How to troubleshoot Windows booting issues

As any experienced computer user would tell you, any version of Windows is very likely to create problems that are both uncalled for and unpleasant to deal with, especially when the issue at hand is not a usual one caused by viruses or trojan horses bypassing the firewall.

Despite limiting the software installed, a time will come when the operating system seems to take longer to boot - the first symptom, which precedes the occasional errors. The good side of all this is that Windows provides just the tool to deal with all these nuisances.

The first step is to click on the Start button, then execute the msconfig program from the Run window.

The General tab allows you to choose one of the three possible startup configuration modes - normal (self-explanatory), diagnostic (starts only the basic services and drivers to ensure a clean boot) or selective (for expert users).

The Boot tab presents you with even more debugging options such as safe boot, writing a boot log, showing driver names as they are loaded or even manually selecting the number of processors used.

The remainder of tabs are just lists of running services, programs selected to start once the operating system boots up or tools implemented in Windows (most of which are hidden, however, from the Control Panel). By systematically enabling and disabling various services and software starting with Windows, you will inevitably find the one slowing down the booting process and your computer as a whole. Good luck!