How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows

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Summary

A clean boot is performed to start Windows by using a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This helps

eliminate software conflicts that occur when you install a program or an update or when you run a program in

Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, or Windows Vista. You may also troubleshoot or determine what conflict

is causing the problem by performing a clean boot.

Why software conflicts occur?

When you start Windows by using a normal startup operation, several applications and services start

automatically, and then run in the background. These programs include basic system processes, antivirus

software, system utility applications, and other software that has been previously installed. These applications

and services can cause software conflicts.

Note If you are using Windows XP, go to How to configure Windows XP to start in a "clean boot" state.

How to perform a clean boot

Notes

You must log on to the computer as an administrator to be able to perform a clean boot.

Your computer may temporarily lose some functionality when you perf orm a clean boot. When you start

the computer normally, the functionality returns. However, you may receive the original error message, orexperience the original behavior if the problem still exists.

If the computer is connected to a network, network policy settings may prevent you from following these

steps. We strongly recommend that you do not use the System Configuration utility to change the

advanced boot options on the computer unless a Microsoft support engineer directs you to do this.

Doing this may make the computer unusable.

Follow the following steps to perform a clean boot:

Windows 8.1 and Windows 8

How to perform a clean boot in Windows

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1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search. Or, if you are using a mouse, point to

the lower‐right corner of the screen, and then click Search.

2. Type msconfig in the search box, and then tap or click msconfig.

3. On the Services tab of the System Configuration dialog box, tap or click to select the Hide all

Microsoft services check box, and then tap or click Disable all.

4. On the Startup tab of the System Configuration dialog box, tap or click Open Task Manager.

5. On the Startup tab in Task Manager, for each startup item, select the item and then click Disable.


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6. Close Task Manager.

7. On the Startup tab of the System Configuration dialog box, tap or click OK , and then restart the

computer.

Windows 7 and Windows Vista

1. Log on to the computer by using an account that has administrator rights.

2. Click Start, type msconfig.exe in the Start Search box, and then press Enter to start the System

Configuration utility.

Note If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, you should type thepassword or provide confirmation.


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3. On the General tab, click the Selective startup option, and then click to clear the Load startup items

check box. The Use Original Boot.ini check box is unavailable.

4. On the Services tab, click to select the Hide all Microsoft services check box, and then click Disable all.


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Note This step lets Microsoft services continue to run. These services include Networking, Plug and Play,

Event Logging, Error Reporting, and other services. If you disable these services, you may permanently

delete all restore points. Do not do this if you want to use the System Restore utility together with

existing restore points.

5. Click OK , and then click Restart.

For more information about how to perform a clean boot in Windows 7 and Windows Vista, reference the

Video: How to do a clean boot in Windows.

What is next when I have a clean boot environment?

After the computer is restarted, you will have a clean boot environment. Then, do one of the following, as

appropriate for your situation:

If you could not install or uninstall a program or an update before you performed the clean boot, try

to install or uninstall the program or update again.

Note If you receive the "The Windows Installer service could not be accessed" error during the

installation or uninstallation, follow How to start the Windows Installer service when system services are

not loaded, and then install or uninstall the program or update again.

If the installation or uninstallation is successful, you have resolved your issue. Follow How to reset

the computer to start as usual to reset your computer to the normal startup.

If the installation or uninstallation still fails, that means this issue is not caused by application or

service interference. You may have to go to Microsoft Support for more specific support.

If you could not run a program before you performed the clean boot, try to run the program again.

If the program runs correctly, this issue is caused by application or service interferences. FollowHow to determine what is causing the issue by performing a clean boot to determine which

application or service causes the issue.

If the program still does not run as expected, this issue is not caused by application or service

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interference. You may have to go to Microsoft Support for more specific support.

How to reset the computer to start normally after

clean boot troubleshooting

After you have finished troubleshooting, follow these steps to reset the computer to start normally.





3. On the General tab, tap or click the Normal Startup option.

4. Tap or click the Services tab, clear the check box beside Hide all Microsoft services, and then tap or click

Enable all.

5. ap or click the Startup tab, and then tap or click Open Task Manager.

6. In task manager, enable all of your startup programs, and then tap or click OK .

7. When you are prompted to restart the computer, tap or click Restart.


1. Click Start, type msconfig.exe in the Start Search box, and then press Enter.

Note If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, you should type the

password or click Continue.

2. On the General tab, click the Normal Startup option, and then click OK .

3. When you are prompted to restart the computer, click Restart.

More information

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How to determine what is causing the problem by

performing a clean boot






4. Tap or click the Services tab, and then tap or click to select the Hide all Microsoft services check box.

5. Tap or click to select the upper half of the check boxes in the Service list.

6. Tap or click OK , and then tap or click Restart.

7. After the computer finishes restarting, determine whether the problem still occurs.

If the problem still occurs, repeat steps 1 through 6, but clear the lower half of the check boxes in

the Service list that you originally selected.

If the problem does not occur, repeat steps 1 through 6, and select only the upper half of theremaining check boxes that are cleared in the Service list. Repeat these steps until you have

selected all the check boxes.

If you still experience the problem when only one service is selected in the Service list, this means

that the selected service causes the problem, and you should go to step 11. If no service causes the

problem, go to step 8.

8. Repeat steps 1 and 3 in this section.

9. Tap or click the Startup tab, and then tap or click to select the upper half of the check boxes in the

Startup Item list.


If the problem still occurs, repeat steps 8 and 9, but clear the lower half of the checked boxes in the

Startup Item list that you originally selected.

If the problem does not occur, repeat steps 8 and 9, and select only the upper half of the remaining

check boxes that are cleared in the Startup Item list. Repeat these steps until you have selected all

the check boxes.

If you still experience the problem after only one Startup Item is selected in the Startup Item list,

this means that the selected Startup Item causes the problem, and you should go to step 11. If noStartup Item causes this problem, a Microsoft service probably causes the problem. To determine

which Microsoft service may be causing the problem, repeat steps 1 through 7 without selecting

the Hide all Microsoft services check box in each step.


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11. After you determine the startup item or the service that causes the problem, contact the program

manufacturer to determine whether the problem can be resolved. Or, run the System Configuration

utility, and then tap or click to clear the check box for the problem item.



2. Click Start, type msconfig.exe in the Start Search box, and then press Enter to start the System

Configuration utility.

Note If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, you should type the

password or provide confirmation.

3. Click the Services tab, and then click to select the Hide all Microsoft services check box.

4. Click to select the upper half of the check boxes in the Service list.


6. After the computer finishes restarting, determine whether the problem still occurs.

If the problem still occurs, repeat steps 1 through 5, but clear the lower half of the checked boxes

in the Service list that you originally selected.

If the problem does not occur, repeat steps 1 through 5, and select only the upper half of the

remaining check boxes that are cleared in the Service list. Repeat these steps until you have

selected all the check boxes.

If you still experience the problem after only one service is selected in the Service list, this means

that the selected service causes the problem. Go to step 10. If no service causes this problem, go to

step 7.

7. Perform a clean boot by repeating steps 1 and 2.

8. Click the Startup tab, and then click to select the upper half of the check boxes in the Startup Item list.


If the problem still occurs, repeat steps 7 and 8, but clear the lower half of the checked boxes in the


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1. Click Start, right‐click Computer, and then click Manage.

Note If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password or

provide confirmation.

2. In the console tree, click Services and Applications, and then click Services.

3. In the details pane, right‐click Windows Installer, and then click Start.

Video: How to do a clean boot in Windows

Properties

Article ID: 929135 ‐ Last Review: 12/13/2013 04:56:00 ‐ Revision: 36.0

Applies to

Windows 8.1

Windows 8.1 Enterprise

Windows 8.1 Pro

Windows 8

1:30 / 1:30


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English United States

Windows 8 Enterprise

Windows 8 Pro

Windows 7 Enterprise

Windows 7 Home Basic

Windows 7 Home Premium

Windows 7 Professional

Windows 7 Starter

Windows 7 Ultimate

Windows Vista Home Basic

Windows Vista Home Premium

Windows Vista Ultimate

Windows Vista Business

Windows Vista Enterprise

Windows Vista Starter

Windows Vista Business 64‐bit Edition

Windows Vista Enterprise 64‐bit Edition

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How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows