Performing a Proper Windows Clean Boot on XP, Vista, 7, 8 and 8.1
When using Tweaking.com - Windows Repair, a Clean Boot is a must!
There have been many times where a program running on the system can get in the way of the repairs or even mess with them. I have had users who ran the repairs on systems that had over 140+ processes running!
By doing a clean boot, no 3rd party programs will be running, lowering the process count to 45 or less. Not only do we avoid having another program interfere with the repairs, but we also now have more system resources for the repairs and the repairs will also finish faster since the cpu, memory and hard drive won't be under the same load they would be if all the other programs where still running.
Please note that some antiviruses will not allow msconfig to disable them. So you will have to disable them manually first.
Avast! users will need to disable the Avast! self-defense module.
Step 1. Click on the Avast! tray icon.
Step 2. Select "Settings", then "Troubleshooting".
Step 3. Uncheck "Enable Avast! self-defense module".
Step 4. Click "OK" and select "Yes" on the pop-up to confirm the change.
You will now be able to disable Avast! using msconfig and perform a clean boot.
When you reset msconfig back to a normal startup be sure to enable the self-defense module again, following the same steps and rechecking "Enable Avast! self-defense module".
For other antiviruses, here is a few link to how to Temporarily Disable Your Anti-virus:
Windows Defender Protection - Turn On or Off in Windows 8
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/21967-windows-defender-protection-turn-off-windows-8-a.html
How to disable microsoft security essentials windows 7
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2025707/how-to-temporarily-disable-microsoft-security-essentials.html
Turning ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus and Anti-Spyware ON or OFF
http://download.zonealarm.com/bin/inclient/ZA_HelpCenter/91591.htm
How to Disable Avira in Windows:
http://www.ehow.com/how_7229712_disable-avira-windows.html
How to Temporarily Disable McAfee Virus Protection
http://smallbusiness.chron.com/temporarily-disable-mcafee-virus-protection-54502.html
How To Temporarily Disable AVG Components
http://forums.avg.com/us-en/avg-forums?sec=thread&act=show&id=88501
Here is a page How To Temporarily Disable Your Anti-virus, Firewall And Anti-malware Programs:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/114351/how-to-temporarily-disable-your-anti-virus-firewall-and-anti-malware-programs/
Log into Windows using an account that has administrative privileges.
Click on Start then Run. If you don’t have the Run command on your Start menu, you can hold down the Windows key on your keyboard and press the R key.
With the Run dialogue window open, type in msconfig and click the OK button.
You should now see the System Configuration window.
Step 1: Click on the "Services" tab.
Step 2: Put a check on "Hide all Microsoft Services" (You MUST do this!)
Step 3: Click "Disable all"
Step 4: Click "Apply"
For XP, Vista & 7
Step 5: Click "Startup" tab.
Step 6: Click "Disable all"
Step 7: Click "Apply"
For 8 & 8.1
Step 5: Click "Startup" tab.
Step 6: Click "Open Task Manger"
Now go down this list and click on each startup item and either right click on it and click disable
or click on it and then click the disable button.
Do this for every startup item.
We are now done with MSConfig.exe (System Configuration)
Now there is one more location to configure. The Windows Task Scheduler also has startup items that we need to disable.
So open the Windows Task Scheduler, if you don't know where to open it you can hold down the Windows key on your keyboard and press the R key.
With the Run dialogue window open, type in control.exe schedtasks and click the OK button.
For Vista, 7, 8 & 8.1
Step 1: Click and select "Task Scheduler Library"
Step 2: Right click or select a task and then click "Disable"
Do this for every task in the list.
For XP
Step 1: Right click on a scheduled task and then click properties, or just double click the scheduled task.
Step 2: Uncheck the "Enabled (scheduled task runs at specified time)"
Step 3: Click "Apply"
Do this for every task in the list.
Done! That's it, now reboot the computer and no 3rd party programs or services should startup, thus a "Clean Boot" of Windows.
There have been many times where a program running on the system can get in the way of the repairs or even mess with them. I have had users who ran the repairs on systems that had over 140+ processes running!
By doing a clean boot, no 3rd party programs will be running, lowering the process count to 45 or less. Not only do we avoid having another program interfere with the repairs, but we also now have more system resources for the repairs and the repairs will also finish faster since the cpu, memory and hard drive won't be under the same load they would be if all the other programs where still running.
Please note that some antiviruses will not allow msconfig to disable them. So you will have to disable them manually first.
Avast! users will need to disable the Avast! self-defense module.
Step 1. Click on the Avast! tray icon.
Step 2. Select "Settings", then "Troubleshooting".
Step 3. Uncheck "Enable Avast! self-defense module".
Step 4. Click "OK" and select "Yes" on the pop-up to confirm the change.
You will now be able to disable Avast! using msconfig and perform a clean boot.
When you reset msconfig back to a normal startup be sure to enable the self-defense module again, following the same steps and rechecking "Enable Avast! self-defense module".
For other antiviruses, here is a few link to how to Temporarily Disable Your Anti-virus:
Windows Defender Protection - Turn On or Off in Windows 8
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/21967-windows-defender-protection-turn-off-windows-8-a.html
How to disable microsoft security essentials windows 7
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2025707/how-to-temporarily-disable-microsoft-security-essentials.html
Turning ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus and Anti-Spyware ON or OFF
http://download.zonealarm.com/bin/inclient/ZA_HelpCenter/91591.htm
How to Disable Avira in Windows:
http://www.ehow.com/how_7229712_disable-avira-windows.html
How to Temporarily Disable McAfee Virus Protection
http://smallbusiness.chron.com/temporarily-disable-mcafee-virus-protection-54502.html
How To Temporarily Disable AVG Components
http://forums.avg.com/us-en/avg-forums?sec=thread&act=show&id=88501
Here is a page How To Temporarily Disable Your Anti-virus, Firewall And Anti-malware Programs:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/114351/how-to-temporarily-disable-your-anti-virus-firewall-and-anti-malware-programs/
Performing a Proper Windows Clean Boot on XP, Vista, 7, 8 & 8.1
Note: If you are done doing a Clean Boot and would like to put the system back to normal startup, you simply follow the same guide. But instead, you choose "Enable" instead of "Disable"
Log into Windows using an account that has administrative privileges.
Click on Start then Run. If you don’t have the Run command on your Start menu, you can hold down the Windows key on your keyboard and press the R key.
With the Run dialogue window open, type in msconfig and click the OK button.
You should now see the System Configuration window.
Step 1: Click on the "Services" tab.
Step 2: Put a check on "Hide all Microsoft Services" (You MUST do this!)
Step 3: Click "Disable all"
Step 4: Click "Apply"
For XP, Vista & 7
Step 5: Click "Startup" tab.
Step 6: Click "Disable all"
Step 7: Click "Apply"
For 8 & 8.1
Step 5: Click "Startup" tab.
Step 6: Click "Open Task Manger"
Now go down this list and click on each startup item and either right click on it and click disable
or click on it and then click the disable button.
Do this for every startup item.
We are now done with MSConfig.exe (System Configuration)
Now there is one more location to configure. The Windows Task Scheduler also has startup items that we need to disable.
So open the Windows Task Scheduler, if you don't know where to open it you can hold down the Windows key on your keyboard and press the R key.
With the Run dialogue window open, type in control.exe schedtasks and click the OK button.
For Vista, 7, 8 & 8.1
Step 1: Click and select "Task Scheduler Library"
Step 2: Right click or select a task and then click "Disable"
Do this for every task in the list.
For XP
Step 1: Right click on a scheduled task and then click properties, or just double click the scheduled task.
Step 2: Uncheck the "Enabled (scheduled task runs at specified time)"
Step 3: Click "Apply"
Do this for every task in the list.
Done! That's it, now reboot the computer and no 3rd party programs or services should startup, thus a "Clean Boot" of Windows.