# cannot open msconfig. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 7, 2004, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-open-msconfig/253955 "2004-07-07T14:59:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-open-msconfig/253955/1 "2004-07-07T14:59:04Z")
I have tried all the methods listed in the sticky. While I found a ton of malware, trojans, etc. on my daughter’s computer I still cannot open msconfig to disable programs on startup. When I try, it flashes open and then closes immediately. Any idea what I am dealing with and how to cure it? ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-open-msconfig/253955/2 "2004-07-07T15:00:09Z")
What OS are you running? If it’s Windows 2000, there is no MSConfig. ---
**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-open-msconfig/253955/3 "2004-07-07T15:03:42Z")
btw, I am running windows 98. ---
**Author:** ![RumMunkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@RumMunkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RumMunkey)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-open-msconfig/253955/4 "2004-07-07T15:04:01Z")
**Lord Ashtar** ’s comment applies to Win XP as well. ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rex_fenestrarum/32/7265_2.png) [@Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Fenestrarum)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-open-msconfig/253955/5 "2004-07-07T15:05:28Z")
> [@Lord Ashtar](#): > > What OS are you running? If it’s Windows 2000, there is no MSConfig. Duh! It it was Windows 2000 the MSCONFIG window wouldn’t “flash open and then close immediately” - he’d get the “Windows cannot find MSCONFIG.EXE error”. **dauerbach:** Can you open REGEDIT.EXE? If so, I can give you instructions on how to manually do what MSCONFIG does automatically. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-open-msconfig/253955/6 "2004-07-07T15:10:04Z")
> [@DakotaDog](#): > > **Lord Ashtar** ’s comment applies to Win XP as well. MSConfig works quite well on both my home and work machines - both of which are XP. ---
**Author:** ![RumMunkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@RumMunkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RumMunkey)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-open-msconfig/253955/7 "2004-07-07T15:10:14Z")
Try [this](http://www.winguides.com/forums/showflat.php?Board=genwinxp&Number=98844), [this](http://www.computing.net/security/wwwboard/forum/12414.html) or [this.](http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.spybot.worm.html) ---
**Author:** ![RumMunkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@RumMunkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RumMunkey)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-open-msconfig/253955/8 "2004-07-07T15:14:13Z")
> [@](#): > > MSConfig works quite well on both my home and work machines - both of which are XP. Aw hell, look at that! :smack: (Was I thinking of NT??) Anyway, my hopefully helpful links should outweigh my stupidity :wally ---
**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-open-msconfig/253955/9 "2004-07-07T15:23:37Z")
Unfortunately, I am at work and the computer is at home. I will try to access regedit.exe tonight. ---
**Author:** ![NutMagnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ea5d25/32.png) [@NutMagnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NutMagnet)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-open-msconfig/253955/10 "2004-07-07T15:33:26Z")
If you’re running it from the Start/Run box, try opening a DOS window and running it from there. ---
**Author:** ![NutMagnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ea5d25/32.png) [@NutMagnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NutMagnet)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-open-msconfig/253955/11 "2004-07-07T15:34:54Z")
Damn. Submitted too soon. Did you try running it in Safe Mode? ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-open-msconfig/253955/12 "2004-07-07T15:37:42Z")
> [@Rex Fenestrarum](#): > > Duh! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-open-msconfig/253955/13 "2004-07-07T15:39:49Z")
Sounds very much like a piece of malware is desperately trying to stop you removing it. Download and install [SysInternals Process Explorer](http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/procexp.shtml) (freeware) - run it and kill any suspicious-sounding processes (the worst that can happen if you acciddentally kill something vital is that Windows will crash and you’ll have to reboot) - then try opening MSConfig.