How to Perform Clean Boot in Windows 11, 10, 8, 7: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Learn how to perform a clean boot in Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7. This guide explains the step-by-step process to troubleshoot software conflicts and resolve performance issues using a clean boot.

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Why You Should Perform a Clean Boot?

A clean boot in Windows is an effective troubleshooting method to isolate software conflicts, startup issues, and performance problems.

By performing a clean boot, Windows starts with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs, which helps you pinpoint whether a background service or startup item is causing issues.

Performing a clean boot is essential for:

1. Diagnosing Software Conflicts: Some programs or services may conflict with each other, causing errors or slow performance.
2. Resolving Startup Problems: A clean boot helps identify startup programs that are causing delays or crashes.
3. Improving System Performance: Reducing unnecessary background services can resolve performance-related issues.
4. Troubleshooting Errors: If you experience Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) or random freezes, a clean boot can help isolate faulty software or drivers.

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How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows 11

1. Open System Configuration: Press Win + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.
2. Hide Microsoft Services: Go to the Services tab and check Hide all Microsoft services.
3. Disable Non-Microsoft Services: Click Disable all to turn off non-Microsoft services.
4. Disable Startup Programs: Go to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager. Disable all unnecessary startup programs.
5. Restart Your Computer: Click OK and restart to enter clean boot mode.

How to Revert to Normal Boot in Windows 11

• Open the System Configuration tool again.
• Go to the General tab and choose Normal startup.
• Restart your system.

Once you’ve completed your troubleshooting, return to normal boot by reopening System Configuration, choosing Normal startup, and restarting.

Note: If your computer is connected to a network, network policy settings might prevent you from following the steps outlined in this guide. Only use the System Configuration utility to change the advanced boot options on your computer with guidance from a Microsoft support engineer.

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How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows 10

1. Open System Configuration: Press Win + R, type msconfig, and hit Enter.
2. Hide Microsoft Services: In the Services tab, check the box for Hide all Microsoft services.
3. Disable Non-Microsoft Services: Click Disable all to prevent third-party services from running.
4. Disable Startup Programs: In the Startup tab, open Task Manager and disable all startup items.
5. Restart: Apply the changes and restart your computer.

While in this environment, you can troubleshoot or install/uninstall applications. Some functionality might be temporarily disabled. After troubleshooting, reset your computer to normal startup by opening System Configuration, selecting Normal startup, and restarting.

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How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows 8 and 7

For both Windows 8 and 7, the clean boot process is nearly identical to Windows 10:

1. Open System Configuration by typing msconfig in the Run dialog (Win + R).
2. In the Services tab, check Hide all Microsoft services and click Disable All.
3. Switch to the Startup tab in System Configuration (Windows 8 users may need to open Task Manager for this step).
4. Disable all unnecessary startup programs.
5. Restart the system.

Benefits of Performing a Clean Boot

• Isolate software conflicts.
• Speed up startup and performance.
• Identify faulty applications.
• Troubleshoot hardware or driver issues.

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How to Determine What is Causing the Problem After You Perform a Clean Boot

If your problem doesn’t occur in a clean boot environment, you can pinpoint the problematic service or startup program by systematically re-enabling them in batches and restarting your computer each time. Start by enabling half the services and testing, then continue enabling or disabling in halves until you identify the faulty program. This method efficiently narrows down the cause. Once isolated, you can decide whether to contact the software vendor for a solution or leave the item disabled to avoid the issue.

For detailed steps, you can refer to Microsoft’s official guide.

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FAQs About Clean Boot in Windows

1. What is the difference between clean boot and safe mode?
While both clean boot and safe mode are used for troubleshooting, a clean boot only disables non-Microsoft services and startup programs, allowing more features to run. Safe mode, on the other hand, disables most drivers and essential services to load only basic functions of the OS.

2. Will I lose my files after performing a clean boot?
No, performing a clean boot doesn’t delete your files. It simply prevents third-party services and programs from running during startup.

3. How often should I clean boot my system?
You only need to perform a clean boot when troubleshooting software conflicts, performance issues, or startup problems. It is not recommended to perform it regularly.

4. Can I still use my installed programs in clean boot?
Yes, your programs are still installed, but some might not work until you revert to a normal boot since certain services may be disabled in clean boot.

5. How do I know if a clean boot solved my issue?
If the problem doesn’t occur after performing a clean boot, it’s likely caused by one of the disabled services or programs. You can narrow it down by selectively enabling services one by one until the issue reappears.

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Conclusion

Performing a clean boot in Windows 11, 10, 8, or 7 is a straightforward and highly effective way to troubleshoot software conflicts and performance issues. By following the steps outlined above, you can isolate the cause of system problems without affecting your data or permanently disabling essential programs.

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