Prevent msconfig launch at startup (XP)

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Hello,

Every time I check/uncheck a Startup entry in msconfig and apply/accept changes, msconfig will launch on the next reboot. I don’t know if there is a purpose for msconfig behaving this way, but I find it annoying.

Is there a way to prevent this from happening?

Thank you

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Msconfig is meant to be mostly a test and troubleshooting method of changing start up settings. To get rid of the startup up items permanently, you should remove them from the proper locations within Windows itself or use a utility ot do it for you.

Have you checked the box that says “don’t show me this again” on the msconfig screen?

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Hello Bob,

I’m sorry I wasn’t clear enough in my first message. Please see my reply to Big Al.

Thanks

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The definitive way is to make the changes permanent. As Bob posted MSCONFIG is intended primarily to be a troubleshooting tool. The reminder is meant as a safety isuue for a user. Check some of the programs listed at Google Search: manage startup program.

Joe

--Joe

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Hello Joe,

Thanks for the reply and the link. Earlier today I visited The 46 Best-ever Freeware Utilities site tony55 posted in the Software forum, and by chance I found StartupRun. It got me playing a little, wondering another bit, comparing with MSCONFIG, and ultimately posting here.

So the solution would be to use one such Startup editor instead of MSCONFIG. It’s a pity, because I find it so handy to press Winkey+r, then type “msconfig” and hit Enter… It became second nature. Instead now I have to search in my software folder, or cram yet another shortcut icon in my Quick Launch bar. I wonder why they didn’t leave MSCONFIG just as it was in Win98.

Thank you very much

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Right click My Computer. Then select Properties | Advanced. ‘Push’ the environment variables button at the bottom. Scroll down to the ‘oath’ variable and modify it to include the path to the program you want. Ok your way out an re-boot. You can then use Windows+R and the program name.

Joe

--Joe

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Hi Joe,

Thanks for the tip!! I think I’ll make an extensive use of it. Note: I didn’t need to reboot for changes to take effect. It worked immediately.

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I’ve never seen MSCONFIG “launch” on startup but the reminder box DOES come up any time you make a change with the utility. If you do the “…don’t bother me with this…” checkbox that Bob mentioned, that should stop the warning message.

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Hello Al,

Yes, I wrote things wrong. It had been a long time since I last messed with msconfig and didn’t remember things well. Then I posted before resetting the machine. Sorry for that.
As you say, what comes up is this reminder dialog box. If I check the “don’t remind me” box, the warning message won’t appear again… until I dive into msconfig again and apply/accept a change. What I want to know is if there is a definitive way to tell XP to leave me alone, as Win98 used to. I used to touch the msconfig settings and no-one alerted me of anything upon reboot, which was fine with me.

All I do in msconfig is select/deselect items in the Startup tab. Whenever I do such a modification, the Startup Selection in the General tab turns to Selective Startup, and this is what I think (according to the warning message) triggers the “alarm”. If I go and change this to Normal Startup, there’s a problem: ALL the items in the Startup tab get checked, which, of course, I don’t want.

If it is of any help, I attach an image of the bothersome message. It’s in Spanish.

Thanks for your input.

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