What are startup.cfg Error Messages?

General startup.cfg Runtime Errors

startup.cfg file errors often occur during the startup phase of Hotspot Shield, but can also occur while the program is running. These types CFG errors are also known as “runtime errors” because they occur while Hotspot Shield is running. Here are some of the most common startup.cfg runtime errors:

• startup.cfg could not be found.
• startup.cfg error.
• startup.cfg failed to load.
• Error loading startup.cfg.
• Failed to register startup.cfg / Cannot register startup.cfg.
• Runtime Error - startup.cfg.
• The file startup.cfg is missing or corrupt.

Most CFG errors are due to missing or corrupt files. Your startup.cfg file could be missing due to accidental deletion, uninstalled as a shared file of another program (shared with Hotspot Shield), or deleted by a malware infection. Furthermore, startup.cfg file corruption could be caused from a power outage when loading Hotspot Shield, system crash while loading or saving startup.cfg, bad sectors on your storage media (usually your primary hard drive), or malware infection. Thus, it’s critical to make sure your anti-virus is kept up-to-date and scanning regularly.

How to Fix startup.cfg Errors in 3 Steps (Time to complete: ~5-15 minutes)

If you're encountering one of the error messages above, follow these troubleshooting steps to resolve your startup.cfg issue. These troubleshooting steps are listed in the recommended order of execution.

To begin System Restore (Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10):

1. Hit the Windows Start button
2. When you see the search box, type "System Restore" and press "ENTER".
3. In the search results, find and click System Restore.
4. Please enter the administrator password (if applicable / prompted).
5. Follow the steps in the System Restore Wizard to choose a relevant restore point.
6. Restore your computer to that backup image.

If the Step 1 fails to resolve the startup.cfg error, please proceed to the Step 2 below.

You can uninstall Hotspot Shield software by following these instructions (Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10):

1. Hit the Windows Start button
2. In the search box, type "Uninstall" and press "ENTER".
3. In the search results, find and click "Add or Remove Programs"
4. Find the entry for Hotspot Shield 7.9.0 and click "Uninstall"
5. Follow the prompts for uninstallation.

After the software has been fully uninstalled, restart your PC and reinstall Hotspot Shield software.

If this Step 2 fails as well, please proceed to the Step 3 below.

Hotspot Shield 7.9.0

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When the first two steps haven't solved your issue, it might be a good idea to run Windows Update. Many startup.cfg error messages that are encountered can be contributed to an outdated Windows Operating System. To run Windows Update, please follow these easy steps:

1. Hit the Windows Start button
2. In the search box, type "Update" and press "ENTER".
3. In the Windows Update dialog box, click "Check for Updates" (or similar button depending on your Windows version)
4. If updates are available for download, click "Install Updates".
5. After the update is completed, restart your PC.

If Windows Update failed to resolve the startup.cfg error message, please proceed to next step. Please note that this final step is recommended for advanced PC users only.

If Those Steps Fail: Download and Replace Your startup.cfg File (Caution: Advanced)

If none of the previous three troubleshooting steps have resolved your issue, you can try a more aggressive approach (Note: Not recommended for amateur PC users) by downloading and replacing your appropriate startup.cfg file version. We maintain a comprehensive database of 100% malware-free startup.cfg files for every applicable version of Hotspot Shield. Please follow the steps below to download and properly replace you file:

1. Locate your Windows operating system version in the list of below "Download startup.cfg Files".
2. Click the appropriate "Download Now" button and download your Windows file version.
3. Copy this file to the appropriate Hotspot Shield folder location:
   
   Windows 10: C:\ProgramData\Hotspot Shield\config\
   
4. Restart your computer.

If this final step has failed and you're still encountering the error, you're only remaining option is to do a clean installation of Windows 10.

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