Clean Boot in Windows – BEMO Docs

A clean boot is a way of starting Windows with only the essential drivers and programs, which can help you troubleshoot software conflicts, performance issues, or installation errors. In this article, you will learn how to perform a clean boot in Windows 10 and 11, as well as the benefits and scenarios of using this method.

Benefits of a Clean Boot

A clean boot can help you identify the root cause of a problem that prevents Windows from running normally, such as:

A slow startup or shutdown
A program that crashes or freezes
A Windows update that fails to install
A device that does not work properly
A security software that interferes with other applications

By disabling all the non-Microsoft services and startup items, you can isolate the problematic software and either uninstall it, update it, or change its settings. This can also improve the performance and stability of your system, as you will eliminate any unnecessary background processes that consume resources.

Scenarios for a Clean Boot

A clean boot is useful when you encounter a problem that you cannot resolve by using other methods, such as:

Restarting your computer
Running a virus scan
Updating your drivers
Using the Windows troubleshooters
Restoring your system to a previous point

A clean boot is also recommended when you want to install a new program or a Windows update, as it can prevent any compatibility issues or conflicts with other software. However, a clean boot is not a permanent solution, and you should always restore your system to the normal startup mode after you finish the diagnosis or the installation.

Steps to Perform a Clean Boot

To perform a clean boot in Windows, you need to have administrator rights on your computer. You also need to follow the steps carefully, as using the System Configuration utility incorrectly can make your computer unusable. Here are the steps to perform a clean boot in different versions of Windows:

Windows 10 and 11

Right-click the Start button and select Run.
Type msconfig and click OK to open the System Configuration utility.
On the Services tab, check the Hide all Microsoft services box and click Disable all.
On the Startup tab, click Open Task Manager.
On the Startup tab in Task Manager, right-click each enabled startup item and select Disable.
Close Task Manager and click OK in the System Configuration utility.
Restart your computer.

How to Restore the Normal Startup Mode

After you perform a clean boot, you should test your system to see if the problem persists or not. If the problem is gone, you can try to enable the services and startup items one by one or in groups, until you find the one that causes the issue. Then, you can either uninstall it, update it, or change its settings, depending on the situation.

If the problem is still there, you can try other troubleshooting methods, such as using the Windows Recovery Options or contacting the Microsoft support.

In any case, you should always restore your system to the normal startup mode after you finish the clean boot process. To do that, follow these steps:

Open the System Configuration utility by typing msconfig in the Run dialog box.
On the General tab, select Normal startup and click OK.
On the Services tab, check the Hide all Microsoft services box and click Enable all.
On the Startup tab, click Open Task Manager.
On the Startup tab in Task Manager, right-click each disabled startup item and select Enable.
Close Task Manager and click OK in the System Configuration utility.
Restart your computer.

Difference between Clean Boot and Safe Mode

You may wonder how a clean boot is different from a safe mode, which is another way of starting Windows with minimal services and programs. Here are some key differences between them:

A clean boot disables only the third-party services and startup items, while a safe mode disables all but the most basic operating system components, such as sound, GPU drivers, and Windows Update.
A clean boot assumes that Windows is working fine and focuses on troubleshooting the user-installed software, while a safe mode assumes that there may be a problem with Windows or its drivers and uses the most stable versions of them.
A clean boot gives you more control over which services and programs you want to enable or disable, while a safe mode has a fixed set of options that you can choose from.
A clean boot is suitable for resolving software compatibility issues, error messages, or performance problems, while a safe mode is suitable for removing viruses, malware, spyware, or other harmful elements that are hard to remove normally.

For more information you can check the following link:

How to perform a clean boot in Windows - Microsoft Support

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