How to Temporarily Disable a Service

Many services automatically run at startup, but others are started only by users or by another process. When you troubleshoot startup issues that are related to system services, a useful technique is to simplify your computer configuration so that you can reduce system complexity and isolate operating system services. To decrease the number of variables, temporarily disable startup applications or services and re-enable them one at a time until you reproduce the problem. Always disable applications first before attempting to disable system services.

The System Configuration utility allows you to disable system services individually or several at a time. To disable a service by using the System Configuration utility, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, type msconfig, and then press Enter.
2. Do one of the following:
   • To disable all services, on the General tab, click Selective Startup and then clear the Load System Services check box.
   • To disable specific services, on the Services tab, click to clear the check boxes that correspond to the items you want to disable. You can also click Disable All to disable all items.

If you change any startup setting by using the System Configuration utility, Windows prompts you to return to normal operations the next time you log on. The System Configuration Utility prompt will appear each time you log on until you restore the original startup settings by clicking Normal Startup under Startup Selection on the General tab. To change a startup setting permanently, use the Services console, change a Group Policy setting, or uninstall the software that added the service.