Microsoft in their infinite wisdom, didn't include msconfig in w2k, however
you can get the one from xp and put it in the proper directory and it will
work fine.
1) If you still have access to it, you can move a copy of the Win98 msconfig
to your \System\ folder and it will work - just ignore any complaints it
makes.
2) Much better, you can go here:
http://www.thetechguide.com/downloads.html (XP Version which works in Win2k
just fine) or here:
http://www.3feetunder.com/files/win2K_msconfig_setup.exe (stated to be a
Win2k Version - probably the same as the XP) or here:
http://www.techadvice.com/win2000/m/msconfig_w2k.htm and download msconfig.
3) As good, but different, is to go here:
http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml and get Mike Lin's Startup Control
Panel applet. A somewhat more difficult to use but more extensive program
to do the same thing is StartupList from here:
http://www.lurkhere.com/~nicefiles/index.html, or even better, Autoruns from
here:
http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/source/misc.shtml#autoruns. Be
very careful about doing any Registry modifications directly unless you're
comfortable with this, and be sure that you BACKUP your Registry before
making any changes, so that you can recover if something goes wrong.
Changes made with StartUpCPL are less likely to cause problems, and are
usually a matter of just re-enabling the particular program. Another
program of this type that I can recommend is StartMan, free. You'll have to
get it here:
http://www.pt.lu/comnet/files/utils/startman10396.exe, as the
pcforest site is, sadly, no longer in business. Another such free program
that I can highly recommend is StartupRun, here:
http://nirsoft.cjb.net/,
particularly if you suspect malware problems. If you have problems with
suspected hijackers, you can look up and investigate suspect programs in
your StartUp lists here:
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_pages/startup_full.htm (Recommended)
http://www.3feetunder.com/krick/startup/list.html (Recommended)
http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm (Recommended)
All work fine for controlling startups, however, I would recommend getting
both of the last two. They're both free, and each has some advantages. For
example, the XP msconfig also gives you some visibility/control over
services, while Mike's applet offers much better startup control.
Also, you should read and print out/save for future reference mskb article
Q179365 here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q179365 which will
tell you the order in which things get loaded.
Two additional resources which have useful information relating to startup
issues are:
How to Delay Loading of Specific Services
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;193888
HOWTO: Control Device Driver Load Order
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q115/4/86.asp