5/22/2017 How to perform a clean boot in Windows

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How to perform a clean boot in Windows

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 10, 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.

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 perform a
clean boot. When you start the computer normally, the functionality returns.
However, you may receive the original error message, or experience 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
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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.

Use the following steps to perform a clean boot:

Hide all

Windows 10
1. From Start, search for msconfig.

2. Select System Configuration from the search results.

3. On the Services tab of the System Configuration dialog box, tap or click to
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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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and then click Disable.

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 8.1 and Windows 8

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.

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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 the password 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.

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.
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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. Follow How 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 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.

Hide all

Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 8

1. From Start, search for msconfig. (In Windows 10, use the Search box from
the Start menu. In Windows 8 or 8.1, wipe 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. Select msconfig or System Configuration from the search results.

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.

Windows 7 and Windows Vista

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

Note If you are prompted for an administrator

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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

How to determine what is causing the problem by performing a

clean boot

Hide all

Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 8

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

2. From Start, search for msconfig. (In Windows 10, use the Search box from
the Start menu. In Windows 8 or 8.1, 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.)

3. Select msconfig or System Configuration from the search results.

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 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

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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.

10. Click OK, and then click Restart.

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 no Startup
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.

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.

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 the password or provide confirmation.

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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.

5. Click OK, and then click Restart.

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.

9. Click OK, and then click Restart.

If the problem still occurs, repeat steps 7 and 8, but clear the lower
half of the checked boxes in the Startup Item list that you originally
selected.
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If the problem does not occur, repeat steps 7 and 8, 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. Go to Step 10. If no Startup 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 6 without selecting the Hide all Microsoft
services check box in either step.

10. 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 click to clear
the check box for the problem item.

How to start the Windows Installer service when system services are
not loaded

If you run a Setup program without starting the Windows Installer service, you may
receive the following error message:

The Windows Installer service could not be accessed. Contact your support
personnel to verify that the windows Installer service is properly registered.

The Windows Installer service does not start if you clear the Load system services
check box in the System Configuration utility. To use the Windows Installer service
when system services are not loaded, you must start the service manually. To do this,
follow these steps.
Hide all

Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 8

1. From Start, search for computer. (In Windows 10, use the Search box from
the Start menu. In Windows 8 or 8.1, 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. Right-click or swipe down on Computer in the search results, and then tap or
click Manage.

3. In the console tree, tap or click Services and Applications, and then tap or
click Services.

4. In the details pane, right-click or swipe

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4. In the details pane, right-click or swipe down on Windows Installer, and

then tap or click Start.

Windows 7 and Windows Vista

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.

Properties

Article ID: 929135 - Last Review: Mar 2, 2017 - Revision: 12

Applies to
Windows 8.1, Windows 8.1 Enterprise, Windows 8.1 Pro, Windows 8, 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, Windows 10
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