MSConfig, or System Configuration Utility, is a system 
configuration utility bundled with all Microsoft Windows 
operating systems released after 1995 except Windows 2000. 
Windows 2000 users can download the utility separately, 
however. This tool modifies which programs run at startup, 
edits certain configuration files, and simplifies controls 
over Windows services. With Windows Vista the tool gained 
increased Windows service support[1], and additional 
support for launching a variety of tools, such as system 
information, other configuration areas, such as Internet 
options, and the ability to enable/disable UAC. As part of 
the base Windows install, it can be accessed by 
running 'msconfig' on any system on which the user has 
administrator access.

MSConfig, or Microsoft System Configuration Utility, (or 
simply System Configuration in Windows Vista) is a utility 
to troubleshoot the Windows startup process. It is bundled 
with all Microsoft Windows operating systems since Windows 
98 except Windows 2000. Windows 95 and Windows 2000 users 
can download the utility as well, although it was not 
designed for them. MSConfig modifies which programs run at 
startup, edits certain configuration files, and simplifies 
controls over Windows services. As part of the base Windows 
install, MSConfig has commonly not been linked to in the 
Start Menu or Control Panel, but is accessible by using the 
Run dialog to launch 'msconfig' on any system on which the 
user has administrator access.

Prior to Windows Vista, files that can be edited through 
MSConfig include AUTOEXEC.BAT, CONFIG.SYS, WIN.INI, 
SYSTEM.INI on Windows 9x systems, and WIN.INI, SYSTEM.INI 
and BOOT.INI on Windows NT systems prior to Windows Vista. 
The chief benefit to using MSConfig to edit these files is 
that it provides a simplified GUI to manipulate sections of 
those files and the Windows registry tree pertaining to the 
Windows boot sequence. Using MSConfig, Windows can also be 
configured to perform a diagnostic startup (load a minimum 
set of drivers, programs and services).