How To Do A Windows 11 Clean Boot

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Alright, let's dive deep into performing a clean boot on your Windows 11 system! Have you ever felt like your computer is running slower than it should, with programs launching unexpectedly or strange errors popping up? A clean boot can be a powerful way to troubleshoot these kinds of issues by starting Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. Ready to give it a try?

Here's a comprehensive guide to performing a Windows 11 clean boot:

Step 1: Accessing the System Configuration Utility

This is where our journey begins. We need to get to the System Configuration utility. Here are a few ways to do it:

Using the Search Bar: This is often the quickest method.
1. Click on the Start button (the Windows icon in the center of your taskbar).
2. Type msconfig. As you type, you should see "System Configuration" appear in the search results.
3. Click on System Configuration to open the utility.
Using the Run Dialog: Another handy way to access system tools.
1. Press the Windows key + R simultaneously. This will open the Run dialog box.
2. In the "Open" field, type msconfig.
3. Click OK or press Enter.

Once you've successfully opened the System Configuration utility, you'll see a window with several tabs. Our next step involves focusing on the "Services" tab.

Step 2: Disabling Non-Microsoft Services

This is a crucial step in the clean boot process. We want to disable all third-party services, as these are often the culprits behind software conflicts.

Navigating to the Services Tab:
1. In the System Configuration window, click on the Services tab. You'll see a list of various services running on your system.
Hiding Microsoft Services: It's essential to hide all Microsoft services before disabling the rest. This prevents you from accidentally disabling critical system services.
1. At the bottom of the Services tab, you'll find a checkbox labeled "Hide all Microsoft services".
2. Check this box. This will filter out all the essential Windows services.
Disabling Remaining Services: Now, the list will only show third-party services.
1. Click the "Disable all" button located in the bottom right corner of the window. This will uncheck all the remaining services in the list.
Applying the Changes:
1. Click the "Apply" button at the bottom of the System Configuration window.
2. Then, click "OK" to close the window.

After this step, you'll likely be prompted to restart your computer. However, we're not quite ready for that yet. Our next focus is on the startup programs.

Step 3: Disabling Startup Programs via Task Manager

Startup programs are applications that automatically launch when you boot your computer. These can also contribute to performance issues or software conflicts. In Windows 11, managing startup programs is primarily done through the Task Manager.

Opening Task Manager: There are several ways to open the Task Manager:
1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc simultaneously. This is often the quickest way.
2. Right-click on an empty area of the taskbar and select "Task Manager" from the context menu.
3. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and then select "Task Manager".
Navigating to the Startup Tab:
1. In the Task Manager window, click on the "Startup" tab. You'll see a list of applications that are configured to run at startup.
Disabling Startup Items: For each item in the list, you need to disable it.
1. Select an application from the list.
2. Click the "Disable" button in the bottom right corner of the Task Manager window.
3. Repeat this process for every application listed under the Startup tab. You want to ensure that the "Status" for all items is "Disabled".
Closing Task Manager: Once you've disabled all startup programs, you can close the Task Manager window.

Now that we've disabled both non-Microsoft services and startup programs, we're finally ready to restart your computer in a clean boot environment.

Step 4: Restarting Your Computer

After applying the changes in the System Configuration utility and disabling all startup programs in the Task Manager, you can now restart your computer.

Performing the Restart:
1. Click on the Start button.
2. Click on the Power icon.
3. Select "Restart".

Your computer will now restart with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This clean boot environment can help you determine if a background program or service is causing the issue you've been experiencing.

Step 5: Troubleshooting (Optional but Recommended)

Once your computer has restarted in the clean boot environment, observe its behavior.

Identifying the Problem: If the issue you were experiencing is gone in the clean boot state, it means that one of the disabled services or startup programs was the culprit.
Re-enabling Services and Startup Programs Gradually: To pinpoint the exact cause, you'll need to re-enable services and startup programs one by one (or in small groups) and restart your computer after each set of re-enables. This can be a bit time-consuming, but it's the most effective way to identify the problematic software.
1. Re-enabling Services: Open the System Configuration utility again (using the steps in Step 1), go to the Services tab, and re-check the box next to one service (or a small group of services). Click "Apply" and then "OK," and restart your computer. Observe if the problem reappears. Repeat this process until you find the problematic service.
2. Re-enabling Startup Programs: Open the Task Manager (using the steps in Step 3), go to the Startup tab, select a disabled application, and click "Enable." Restart your computer and see if the problem returns. Repeat this for each disabled application.
Dealing with the Culprit: Once you've identified the problematic service or startup program, you have a few options:
- Uninstall the associated software: If the program is not essential, uninstalling it will permanently resolve the issue.
- Prevent the program from starting automatically: If you need the software but don't want it running in the background, you can keep it disabled from startup (for startup programs) or keep its service disabled (though be cautious about disabling services of essential software).
- Look for updates or support: Check the software vendor's website for updates or support documentation that might address the issue.

Step 6: Returning to Normal Boot

Once you've finished troubleshooting, it's important to return your computer to its normal boot configuration so that all your usual programs and services start up.

Re-enabling All Services and Startup Programs:
1. Open the System Configuration utility (using the steps in Step 1).
2. On the General tab, select "Normal startup".
3. Click "Apply" and then "OK".
4. Restart your computer.

Your computer will now boot normally, with all your usual services and startup programs running.

Frequently Asked Questions (How to...)

Here are some common questions related to performing a Windows 11 clean boot:

How to open the System Configuration utility in Windows 11?

You can open it by searching for msconfig in the Start Menu or by pressing Windows key + R, typing msconfig, and pressing Enter.

How to hide Microsoft services in the System Configuration utility?

In the Services tab of the System Configuration utility, there is a checkbox at the bottom labeled "Hide all Microsoft services". Check this box.

How to disable all non-Microsoft services during a clean boot?

After hiding Microsoft services in the Services tab of the System Configuration utility, click the "Disable all" button.

How to open the Task Manager in Windows 11?

You can open it by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc, right-clicking on the taskbar and selecting "Task Manager", or pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete and then selecting "Task Manager".

How to disable startup programs in Windows 11?

In the Task Manager, go to the "Startup" tab, select each application, and click the "Disable" button.

How to know if my computer is in a clean boot state?

After restarting, you'll see a notification from System Configuration upon logging in, indicating that you've performed a diagnostic startup.

How to troubleshoot problems after performing a clean boot?

Gradually re-enable services and startup programs one by one (or in small groups), restarting after each set, to identify when the problem reappears.

How to revert back to a normal boot in Windows 11?

Open the System Configuration utility, go to the "General" tab, select "Normal startup", click "Apply", and then "OK", and restart your computer.

How to find out which service or startup program is causing the issue?

Through the gradual re-enabling process described in Step 5, you can pinpoint the specific service or startup program that triggers the problem.

How to permanently prevent a problematic program from running at startup?

Once identified, you can either uninstall the program or keep it disabled in the Startup tab of the Task Manager (for startup programs) or disable its associated service in the System Configuration utility (with caution).

Hopefully, this detailed guide helps you perform a Windows 11 clean boot and troubleshoot any issues you might be facing! Let me know if you have any more questions along the way.

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