Use Services not MSCONFIG Vista Bugs and Problems Discuss Use Services not MSCONFIG in the Windows Vista forums; Notes for a Happier Computer and User Do not use "msconfig" to disable services, type "services.msc" in the Run box instead! Service settings are global, ...

[Snuffy]

Notes for a Happier Computer and User
Do not use "msconfig" to disable services, type "services.msc" in the Run box instead!
Service settings are global, meaning changes apply to all users.
All of these services are "Standard" with Windows Vista.
Still unsure? Put your setting to "Manual" or the listing under "Safe." Manual allows Windows Vista to start the service when it needs to (or when ever it feels like it), but not at boot up. Depending on your configuration, not all services will start when required while in "Manual" mode. If you find you need a service, place it in Automatic.
After adjusting your service settings, reboot your computer.

This stops many problems...
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What does it mean. Configuration Information <|>
Automatic ~ With a service in this state, it will start at boot time. Some services, when no longer required, will also automatically stop when not needed. If you find you do not need a service, place it into Manual or Disabled.
Automatic (Delayed Start) ~ With a service in this state, it will start just after boot time. Some services, when no longer required, will also automatically stop when not needed. If you find you do not need a service, place it into Manual or Disabled.
Manual ~ Manual mode allows Windows to start a service when needed. However, very few services will start up when required in Manual mode. If you find you need a service, place it into Automatic.
Disabled ~ This setting will stop a service from starting, even if needed. Errors in the Event Viewer will show up complaining of that fact. Some services, while Disabled, will constantly complain. However, this situation is taken care of if placed in Manual. The service descriptions identifies those that should be in Manual vs. Disabled.
"Started" ~ A service that either set to Manual or Automatic that is running by default at or shortly after boot time.
"Not Started" ~ A service set into Automatic that is not running by default at or shortly after boot time.

[budeone]

Great tip... Thanks

[sandy38]

ok snuffy, your post sounds good. My computer takes forever to startup and I went into msconfig and can figure out pretty much, which ones I can stop from starting at bootup. When I go to services, it's quite a bit more confusing, but I can see why it might be better to make everything manual instead of automatic.
But try as I may, I can't figure out how to do it. I came close, if I right click each one and click properties, it gives me an option there, but then I guess I have to do that for each one listed? My gosh, with all the entries that are listed, it may take me till a week from thursday to change them all. Is there a more simpler way to accomplish this?

[felix8406]

I had used MSCONFIG in Win XP, and though I didn't have issues, it really didn't do much to speed up the PC. In my opinion, is not worth the effort to disable or place service in manual mode, but others can swear by it.

[sandy38]

I think you are right.

[Vistanoob]

Mine takes a long time to start up too, but when I see the number of services listed I don't know how many would have to be disabled to make a difference. I think the slow boot time in Vista has to do,as well, with the indexing, which I have read happens at startup. From what I know that makes the search (which I love) faster. I think that in XP, however disabling services might work better to reduce boot times. I have continually come across articles to that effect.

[felix8406]

How fast your PC starts is dependent on other factors as well, especially motherboard, CPU and RAM. How well those three work together can make a huge difference. Though Vista minimum RAM specs is 512MB, that just not enough memory...it just doesn't give Vista a lot of room to start and move applications about and thus creating a bottle neck for the CPU. ReadyBoost also makes a difference, not a huge difference as many would like, but it speeds up the page file process. It permits Vista to swap files in and out of the page file much faster than from the hard drive…of course the type of USB drive use for this purpose makes a difference.

I agree with Vistanoob, indexing plays a role as well, but it permits for faster searches once the PC starts, so I guess you’ll have to chose...”faster during start or faster later”!

Overall, no matter what I’ve tried, Vista starts much slower than XP; I just learned to adjust to that. Press the Start button, go get me some coffee and by the time I come back, Vista is ready to go.

[Snuffy]

There are several very good 3d party programs which will assist with services.
for example many people use P2P programs, limewire, torrent, shareeze, bitcomet, etc etc etc. Even if you are not going to use evry day, the time it takes to check, open that port and do all the crap you programs wants, takes time.... first it tests firewall=ok, then check to see if your downloading or uploading, then sents ok, all very time consuming... Using Services to turn ea program from Auto to manual will save much time... on restarting or simply starting.
The example I used to test this time... was installed TORRENT and BitComet..

NO I DO NOT USE SUCH PROGRAMs....THERE ARE SEVERAL was to find the same program, receive it faster, no have to share, not have to worry about malware, trojans, or spyware....

went thru the normal crap of telling them everything they need to know, open the firewall and (you know the crap they need... then simply shut down the program.. (well it is still there taking time, space, memory) restarted... and added 25s to my start time.
uninstall both programs and found that all the crap you yes allow was still running.... even after removing, I only shaved 18 s of startup.... I had to stop the services... shaveed more time of startup, but still not the same.. Oh yes, I then opened the Firewall and removed access to those primary ports that ea program wanted.... rebooted and then back to std time...
every thing you add addes time, and it adds time im many ways... also simply uninstalling it does not 100% guaranteed its removed all its time added....

[Vistanoob]

I've adjusted to the longer start times too. Interesting post Snuffy (as always) and it's good to hear you're back.