Managing System Startup File - WIN.INI

This section describes the system startup file, WIN.INI, and how to change it with the system configuration tool 'msconfig.exe'.

Similar to SYSTEM.INI, WIN.INI was another system startup file that was used in versions of the Microsoft Windows operating environment up to Windows 3.11 to store basic settings at boot time. Many of these settings were honored in Windows 9x, although the files had begun to be phased out in favor of the Windows registry. Windows XP still acknowledges some entries in the WIN.INI file, to provide backwards compatibility with older 16-bit applications.

WIN.INI file is located in the C:\SYSTEMS directory. Here is the content of WIN.INI on my Windows XP system:

C:\herong\type C:\windows\win.ini

; for 16-bit app support
[fonts]
[extensions]
[mci extensions]
[files]
[Mail]
MAPI=1
CMC=1
CMCDLLNAME32=mapi32.dll
CMCDLLNAME=mapi.dll
MAPIX=1
MAPIXVER=1.0.0.1
OLEMessaging=1
[MCI Extensions.BAK]
aif=MPEGVideo
aifc=MPEGVideo
aiff=MPEGVideo
asf=MPEGVideo
asx=MPEGVideo
au=MPEGVideo
m1v=MPEGVideo
m3u=MPEGVideo
mp2=MPEGVideo
mp2v=MPEGVideo
mp3=MPEGVideo
mpa=MPEGVideo
mpe=MPEGVideo
mpeg=MPEGVideo
mpg=MPEGVideo
mpv2=MPEGVideo
snd=MPEGVideo
wax=MPEGVideo
wm=MPEGVideo
wma=MPEGVideo
wmv=MPEGVideo
wmx=MPEGVideo
wpl=MPEGVideo
wvx=MPEGVideo
[SciCalc]
layout=0
...

If you run "msconfig.exe" and click the WIN.INI tab, you will see that all settings in win.ini are presented with checkboxes for you to turn on or off:

msconfig - WIN.INI
msconfig - WIN.INI

Table of Contents

 About This Book

 Introduction to Microsoft Windows

 Introduction to Windows Explorer

 Introduction to Internet Explorer

 "Paint" Program and Computer Graphics

 GIMP - GNU Image Manipulation Program

 JPEG Image File Format Quality and Size

 GIF Image File Format and Transparent Background

 "WinZip" - ZIP File Compression Tool

 "WinRAR" - RAR and ZIP File Compression Tool

 FTP Server, Client and Commands

 "FileZilla" - Free FTP Client and Server

 Web Server Log Files and Analysis Tool - "Analog"

 Spyware Adware Detection and Removal

 IE Addon Program Listing and Removal

 Vundo (VirtuMonde/VirtuMundo) - vtsts.dll Removal

 Trojan and Malware "Puper" Description and Removal

 VSToolbar (VSAdd-in.dll) - Description and Removal

 Spybot - Spyware Blocker, Detection and Removal

 Setting Up and Using Crossover Cable Network

 Home Network Gateway - DSL Modem/Wireless Router

 Windows Task Manager - The System Performance Tool

 "tasklist" Command Line Tool to List Process Information

"msconfig" - System Configuration Tool

 What Is "msconfig"

 System Startup Selections - Normal and Diagnostic Startups

 Managing System Startup File - SYSTEM.INI

Managing System Startup File - WIN.INI

 Managing System Startup File - BOOT.INI

 Enable/Disable Services with "msconfig.exe"

 Enable/Disable Startup Programs with "msconfig.exe"

 Configuring and Managing System Services

 Windows Registry Key and Value Management Tools

 Startup Programs Removal for Better System Performance

 Winsock - Windows Sockets API

 Java on Windows

 Glossary of Terms

 Outdated Tutorials

 References

 Full Version in PDF/ePUB