How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows 10 and Windows 11 to Troubleshoot Software Conflicts

Troubleshooting Windows 10 and Windows 11 can be a complex process due to the many different drivers, settings, and programs interacting simultaneously. This varied environment may lead to software conflicts that manifest in a number of ways, often times as Windows struggling to start up properly or updates failing to install. Performing a clean boot can assist in locating the conflict by booting only Windows applications and drivers.
 

How to perform a Clean Boot:

1. Right-click the Start button
2. Click Search
3. Type 'msconfig' and hit Enter
4. Click Services
5. Click the Hide all Microsoft services checkbox
6. Click Disable all
7. Click Startup
8. Click Open Task Manager
9. Click any startup program you suspect might be interfering
10. Click Disable
        Repeat steps 9 and 10 for all Startup programs
11. Click the X to close Task Manager
12. Click OK in the System Configuration window
13. Restart the system

How to restart normally:

1. Right-click the Start button
2. Click Search
3. Type 'msconfig' and hit Enter
4. Click Services
5. Click the Hide all Microsoft services checkbox
6. Click Enable all
7. Click the checkbox for the conflicting startup service to deselect it
8. Click Startup
9. Click Open Task Manager
10. Click a startup program
11. Click Enable
        Repeat steps 10-11 for all startup programs
12. Click the X to close Task Manager
13. Click OK in the System Configuration window
14. Click Restart

The following video also describes the details to perform a clean boot in Windows 10 and Windows 11: