Question: (1) Is there a Vista Equivalent of Win XP Start> Run> Msconfig and SPECIFICALLY INCLUDING the startup program list tab? If so what is it?

(2) Is there a Vista equivalent of Start>Run>Services.msc (for modifying/configuring the Vista services)?
If so what is it?

Windows Vista has taken some tools which have been a part of earlier Microsoft operating systems, and updated and enhanced them to provide features that work especially for Vista. One of these tools, MSCONFIG, was originally designed to help users modify settings that effect how Windows starts up, and provided an interface to view and change some of the boot settings, startup services, and startup programs.

The version of MSCONFIG which ships with Windows Vista adds upon the previous available features with some advanced boot options, an extra column in the Services section which indicates the date a service was disabled, much more comprehensive information on the Startup programs, and a new Tools section which will allow the user to easily open management components and run commands for such things as disabling/enabling the User Account Controls (UAC).

MSCONFIG is an extremely valuable tool set which can help a user troubleshoot startup problems in Vista. By selectively disabling services and startup programs, the user can often identify a program or service which is causing errors or freezes within Vista. In addition, it provides some handy shortcuts to computer management areas and commands.

MSCONFIG can most easily be accessed by clicking on the Vista Start button, and typing into the search bar ‘msconfig’ (without the quotes). When first opening MSCONFIG, the General tab has three options which may be selected: Normal startup – in which no custom settings are used, Diagnostic startup – which loads only basic devices and services, and Selective startup – which allows the user to customize how Windows starts.




The Boot tab lists the current Vista/Longhorn operating systems (*Note: legacy OS’s are not displayed), and allows the user to specify basic Boot options and the Timeout. The user may also save any of the selected options and make them permanent. The Advanced options button will open another dialog which allows the user to specify advanced options such as Number of processors, Maximum memory, and Global debug settings.




The Services tab lists the services currently installed on the computer, the manufacturer, the current status of the service, and the date the service was disabled. The user may uncheck the box next to a service to disable it, and prevent it from being loaded at startup (*Note: some secure Microsoft services may not be disabled). There are also buttons to Enable or Disable all the services, and a checkbox which when selected will hide all the Microsoft services from view.




The Startup tab lists all the programs which are set to startup when Windows starts. The information displayed includes: the Startup Item name, Manufacturer, Command – this is the command that Vista runs to start the program including any command switches, Location – this is either the location in the registry which determines startup programs or the location in the Startup folder in the start menu, and the date the program was disabled from starting. The user may uncheck any programs to disable them during startup. This tab also has buttons to Enable/Disable all.




The Tools tab includes shortcuts to some helpful Microsoft computer management tools as well as some commands to perform certain system adjustments in Vista, such as Internet Protocol Configuration, and the ability to Disable or Enable User Account Control (UAC). A nice addition to this tab is the Selected command text box which shows the actual command being run for each tool. For some tools, an Advanced options checkbox will appear which will add a switch to the current command for advanced output, ie: ipconfig.exe becomes ipconfig.exe /all. To use any tool, select it from the list and click the Launch button.




Although MSCONFIG has been around for a while, the enhancements which Microsoft has added to this version will certainly help users configure and troubleshoot their Windows Vista installations with greater ease.

Source:In-house and Microsoft

Hi,

I've got a Toshiba laptop with Windows Vista. By mistake I choose the first check box from the MSconfig Menu, of my Windows Vista Operating System. It was selected - "Selective Startup" and I changed to "Normal Setup", and restart my computer. Now it doesn't restarts. It shows an error at the very begining, and tell me to put my Operating system recovery disc. When I put the CD-Rom on the drive it says that it is going to format my hard drive, and all data woill be lost. I don't understand too much about computers, but I don't want to loose all my data. Can you tell me what should I do? How can I put it back as it was?

Thank you and please help me I'm desperated,

Pedro

PS: Sorry about my English I'm Portuguese.