System Configuration (msconfig) Shortcuts - Create

How to Create System Configuration (msconfig) Shortcuts in Windows


information   Information
System Configuration (msconfig) is a tool that can help identify problems that might prevent Windows from starting correctly.

This tutorial will show you how to download or create System Configuration (msconfig) shortcuts that open directly to the General, Boot, Services, Startup, or Tools tab in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.

Note   Note
For more information about msconfig, see: Using System Configuration (msconfig) - Windows Help


Tab

Description

General

Lists choices for startup configuration modes:

  • Normal startup = Starts Windows in the usual manner. Use this mode to start Windows after you're done using the other two modes to troubleshoot the problem.
  • Diagnostic startup = Starts Windows with basic services and drivers only. This mode can help rule out basic Windows files as the problem.
  • Selective startup = Starts Windows with basic services and drivers and the other services and startup apps that you select.


Boot

Shows configuration options for the operating system and advanced debugging settings, including:

  • Safe boot: Minimal = On startup, opens the Windows graphical user interface (File Explorer) in safe mode running only critical system services. Networking is disabled.
  • Safe boot: Alternate shell= On startup, opens the Windows command prompt in safe mode running only critical system services. Networking and File Explorer are disabled.
  • Safe boot: Active Directory repair = On startup, opens File Explorer in safe mode running critical system services and Active Directory.
  • Safe boot: Network = On startup, opens File Explorer in safe mode running only critical system services. Networking is enabled.
  • No GUI boot = Doesn't display the Windows Welcome screen when starting.
  • Boot log = Stores all information from the startup process in the file %SystemRoot%Ntbtlog.txt.
  • Base video = On startup, opens File Explorer in minimal VGA mode. This loads standard VGA drivers instead of video drivers specific to the video hardware on the PC.
  • OS boot information = Shows driver names as drivers are being loaded during the startup process.
  • Timeout = Determines how long the boot menu is displayed before the default boot entry is automatically selected. The default is set to 30 seconds.
  • Make all boot settings permanent = Doesn't track changes made in System Configuration. Options can be changed later using System Configuration, but must be changed manually. When this option is selected, you can't roll back your changes by selecting Normal startup on the General tab.
Advanced options:

  • Number of processors = Limits the number of processors used on a multiprocessor system. If the check box is selected, the system boots using only the number of processors in the drop-down list.
  • Maximum memory = Specifies the maximum amount of physical memory used by the operating system to simulate a low memory configuration. The value in the text box is megabytes (MB).
  • PCI Lock = Prevents Windows from reallocating I/O and IRQ resources on the PCI bus. The I/O and memory resources set by the BIOS or UEFI are preserved.
  • Debug = Enables kernel-mode debugging for device driver development.
  • Global debug settings = Specifies the debugger connection settings on this PC for a kernel debugger to communicate with a debugger host. The debugger connection between the host and target PCs can be Serial, IEEE 1394, or USB.
  • Debug port = Specifies using Serial as the connection type and the serial port. The default port is COM 1.
  • Baud rate = Specifies the baud rate to use when Debug port is selected and the debug connection type is Serial. This setting is optional. Valid values for baud are 9600, 19,200, 38,400, 57,600, and 115,200. The default baud rate is 115,200 bps.
  • Channel = Specifies using 1394 as the debug connection type and specifies the channel number to use. The value for channel must be a decimal integer between 0 and 62, inclusive, and must match the channel number used by the host PC. The channel specified doesn't depend on the physical 1394 port chosen on the adapter. The default value for channel is 0.
  • USB target name = Specifies a string value to use when the debug connection type is USB. This string can be any value.


Services

Lists all of the services that start when the PC starts, along with their current status (Running or Stopped). Use the Services tab to enable or disable individual services at startup to troubleshoot which services might be contributing to startup problems.

Startup

In Windows 8 and 8.1, you can now manage startup items in Task Manager.

Tools

Provides a convenient list of diagnostic tools and other advanced tools that you can run.



EXAMPLE: System Configuration (msconfig)

msconfig_General_tab.png

msconfig_Boot_tab.png

msconfig_Services_tab.png

msconfig_Startup_tab.png

msconfig_Tools_tab.png





OPTION ONE

To Download a "System Configuration" (msconfig) Shortcut


1. Do step 2 to 6 below for what tab you want the msconfig shortcut to open to.​
2. System Configuration Shortcut that Opens to the General Tab
A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below.​
msconfig_General tab_Shortcut.zip
download

3. System Configuration Shortcut that Opens to the Boot Tab
A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below.​
msconfig_Boot_tab_Shortcut.zip
download

4. System Configuration Shortcut that Opens to the Services Tab
A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below.​
msconfig_Services_tab_Shortcut.zip
download

5. System Configuration Shortcut that Opens to the Startup Tab
A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below.​
msconfig_Startup tab_Shortcut.zip
download

6. System Configuration Shortcut that Opens to the Tools Tab
A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below.​
msconfig_Tools_tab_Shortcut.zip
download

7. Save the .zip file to your desktop.
8. Open the downloaded .zip file, and extract (drag and drop) the shortcut to your desktop.
9. Unblock the shortcut.​
10. In Vista and Windows 7, you can now Pin to Taskbar (Windows 7 only) or Pin to Start Menu, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.​
11. In Windows 8 and 8.1, you can Pin to Taskbar on desktop, Pin to Start screen, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.​
12. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .zip file if you like.






OPTION TWO

To Create a "System Configuration" (msconfig) Shortcut


1. Right click or press and hold on an empty area on your desktop, and click/tap on New and Shortcut.​
2. Copy and paste the location below you want into the location area for the tab you want the System Configuration shortcut to open to, and click/tap on the Next button. (see screenshot below)​

Location

Tab

msconfig -1

General

msconfig -2

Boot

msconfig -3

Services

msconfig -4

Startup

msconfig -5

Tools

shortcut-1.png

3. Type in a name (ex: "msconfig Boot tab") you want for the shortcut, and click/tap on the Finish button. (see screenshot below)​
shortcut-2.png

4. In Vista and Windows 7, you can now Pin to Taskbar (Windows 7 only) or Pin to Start Menu, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.​
5. In Windows 8 and 8.1, you can Pin to Taskbar on desktop, Pin to Start screen, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.​



That's it,
Shawn


 

Attachments

  • msconfig_Boot_tab_Shortcut.zip
    840 bytes · Views: 583
  • msconfig_General tab_Shortcut.zip
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  • msconfig_Services_tab_Shortcut.zip
    849 bytes · Views: 540
  • msconfig_Startup tab_Shortcut.zip
    847 bytes · Views: 568
  • msconfig_Tools_tab_Shortcut.zip
    841 bytes · Views: 543
  • msconfig.png
    msconfig.png
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