FAQ: How do I use MSCONFIG to troubleshoot machine configuration and reduce background applications? [17932]

Although E-Prime communicates with the operating system to provide time critical trials for an experiment, background applications can conflict or take control during an E-Prime experiment. Psychology Software Tools recommends using as little background applications and services while running an experiment to avoid configuration conflicts and to better report machine configuration when replicating a study.

Users with Windows XP and later have a built in utility called MSCONFIG which assists in turning off background applications and services. The remainder of this document describes how to use MSCONFIG in diagnostic mode.

WARNING: Please ensure you have a backup of all your work and configuration. Adjusting settings to your computer should be done at your own risk.

Enable MSCONFIG to use Diagnostic/Selective Startup

1. From the start menu, select Run.

2. Then type MSCONFIG and press the OK button.

3. Setup MSCONFIG for Diagnostic mode. Selecting Diagnostic mode turns off all startup and services. By checking any startup or service, the mode will be changed to Selective on the initial page.



4. Choose the Services tab and check the HASP License Manager service and the Plug and Play service (including Universal Plug and Play Device Host if listed). This will allow any USB and other devices attached to the machine to continue functioning (like the hardware key).



5. After clicking OK, MSCONFIG will configure the machine for the custom settings and the prompt to reboot. After rebooting, MSCONFIG will inform you that a custom configuration is in use.

Restore MSCONFIG to use default settings

1. From the start menu, select Run.

2. Then type MSCONFIG and press the OK button.

3. Select Normal mode and click OK. After rebooting, the system will have the default configuration.

What to do if services not available or performance suffers after using MSCONFIG Diagnostic/Selective Startup?
After using MSCONFIG Diagnostic/Selective modes, some services will be unavailable. If they are needed for the system to run or performance is detered, then find the appropriate services under the Services and Startup property pages and check those items. The services will typically be named by the device or manufacture that created them. An example would be disk performance tools, display setting utils, sound applets, etc.

What to do if the conflict goes away while using MSCONFIG Diagnostic/Selective Startup?
If using MSCONFIG to troubleshoot a background application that is causing a problem and the problem goes away while using MSCONFIG in Diagnostic/Selective Startup modes, then to determine what application is causing the problem, the only method to determine is to brute force:

1. Check a service
2. Reboot
3. See if the problem comes back or stays away
4. Continue with next service until all services are checked
5. After all services are checked, repeat process with Startup items

To better serve the community, please report to PST technical support any applications that you find that conflict with E-Prime for your machine configuration. PST will then be better able to serve future support concerns and inform end users of the applications to look for when any conflicts arise.