Edit automatic program start-up

el · Joined: Nov 14, 2006 Posts: 255

When I start up my computer, I have masses of programs automatically start, half of which I don't even want at that point. I then have to manually close them all down. How can I edit, which programs/applications start automatically? I knew it once, but now I can't find it anymore!

El

goretsky · Last edited by goretsky on Sat Oct 27, 2007 6:03 am; edited 1 time in total

Hello,

The System Configuration Utility (filename: MSCONFIG.EXE) which comes with recent versions of Microsoft Windows should allow you to de-select which programs run at startup.

Another program which provides similar functionality and is very easy to use is Mike Lin's Startup Control Panel.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

el · Joined: Nov 14, 2006 Posts: 255

Thanks! That's exactly the screen I was after! Problem solved Wink

El

User: inactive Posts:

In addition to the programs starting in MSCONFIG, there are over fifty "Services" that start by default in every version of XP.

Depending on what you want your computer to do for you and how many bells and whistles you think you need, you can totally shut down anywhere from 12 to 20 of those absolutely "Redundant" (un-needed) services.

I won't let anything run on my PC that isn't absolutely needed. That's one reason that my little (home made) PC runs like PC's of twice the CPU speed and twice the cost.

I used to sit at a customer's keyboard for almost a half hour, manually disabling Services. Then I found out I could just put all those services into a batch file and disable them all in about one second.
"I love it when a plan comes together"

Likewise all my registry tweaks....another 20 minutes or so wasted. Now with a simple little script, I do all my tweaks in about one second.

I recently deleted over 500,000 temp and other junk files on a customers PC with my "XPCleanup.bat" program.

Cheers!
Shadow Cool

el · Joined: Nov 14, 2006 Posts: 255

Sounds rather complex! How do I deactivate all those unnecessary system processes that start up? Is it also under msconfig? And which system processes are safe to deactivate (or which must I leave on!)? I wouldn't want to ruin the computer.

El

zlim · Joined: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 2747

Go to BlackViper's site to see the recommendation for each service.
http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm
this is for XP SP@ but he also has guides for 2K and Vista.
You find the services by going into Control Panel/ Admin Tools/ Services

User: inactive Posts:

As a novice to XP, several years back, I immediately set about disabling services. My first list was over 50 services. I also read Black Vipers web site and a few others too.

Doing that (disabling what he said to disable) totally disabled my internet connection.
After having to do several registry restores, and still not being able to get back on the internet, I finally got my list down to about a dozen. Playing with the services is definitely NOT for the novice.
Please, accept that as good advise from the voice of experience. Wink

The way to get to Services is to run "Services.msc". In that program you'll get a list of all the services and you can check the Dependencies of each and set each to Automatic, Manual or Disable.

Again let me caution all nubies, novices and beginners reading this forum.
"Disable the wrong Service and you can also disable Windows." If you're not well versed in what services need to be run to assist other services, just leave them alone.

Stop those redundant 'TSR's" (the things you don't need but appear in your system tray every time you reboot the PC) in MSCONFIG.
Also check your "Startup" folder in "Programs" for things that may be starting from there.

Then go into ADD/REMOVE programs (it's called something different in Vista) in your Control Panel and remove all the Pre-Installed crapola put there by the computer manufacturer, or things you yourself installed but don't want or need anymore.

And, don't forget to run "Disk Cleanup" and Defrag at least once a week to keep your HD clean and in an orderly condition.
That will greatly impact your overall system performance.

Happy Computing!
The Shadow Cool

el · Joined: Nov 14, 2006 Posts: 255

I'll leave the services alone then!
On a different computer, the help and support doesn't work, because a system service is not running (I haven't deactivated anything. I don'T think anyone else has either). It tells me to refer to help and support to solve this problem! I can't do that particularly well!
I went to the system services section (under msconfig) and found that Help and Support is not even there as an option. How can I get it there as an option? I would really be happy if I could get help and support on that computer!
Concerning the disk cleanup (defrag), I can only confirm that it really improves performace. I don't do it weekly (probably should) Confused

, but everytime I do do it, it helps quite a bit.
I also stumbled across a webpage from Microsoft with some tips on speeding up the computer:
http://www.microsoft.com/atwork/getstarted/speed.mspx

El

zlim · Joined: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 2747

Services is listed in Control Panel under Administrative Tools.
A site called the Elder Geek has a section on services and what depends on what. You can't just go in and turn a service off because you might be breaking something else that depends on it.
http://www.theeldergeek.com/services_guide.htm

Let me find my link on another forum for a poster who also had Help and Support not working. Kelly's Korner is a wealth of information for fixing XP problems. He went thru the steps and the 2nd option resolved his problem.
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/top10faqs2.htm

el · Joined: Nov 14, 2006 Posts: 255

It turns out that, somehow, help and support was turned off. I went to services.msc, and found that help and support was disabled. Now it's set to automatic. I was just looking in the wrong place (Systemdienste, I think that's services in English, under msconfig, not services.msc). Anyhow, now it's working.
Thanks for the links!

El