aps-sun This may be what you are looking for.Msconfig - Corrupt

To extract: Open a command prompt window. Insert your XP CD into the drive and enter the following command:

EXPAND -R X:\I386\MSCONFIG.EX_ Z:\WINDOWS\PCHEALTH\HELPCTR\BINARIES.  This will extract a new copy of the MSCONFIG.EXE from the CD.. to be sure this is what you want go to http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_abc.htm click m and read info for msconfig especially trouble shooting it in the link he provides.

What service are you trying to stop? Some services and startup items will startup each time from within that program. You might have to first remove it from the service options. You might try another program first as a test to see if it will stop loading on reboot and give you that message. You can test one and then recheck the box to make sure it is or isn't the cause for all services.

I tried your suggestion. I open a command window. I typed the command exactly as shown. I put the OS disc in and hit enter.  I get a message "can't open input file: x\I386..."  So far I can't figure out what I am doing wrong. I never extracted a file before so maybe it is something I have overlooked.

dbramlet, I was turning off some HP start up items for my printer. However I have tried to turn off other startup items like the Google Service. I can uncheck items, but when I restart I do not get the "Selective Startup" message and the items are checked again.

Ok, was thinking maybe programs like the Google service could be stopped from loading from the Google settings rather than msconfig. If it is set to run at startup inside the Google setting it will come back at restarting and you won't see that message I don't think. I imagine you can edit the registry and stop it there. I understand what you are saying but it is strange. Acts like you don't have

I found the solution, however I am not sure why this corrected the error in the way  Msconfig was not working. Several weeks ago I downloaded the HotFix for Windows XP KB906569-this added the Tools Tab to System Configuration. I uninstalled this Hotfix through the Add/Remove Programs and now Msconfig is back to normal.  Is anyone else using this Hotfix? I discovered that this Hotfix did not work when I tried to launch it so I uninstalled it.  Then discovered that msconfig was working as it should be again.

This problem was deeper than I thought. It seemed the security update to the HP PML driver for my HP printer caused all these problems. I had to do a system restore because I was getting "Access Is denied errors" in services and also the "access is denied error"...in msconfig. I am now able to launch the Tools Tab in system configuration.