How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows Millennium Edition (267288)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
This article was previously published under Q267288
If this article does not describe the error message that you are receiving, view the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article to view more articles that describe error messages:

315854 Windows 98 and Windows Me Error Message Resource Center

This article is designed to help troubleshoot a wide variety of issues. If you would like information regarding specific error messages, view the Windows 98 and Windows Me Error Message Resource Center:

SUMMARY

This article describes how to disable common startup programs, settings, and drivers to troubleshoot issues in Windows Millennium Edition (Me). This procedure is known as "clean booting."

Use this procedure only to troubleshoot error messages or behaviors when you have been unable to determine the cause of the issue. Following these steps results in a temporary loss of some functionality. Restoring the settings restores the functionality, but may result in the return of the original error message or behavior.

MORE INFORMATION

Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base for information about your specific issue before following the steps in this article. This information is not intended to troubleshoot specific issues. If you are receiving a specific error message or behavior, search the Microsoft Knowledge Base by using the text of the error message and a description of the issue or behavior. The Microsoft Knowledge Base is available at the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com

How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows Me

  1. Click Start, click Run, type msconfig in the Open box, and then click OK.
  2. On the General tab, click Selective startup.
  3. Click to clear all of the check boxes under Selective startup.
  4. On the Startup tab, click to select the *StateMgr check box.
  5. Click OK. When you are prompted to restart your computer, click Yes. After the computer restarts, Click Start, click Run, type msconfig in the Open box, and then click OK.

    IMPORTANT: Look closely at the General tab to ensure that the check boxes you cleared are still cleared. Proceed to step 6 if none of the check boxes is selected. If you see a disabled or gray check box, your computer is not truly "clean-booted" and you may need assistance from the manufacturer of the program that places a check mark back into Msconfig.
  6. After you verify that your computer is clean-booted in step 5, you can isolate the issue. If the original issue does not reoccur after the clean boot, select one item at a time under Selective startup, and then restart the computer to see if the additional entry reproduces the original issue.

    NOTE: When you perform this procedure, Windows uses the Standard VGA driver (640 x 480 x 16) for your display. This driver sets your display to a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels with 16 colors. If you cannot test the original issue in this configuration (for example, you have to run a program that requires a higher resolution or color depth), you may have to change your display driver to a high-resolution generic (Super VGA) driver or select the System.ini item to add your original display adapter back to your configuration. Note that if you add the System.ini item back to your configuration, you may also add components and settings with your original display driver. For additional information about how to change your display driver, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    131806 Windows 95/98/Me: How to Install or Change a Video Driver

How to Return from a Clean Boot State

  1. Click Start, click Run, type msconfig in the Open box, and then click OK.
  2. On the General tab, click Normal startup.
  3. Click OK. Click Yes when you are prompted to restart your computer.

Categories That Are Disabled in a Clean Boot

  • System.ini entries
  • Win.ini entries
  • Static virtual device drivers (VxDs)
  • Startup items
  • Environment variables for MS-DOS emulation


NOTE: The following VxDs should be checked in the static VxD tab of the System Configuration Utility to ensure proper functioning for internet/networking access:

VNETSUP
NDIS
VNETBIOS
VREDIR

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/25/2006
Keywords:kbenv kbFAQ kbhowto kbProd2Web KB267288
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