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How Do I Perform Clean Boot State in Microsoft Windows 8, 10, 7, Vista and XP

Clean boot in Windows 10 is the process of starting up Windows with only the minimal set of drivers and startup programs in order to troubleshoot, identify and resolve performance issues within booting process, including software conflicts, error messages and more.

Follow below steps to perform clean boot on Microsoft Windows by temporarily disable all non-critical services and startup programs.

Content Summary

Pre Steps
Perform Clean boot in Windows 8 and Windows 10
Perform Clean boot in Windows 7 and Vista
Perform Clean boot in Windows XP
Post Steps
Reference

Pre Steps

Step 1: Set up System Restore Point or backup computer.

Step 2: Sign in to the computer as an administrator.

Perform Clean boot in Windows 8 and Windows 10

Step 1: Press Win + R to open Run window. Type msconfig in the box and Enter.

Step 2: On the General tab, click Selective startup and uncheck the Load startup items check box.

Step 3: Switch to Services tab to display a list of all services.

Step 4: Select Hide All Microsoft Services option at the bottom of window and click Disable All button to disable all non-Microsoft services.

Step 5: Click OK.

Step 6: Click Exit Without Restart button in the warning window.

Step 7: Press Ctrl + Shift + Escape to open Task Manager and switch to Startup tab.

Step 8: Select enabled app and then click Disable button. Do that for all the enabled apps on the tab.

Step 9: Restart computer.

Step 10: After troubleshooting, go back to Services tab in msconfig, click the Enable All button and then individually disable any services that caused problems.

Step 11: In Task Manager, turn on all the startup apps that did not cause any problems.

Perform Clean boot in Windows 7 and Vista

Step 1: Click Start. Type msconfig in the search box and press Enter.

Step 2: On the General tab, click Selective startup. Uncheck the Load startup items check box.

Step 3: Click the Services tab. Select the Hide all Microsoft services check box.

Step 4: Click Disable all.

Step 5: Click OK then restart the computer.

Perform Clean boot in Windows XP

Step 1: Click Start > Run, type msconfig and then click OK.

Step 2: On the General tab, choose Selective Startup.

Step 3: Uncheck the following check boxes:

  • Process SYSTEM.INI file
  • Process WIN.INI file
  • Load Startup items

Step 4: Click the Services tab. Select the Hide All Microsoft services check box.

Step 5: Click Disable all.

Step 6: Click OK then restart computer.

Post Steps

After complete troubleshooting, restore system by doing the following:

Step 1: Click Start > Run, type msconfig and then click OK.

Step 2: On the General tab, select Normal Startup.

Step 3: Click OK then YES when asked to restart computer.

Reference

Microsoft Windows Support: How to perform a clean boot in Windows
Logitech Support: CLEAN BOOT FOR WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEMS

Alex Lim is a certified IT Technical Support Architect with over 15 years of experience in designing, implementing, and troubleshooting complex IT systems and networks. He has worked for leading IT companies, such as Microsoft, IBM, and Cisco, providing technical support and solutions to clients across various industries and sectors. Alex has a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the National University of Singapore and a master’s degree in information security from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is also the author of several best-selling books on IT technical support, such as The IT Technical Support Handbook and Troubleshooting IT Systems and Networks. Alex lives in Bandar, Johore, Malaysia with his wife and two chilrdren. You can reach him at [email protected] or follow him on Website | Twitter | Facebook

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