In MSConfig, all services were accidentally disabled and Windows is refusing to start.
In MSConfig, all services were accidentally disabled and Windows is refusing to start.
A colleague using Windows 10 encountered a strange problem and a resource advised a clean installation by turning off all non-Microsoft programs through MSConfig (system settings). It recommended restarting after confirming those changes, but the machine wouldn’t boot properly afterward. I think he missed selecting "hide all Microsoft services" before disabling everything. Since third-party applications weren’t running, they shouldn’t affect the boot process. The issue began right after a restart that applied the adjustments. The PC remains stuck on the loading screen with no visible Windows logo, and it won’t finish starting. We can access Windows Recovery by forcing a restart three times, but the automatic "Startup Repair" wizard fails to resolve it. No restore point exists. Safe Mode isn’t reachable either, showing a blank black screen. Only a command prompt is usable in its basic form, and a reset option exists—though it erases all data except personal files. It appears that simply enabling these services might restore normal operation, but MSConfig isn’t visible from the limited WinRe prompt, and Safe Mode isn’t available. I’m currently using regedit on another machine to try identifying service controls, hoping the registry can be edited via tools like PCRegedit while booting. We’re hoping to find a fix for this unusual situation. Thanks!
Press F8 at startup to access recovery options. Safe Mode isn't available, but you can enable it via Advanced Options → Startup Settings and toggle Enable Safe mode. Another option is System Restore—try reverting to a previous point before the change. If issues persist, use Startup Repair to identify and fix changes. You could also run "Start msconfig" in the Command Prompt.
Visit the Microsoft support forum for assistance. This page offers guidance on accidentally disabling all Microsoft services. You can follow the troubleshooting steps provided to restore your system.
We previously used this menu to enter Safe Mode, but it isn’t working. There are no backup points available. The automatic repair tool couldn’t resolve the issue. The command prompt keeps getting an error with X: and can’t locate MSConfig. The recommended fixes are either booting through safe mode (which we can’t do) or restoring the system files using the command prompt (it doesn’t help). Restoring or resetting the PC seems like the best option. The only viable path appears to be editing the registry, since Safe Mode isn’t working at all.
We often face losing files and software during a reset, even with the gentlest method, which is something we want to prevent.
Refresh your PC according to Microsoft guidelines, as this keeps some installed applications but isn't perfect. Have you checked for the registry fixes from MSConfig that restore a previous stable setup? It begins with the last working registry and driver configuration.
They updated the naming from Windows 8 to 10. Before 10, restoring the system without losing data involved refreshing and now appears as part of a reset process, treated as a specific reset method. The last known working setup was only available on Windows 7 inside the recovery mode. Fixing this would have been possible. The current choices on 10 are less helpful.
They've taken that out, so we're dealing with third-party utilities now. Get Hiren's Boot CD and load it into the Pre-Installation Environment for Windows 10. After loading, use the Sysinternals version of Autoruns to check your offline system. Look for Drive D:\Windows for System Root and D:\Users\Default for user profiles (this might vary based on your setup). Once scanned, you can reactivate services and disable options as needed.
Here’s a clearer version of your request:
You’re facing challenges with the last step of setting up scanned services in Hiren’s configuration manager. It seems the list appears correct in autoruns, but there’s uncertainty about whether disabling it in MSConfig is affecting the results. You wanted to launch MSConfig directly but encountered an "insufficient privileges" message requiring admin access. How can you upgrade your permissions from Hiren’s to unlock it? Additionally, if the services were actually enabled after opening MSConfig, what general steps can help fix a failing boot in Hiren’s environment? Thank you for your patience and for sharing your concerns.