{"id":76472,"date":"2026-08-28T04:26:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-28T08:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/?p=76472"},"modified":"2026-08-16T08:06:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-16T12:06:16","slug":"death-stranding-2-clean-boot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/death-stranding-2-clean-boot\/","title":{"rendered":"Guide to Performing a Clean Boot Before Launching Death Stranding 2 to Stop Freezes"},"content":{"rendered":"

The program that\u2019s freezing Death Stranding 2<\/em> is probably one you installed to make your PC run faster. System optimizers, game boosters, RGB lighting controllers, or even your antivirus \u2014 they all compete for the same CPU cycles and memory the game<\/a> needs. Adding more hardware won\u2019t help if software overhead is the real problem. The counterintuitive fix is to strip your system down. A clean boot<\/a> removes everything non-essential from the startup chain, letting the game breathe. This isn\u2019t about upgrading your machine. It\u2019s about decluttering it.<\/p>\n

Most players assume freezes and stutters mean outdated drivers or insufficient hardware. They jump to graphics settings or buy new components. But the first step should be checking what conflicts with the game at the system level. A clean boot isolates Death Stranding 2<\/em> from background processes that might be interfering. When you launch the game in this minimal environment, you can tell whether a third-party application is causing the problem. If the freezes stop, you\u2019ve identified the culprit. If they don\u2019t, you know the issue lies elsewhere \u2014 and you can move on to other fixes without wasting time.<\/p>\n

What a Clean Boot Actually Does<\/h2>\n

A clean boot starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. It does not disable core Microsoft services. It does not delete any files. It simply prevents third-party applications from loading automatically when you turn on your PC. This includes everything from your chat client and cloud sync tool to your motherboard\u2019s overclocking utility and your GPU\u2019s performance monitoring software.<\/p>\n

Why does this matter for Death Stranding 2<\/em>? Because many of those background apps hook into the same system resources the game uses. An overlay, a network traffic scanner, or a RGB lighting tool can cause a direct conflict. The game then freezes, crashes to desktop, or refuses to launch entirely. A clean boot removes those variables in one step. It\u2019s a diagnostic tool, not a permanent configuration.<\/p>\n

Step-by-Step: Clean Boot for Death Stranding 2<\/h2>\n

Follow these steps exactly. They are derived from the standard Windows clean boot procedure, tailored for this game.<\/p>\n

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  1. Press Windows key + R<\/strong> on your keyboard.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Type msconfig<\/code>codecodecodecode and press Enter. The System Configuration window opens.<\/p>\n

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    1. Click the Services<\/strong> tab.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      At the bottom, check Hide all Microsoft services<\/strong>. This prevents you from accidentally disabling something Windows needs to run. Then click Disable all<\/strong>. Every third-party service listed now will not load on the next restart.<\/p>\n

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      1. Click the Startup<\/strong> tab, then click Open Task Manager<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        In Task Manager, you\u2019ll see a list of every program that starts when Windows boots. Go through the list. For each entry, click it and then click Disable<\/strong>. Do this for every item. Some you might recognize \u2014 Discord, Steam, your browser\u2019s updater. Disable them all.<\/p>\n

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        1. Close Task Manager. Back in System Configuration, click OK<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Windows will ask you to restart. Click Restart<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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          1. After your PC boots, do not open any other applications. Launch Death Stranding 2<\/em> directly from Steam or your installation folder. Play for at least fifteen minutes. Monitor for freezes.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            That\u2019s the clean boot. It\u2019s not permanent \u2014 you can revert the changes later. But for this test, it\u2019s essential.<\/p>\n

            What If the Freezes Stop?<\/h2>\n

            If Death Stranding 2<\/em> runs without freezes after the clean boot, the problem is caused by a third-party service or startup program. Now you need<\/a> to find which one. Return to the System Configuration window. Re-enable services and startup items in small batches. For example, enable half of the<\/a> services, restart, and test the game again. If freezes return, the culprit is in that half. Narrow it down until you find the specific program.<\/p>\n

            Common offenders include:<\/p>\n