Windows comes with many useful features to enhance your computing experience and solve problems on your PC. However, when your computer takes too long to boot or throws any errors before you see your desktop, Windows allows you to fix that too. You can use the System Configuration Tool to modify various startup parameters and fix problems that arise before you even see the Windows desktop.
While quite useful, many people do not take full advantage of the System Configuration Tool. We’ll share a bit about the System Configuration Tool and how to easily access it to troubleshoot and fix problems on your Windows 11 PC.
What is System Configuration Tool?
The System Configuration Tool (MSConfig) is a handy utility built into Windows to troubleshoot and fix problems that might be hindering Windows startup, preventing your PC from booting/booting. normal movement.
In addition to troubleshooting issues, the System Configuration Tool is also useful if you want to reduce your PC’s boot time, that is, the time it takes for your PC to start, or choose which programs and services to start with your PC. Friend.
It is useful if you have multiple operating systems installed on your computer, and you can choose to specify the order in which they appear on the startup screen. This tool allows you to tackle basic tweaks to advanced settings to start Windows.
How to access the System Configuration Tool on Windows 11
Similar to most other administrative tools in Windows, there are multiple ways to access the System Configuration Tool on your Windows 11 computer. You can check out our guide on the best way to access the System Configuration (MSConfig) tool. You can follow the steps listed below:
Step 1: Press the Windows + R key combination on the keyboard to access the Run dialog box.
Step 2: In the Run dialog box that opens, type MSConfig. Then click OK or press Enter.
That will open the System Configuration Tool window on your computer.
How to use the System Configuration Tool on Windows 11
The System Configuration tool is divided into five tabs for easy navigation, each with a different set of functions. Here’s what you can do in each tab:
1. General Tab
The General tab provides Boot selection options that you can use to configure your system’s startup behavior. The Startup section includes three startup options that allow you to choose which services, devices, and drivers start whenever you start your PC with varying degrees of control.
The three boot options include Normal Boot, Diagnostic Boot, and Selective Boot. Here’s what each option does:
- Normal boot: As the name suggests, this mode loads up all the usual services and drivers as normal when the PC boots up.
- Diagnostic Boot: Similar to Safe Mode, this option only uploads essential services and devices. However, some more advanced services, such as Networking, System Restore, and Windows Error Reporting, are paused for software troubleshooting and diagnostics.
- Selective boot: This mode offers two other sub-options that let you choose whether you want to Load system services, Load startup items, or both.
To boot your PC into a certain Boot mode, click the boot mode in the Boot Selection section, then Apply. Next, restart your PC.
2. Startup Tab
The System Configuration Tool’s startup tab allows to change the way your computer boots and provides the ability to choose the default operating system (if you have multiple operating systems on your PC), enable Safe Mode with different configurations or drivers, etc.
The main function of the Startup tab is to allow you to customize various settings that may affect the startup of your PC. Alternatively, here’s a quick way to boot your PC into safe mode by clicking the Safe Boot checkbox followed by Apply.
For the four sub-options listed below, you can choose any of them according to your use case. Here’s what selecting each option does:
- Minimal: Selecting this option turns off the network connection and allows you to load Windows in safe mode while running critical system services.
- Alternative shell: This option also disables networking but boots into a Command Prompt Window in safe mode while running critical system services.
- Active Directory Repair: Only applicable to Windows Server operating systems, choosing Active Directory repair allows administrators to repair Active Directory databases.
- Network: Pretty much the same as Minimal Boot mode, except that networking is enabled.
Secure Boot and its secondary options aside, there are four other options listed under Boot Options. Here’s what select each do:
- Do not start the GUI: This option disables the Windows standby screen (manufacturer/Windows logo) on startup. Useful for troubleshooting graphics/video cards.
- Boot Log: Select this option to create a log file with all technical information about the boot process.
- Base Video: This option Starts Windows in minimal VGA mode (lower resolution). Also useful for graphics/video card related troubleshooting.
- Operating system boot information: Selecting this option allows you to reveal the names of any drivers and services as they are loaded during the boot process.
You can also use the Startup tab to limit the maximum number of processors (CPU processing cores) and memory (RAM) that your system can use. This is the way:
Step 1: Go to the Startup tab of the System Configuration Tool and select your current operating system. Then click on Advanced options.
Step 2: When the ‘BOOT Advanced Options’ dialog box appears on your screen, click on the ‘Number of processors’ checkbox followed by the drop-down list directly below to select the number of processors that your system can use.
Step 3: Change the maximum memory your system uses, click the Maximum memory: check box, and use the arrow keys on your keyboard to set its value.
Step 4: After the configuration is complete, click OK to Save changes.
You can check Make all startup settings permanent: Changes made in System Configuration are not tracked. If you want to make the changes later, you’ll have to do it manually. Selecting Normal Startup in the General tab does not work if the feature is selected.
3. Services Tab
The Services tab allows you to manually enable or disable services that start with your PC. It is a perfect way to find and stop rouge services that can affect the stability of your system.
To choose which services to launch when you start your PC, click the hide all Microsoft services check box to make sure you’re not messing with some important services. Then click Disable All.
Then select the ones you want by clicking the checkboxes in front of their names.
Once you’re done, click Apply. Your PC will restart and only start with the selected services. You can repeat the process to add or remove more services to run at startup.
4. Startup Tab
The Startup tab is where you can configure which apps launch automatically every time your PC starts, at least on Windows 10 and other older versions.
With the introduction of Windows 11’s now-defunct Task Manager, Microsoft changed things up, and the Startup tab found in the System Configuration Tool just provides a link that redirects you to the Start tab. Action Manager action.
5. Tools Tab
You can use the Tools tab in the System Configuration Tool to launch many other useful utilities built into Windows. The Tools tab organizes all the important tools and utilities into a handy list for easy access when needed.
If you want to access a utility listed in the Tools tab of the System Configuration Tool, select the tool of your choice and click Launch.
Get the most out of the system configuration tool
Whether it’s a new or old computer, you can use the System Configuration Tool to start your Windows 11 PC in safe mode, diagnose faulty software, launch useful tools, etc without having to worry about messing something up. Make sure you’ve backed up your data and set System Restore points before continuing to tinker around.
Categories: How to
Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/
