Situation:
You are troubleshooting a problem, and you need to perform a clean boot under Windows 98.

Solution:
A clean boot is a restart of Windows with no applications running and as few extra drivers loading as possible. Extra drivers come from any applications installed after the basic installation of Windows 98.

NOTE: These instructions are covered under our Terms of Use.  We STRONGLY advise that you back up files before altering them in case you make a mistake or something goes wrong.  If you have any questions, ask them first!  Drop us an email and let us know how we can help you.

There are six areas from which applications can be launched when Windows 98 starts:

 

StartUp folder	Contains shortcuts to applications that launch immediately after Windows has started.
Config.sys file	Contains DOS level drivers for devices such as CD-ROM, and system parameters, such as FILES=100.
Autoexec.bat file	Launches DOS level applications and batch files and sets environmental parameters.
Win.ini file	Contains Windows drivers for devices such as printers or modems.
Windows registry	Contains application modules that launch during Windows startup.
System.ini file	Contains virtual drivers for applications.

 
Under Windows 98 there are two ways to perform a clean boot:

• Selective startup
• Diagnostic startup

You can either carry out a diagnostic startup manually or by preconfiguration, but a selective startup is by preconfiguration only.

The selective startup is preconfigured from a graphical interface. With this startup, you can check or uncheck any or all of the launching areas referenced previously. Additionally, selective startup allows you to remark out or change specific items in any of the areas. Unlike diagnostic startup, selective startup gives you the option of not loading applications that launch from the registry and the StartUp folder. We recommend the selective startup for most users.

The diagnostic startup is interactive; it prompts you to load or not load specific components. Its advantage is that you can, on the fly, load or not load a specific component, including the Windows registry. The chief disadvantage is that it does not interact with the StartUp folder, and does not selectively touch the registry. This startup is for users who understand what the different components are, and how loading or not loading them will impact Windows. For more information on using this type of startup, see the document "Diagnostic Startup of Windows 98".

Selective startup
The selective startup has the advantage of allowing you to specifically select processes to load or not load. This makes it easier to narrow down and eventually pinpoint which process is causing the problem.

To perform a selective startup under Windows 98, follow these steps:

• 1. Click Start, then click Run. The Run window appears.
• 2. In the Open box, type msconfig and click OK. The System Configuration Utility appears.
• 3. Click Selective Startup. Below it are several processing options, uncheck them all. The window should look like the following:

  

  NOTE: This step is for a totally clean boot. Your situation may require you to click the Startup tab and uncheck only those processes you need to bypass. If this is the case, uncheck the "Load startup group items".

• 4. Click OK.
• 5. When you are prompted to restart the system, click Yes.

Windows will restart in a state fairly close to when it was first installed (that is, before any other software was installed to Windows). A default SYSTEM.INI file will be used, so your video will appear in VGA mode. (This means your icons and colors will look strange - this is normal in this mode.)

Restoring your settings and programs
To restore your system to its original settings, follow these steps:

• 1. Click Start, then click Run. The Run window appears.
• 2. In the Open box, type msconfig and click OK. The System Configuration Utility appears.
• 3. Click Normal Startup. The screen should look like the screen below:

  

• 4. Click OK.
• 5. When you are prompted to restart the system, click Yes. Windows will restart normally with all drivers, programs, and your regular video settings.