Many software today want to run some of their components at all times, whether the programs are being used or not. These components will be inserted into Windows Startup System so that they can be run every time you turn on your computer without your permission. All these programs take up memory, CPU time, and other resources and can significantly slow up or even crash your system. These programs are one of computing’s big annoyances. In order to speed up computer, you must disallow unnecessary programs from running at startup.
How Can I Disable These Programs From Running At Startup?
There are many different ways to prevent programs from running at startup. Some common methods are listed below.
- Method 1: Configuring Windows Startup Folders for Windows 95/98/Me/XP/Vista
- Win9x/98/Me – C:\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp
- WinNT/2K – C:\Winnt\Profiles\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp
- WinXP – C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
- Method 2: Using System Configuration Utility (MSCONFIG)
You may find a number of program shortcuts if you go to (Start –> Programs –> Startup) or (Start –> All Programs –> Startup). Programs of these shortcuts will run at startup. Just delete the shortcuts that you don’t want to run at startup, based on your OS listed below:
For Windows Vista:
The easiest way to access MSCONFIG is by going to the “Start”, then type the msconfig and wait for a second for the windows to search for the utility, finally click on the MSCONFIG shown on top of the menu.
Windows Vista
For Windows XP and Other Windows
Access MSCONFIG by going to the Start –> Run, then type msconfig and press enter.
Windows 95/98/Me/XP
What Next?
Under the Startup tab there is a list of all the programs that start in the Windows Registry. Just uncheck the programs you don’t want to load and leave the rest alone. After you’ve made your selections, click Apply and Ok.
Windows Vista
Windows 95/98/Me/XP
My advice:
Some of the startup programs are important. If you are not sure, you better leave the item untouched, but you are free to experiment (you can always turn them on again). If you find the above instructions are too complicated, you should ask your friends who are good in computing to help you out. You can also leave your question in the comments section below and I’ll do my best to answer it for you.
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March 20th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
this issue is the mouse hides behind the screen on about 50% of the programs loaded on this vista machine. gateway tech suggested i contact you regarding a fix that had to do with disabling startup programs. do you think that disabling such programs will fix this apparant vista problem.
March 21st, 2008 at 12:13 am
Dear my lovely reader Jon,
There might be many reasons for this. You can try disabling such programs but I’m not sure it will be fixed. I personally think that you should think back what you’ve installed to your vista machine that caused you these problems and then disable or uninstall these programs immediately.
I hope this would help you out. Best of Luck!
Alvin Nyau.
August 14th, 2008 at 4:45 am
hi
taking your advice to disable certain programs from start-up I did what you said, oh my OS is winxp pro, when I hit apply for changes to take efect, the following appeared…
an access denied error while attempting to change a service,you may need to log on using an administrator account to make the specified changes.
There is only one admin and thats me so any ideas why I cant do this
cheers
don
March 10th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
Don… u have to go to the main start up menu the press ctrl, alt, delete… type in Administrator as a user name and click okay it will log u on as the computer Admin,, this certin Admin never shows up on the start up menu unless all accounts are deleted,, but You cannot delete the main Admin account….
March 27th, 2009 at 9:08 am
What start up programs should be checked in windows vista? Thanks Elois
April 6th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
hi alvin,
just wondering if a printer hp its a new cheap one, eats into system resources at the start up,
my laptop is a 256mb ram toshiba satellite, m35x s111, using xp, i dont have many files on it, a few pics and a few excel files, i use mozilla firefox, forget about pdf files, when i browse i just go to html version of pdf…..
Its just that im getting in every session of using, virtual memory to low, pop up,
Its basically slowing to a crawl ne advice??
finaoc
April 7th, 2009 at 12:51 am
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June 8th, 2009 at 3:06 am
Thank you so much! I recently installed a programme and i wanted to uninstall it but it wouldn’t let me. At every sartup it would come up configuring itself then say it doesn’t have the required information. Thishas annoyed myself and my dad a lot! This has also stopped other annoying startup programmes that I have!
June 29th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Thanks it helped very much…….
July 2nd, 2009 at 12:37 pm
@Marsguy
You are extreeeeemely welcome!
