Hello again, everyone. I was having a problem a few weeks back regarding "msgsrv32 not responding" errors. I discovered a ton of stuff was loading at Startup, so -- thanks to some wonderful advice by various folks here -- I removed a lot of things which seemed to resolve the problem. (Details can be found here: http://www.computing.net/windowsme/wwwboard/forum/45810.html) The strange thing is this: the changes I made in the System Configuration Utility don't seem to have held. When I reboot the computer, I still get a message box that says I'm booting in "selective startup" mode even though I have changed that to "normal startup" mode on four or five occasions. Additionally, all the items (I had about 25 things loading in Startup) I had removed from Startup are still listed in there with checkmarks next to them. In other words, they don't stay removed from one computer session to the next! Is there something wrong with my System Configuration Utility? Or am I supposed to go to that utility each time I turn the computer on and uncheck all those items all over again (which seems inefficient to me) in order for them to be permanently removed? Furthermore, why would some items be repeated? How can I remove them permanently??? Even some things like my HotSync Manager (which I configured in the program itself to *not* load at startup) keeps showing up in the System Config Utility as loading in startup! Is my Sys Config Utility corrupt in some way? Thanks again for all your help!

susan, SWAG, anytime you alter the startup files, you trigger the 'selective startup' warning. That's normal. Pay no attention. Try closing out using the close option under 'file' as opposed to the more convenient 'X' in order to force Windows to 'remember'. Only needs to be done once. With luck, that'll reset everything and it'll stay the way you set it. HTH. Ed in Texas.

Thanks, Ed. I understand your suggestion will work for keeping the "selective startup" window from continuing to appear... but what could be causing the startup items I've deleted in the config utility from reappearing (seemingly reloaded) every time I restart the computer? How do I remove those permanently? Thanks again!

Hi Susan, I never use normal startup in any of my computers (5) because that setting will re-check the entries and start the programs that are written to automatically start even tho you have unchecked them.as for the message you are getting about selective startup just check the box not to show this again. Another area you might check is the startup folder and make sure it is empty. Go to Start,,Programs and look for the STARTUP folder.

You can remove them with System Mechanic Easy Cleaner RegSeeker (free) RegCleaner 4.3 (free)

Thanks, everyone! That worked! I incorrectly thought that once I unchecked all the items I wanted to remove from Startup, I was supposed to tell Windows to start in "normal mode" from then on. Little did I know that was re-loading everything in Startup that I had just removed! Duh. <g>

I have my system set to selective startup ,and still every oce in awhile when I go back to take a look ,on of the apps I unchecked will have a check mark back in it to run at startup ! I believe some of these programs ,are programmed to add itself to your startup when ever you use it ,if its not already listed to run ,no biggie ,only takes a few minutes, a minor irratation .Go back and uncheck item again. I know TweakUI ,the Mirosoft O/S Tweaking Apllication doed this ! Just to name one offender ! Take Care Nick