored. However, the original error message or behavior may return.
 * 1) Click Startvistastartbutton.jpg], type msconfig in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.

If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.
 * 1) On the General tab, click Selective Startup.
 * 2) Under Selective Startup, click to clear the Load Startup Items check box.
 * 3) Click the Services tab, click to select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box, and then click Disable All.
 * 4) Click OK, and then click Restart.

After the computer starts, test the game and see whether the problems occur. If the problem does not occur, continue to Method 3 to determine what is causing the problem.



Method 2: How to perform a clean boot procedure on a Windows XP-based computer
Note You may experience a temporary loss of some services functionality when you follow these steps. Restoring the settings restores the functionality, but may result in the return of the original error message or behavior.
 * 1) Click Start, click Run, type msconfig in the Open box, and then click OK.
 * 2) On the General tab, click Selective Startup.
 * 3) Under Selective Startup, click to clear the following check boxes:
 * 4) * Process SYSTEM.INI File
 * 5) * Process WIN.INI File
 * 6) * Load Startup Items
 * 7) Click the Services tab, click to select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box, and then click Disable All.
 * 8) Click OK, and then click Restart.

After the computer starts, test your game and see whether the problems occur. If the problem does not occur, continue to Method 3 to determine what is causing the problem.

Click Play to view this streaming media demonstration.



Step 1: Start the System Configuration Utility
Windows Vista

To start the System Configuration Utility in Windows Vista, click Start in the Start Search box, type msconfig, and then press ENTER.

If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.

Windows XP

To start the System Configuration Utility in Windows XP, click Start, click Run, type msconfig in the Open box, and then click OK.

Step 2: Enable half the Services items
 Click the Services tab, click to select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box. Click to select half of the check boxes in the Services list. Click OK, and then click Restart.

Step 3: Determine whether the problem returns
 Start the game. If this problem occurs, repeat step 1 and step 2. In step 2.b. click to clear half of the check boxes that you originally selected in the Services list.</li> If this problem does not occur, repeat step 1 and step 2. In step 2.b. select only half of the remaining check boxes that are cleared in the Services list. Keep doing this until you have selected all the check boxes.</li> If only one service is selected in the Services list, and you experience this problem, the service that is selected in the list is the service that is causing the problem. Go to step 6.</li> If you find that the items in the Services list are not causing this problem, go to step 4.</li></ol>

Step 4: Enable half of the Startup items
 Repeat step 1.</li> Click the Startup tab, and then click to select half of the check boxes in the Startup list.</li> Click OK, and then click Restart.</li></ol>

Step 5: Determine whether the problem returns
 Start the game.</li> If this problem occurs, repeat step 1 and step 4. In step 4.b., click to clear half of the check boxes that you originally selected in the Startup list.</li> If this problem does not occur, repeat step 1 and step 4. In step 4.b., select only half of the remaining check boxes that are cleared in the Startup list. Keep doing this until you have selected all the check boxes.</li> If only one service is set in the Startup list, and this problem occurs, the service that is set in the list is the service that is causing the problem. Go to step 6.</li> If you find that the items in the Services list are not causing this problem, see the &quot;Similar solutions&quot; section.</li></ol>

Step 6: Resolve the problem
After you determine the specific program or service that causes the behavior, contact the program manufacturer to determine whether the issue can be resolved. Or, you can run the System Configuration Utility with the offending program or service unchecked on the list.

<div class="moreinformation_section">

Similar solutions and problems
For more information about Microsoft games, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/games

For more information about how to troubleshoot games, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

310697 Resources for troubleshooting games and multimedia in Windows XP

303032 PSC: The game stops responding or closes unexpectedly when you start or play a Microsoft game

815069 PSC: How to improve computer performance when you play Microsoft games

Additional query words: setup installation

Keywords: kbhowto kbinfo kbarttypeshowme kbsetup kbexpertiseinter kbnomt kbceip kbresolve KB331796

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