|
 |
Microsoft Configuration Utility – Startup. Don Bradbury takes beginners through the use of MSCONFIG If your computer is to run efficiently you should aim to have a minimum of about 70% free system resources on startup. However, even if you check that you have that on day one, within a short time of using the system it can be expected to change as more applications are installed. To see what the figure is currently, click on [Start] then click on <Run>, type in msconfig (in Windows 98/ME/XL) and click on [OK]. Once the window is open, click on <Help>, and then <About System Configuration Utility>. You’ll see a percentage figure there, and if that is less than 70% after a fresh reboot, you might decide to do something about it, and you can use Msconfig to do that.
Here’s how to proceed. Startup Depending on your Operating System, you should see a menu bar offering various options: General, System.ini, Win.ini, and Startup among them. Click on the latter. Here you’ll see a list of the Startup Group applications your system is using after Windows has booted, and these are the chief resource hogging utilities since they are permanently there at the behest of Windows, to be used as and when required. The problem is, of course, that many won’t be used, some entries won’t even be necessary, and others might be downright dangerous and should be tackled without delay. Some viruses, for example, can activate themselves there.
Many Windows management programs pop their activation commands in there; sometimes several of them. You might also see duplicates in the list that should be present.
The LoadPowerProfile item, for example, the command line for which is shown in the graphic, should have two entries in the Startup list. Don’t be tempted to deactivate one of them thinking it’s there by accident and therefore redundant. If you’re going to clear out the unwanted, in order to boost available resources, you need to check which are required and which can be ditched. That, by the way, is simply a case of clicking on the checkbox by the relevant item to deactivate it. Click on Apply, and reboot as soon as you are able in order to bring the new configuration into play, after saving any unsaved work, of course. There are several ways to check what you need to see running among the Startup items. One way is to contact the vendor of an application to see if the item is necessary and whether it needs to be activated from bootup (ie in Startup). If, in the end, you are uncertain, just leave the entry as it is. Arcane commands The trouble with these entries is that some are so esoteric in their description and command structure that you may well feel it’s best to leave well along. Would you know what Stimon.exe does, for example, or Osa.exe? If not, or you have other entries in Msconfig that you’re not sure about, you could go on the Internet and use your search engine to look. Enter ‘Stimon.exe’ and see what you can discover about it. Some of these sites list dozens of configuration, activation, and general utility applets, many of which you may well find in your Startup list. Browse these web sites and check against your installation to see which items are strictly necessary and which can be deactivated. In conclusion Software and hardware vendors tend to be somewhat profligate with their installation of startup items, and a well-used system may have entries in Startup that could be deactivated to recover system resources and boost Windows’ performance. Using Msconfig is a neat way to do that. Next time we’ll take a look at other things MSCONFIG can be used for.
|
