I believe McAfee is part, if not all of the problem. I could not make modifications to startup using the msconfig. I kept getting an error that said I didn't have rights to do this and suggested I needed to login as the administrator. I did that and still couldn't make modifications. I finally removed McAfee and everything worked fine.

rpmchem

I can confirm that - exactly the same symptom on an XP SPII machine.

HI

Just disable Mcafee Access protection.

After disabling Mcafee Buffer Overflow protection it worked for me

Seems there is one problem here - with the possibility of more than one cause.
I experienced this same problem (Admin error notice when making changes to MSCONFIG file) on TWO machines, both of which run XP Home Edition (SP 3). Neither has Zone Alarm and neither has any HP printer software installed. Furthermore, I also checked the registry and neither has an HPL entry either (either/neither???). However, the not-so-inconsequential common denominator for my two machines is that they both have/run McAfee Security software. Both laptops run fine (i.e. no evidence of spy or malware) and, most importantly, all changes I make to the MSCONFIG file are found to have been executed once I restart the machine (rendering the problem, as I see it, as nothing more than a nuisance that doesn't really affect the desired intent). What's interesting here is that of my two laptops in question, one a recent (less than 2 months old) build with a fresh install of both Windows and McAfee. I never had the problem on this newer machine until, lo and behold, I installed McAfee. Then, suddenly, the problem manifested itself on that machine as well.

Talk about things that make you go Hmmmmmm.....

Anyway, I just thought it worthwhile to post my obersvations: That, in my case at least, the McAfee software seems to be the culprit (as DetroitCity so thoroughly researched...thanks DC) and, more importantly, that sometimes a single problem can have more than one cause - as seems to be the case according to what I've read in this forum regarding this particular problem.

Kudos to all who participate in the sharing of their knowledge...and their power.

MadManinCT