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Using msconfig to disable startup programs

Has your PC slowed down after you have installed programs and defragged your hard drive? Well there is no need to worry, you can use a little tool hidden away in Windows 98, ME and XP to sort this out. The tool is called msconfig.

Procedure
To get to the msconfig tool you need to go to start and then click on run. You then need to type msconfig in the run box and click OK or press enter.

After you have done that wait a few seconds and you should see a box come up with information and tabs across the top. Click on the STARTUP TAB ONLY!.

Once you have done this you will see a list of Programmes that are set to startup. You do not need all of them because they slow the system down so much that you will drive yourself to reformat and start again from scratch. Once in the startup tab you will see boxes down the left handside. Also at the bottom you will find an option called DISABLE ALL. Click this option. After you have done this DO NOT exit msconfig. stay within the startup tab because you will need to re enable programs such as your anti-virus and firewall. You do this by clicking on the appropriate boxes that represent these antivirus and firewall programs.

Once you have done that click APPLY.

Come ouyt of msconfig by clicking on the red or grey cross depending on your version of windows to come out of the msconfig tool.

You will then get a vox asking you if you want to restart now or later. Click on RESTART WINDOWS NOW.

After Windows has booted and you appear back at the desktop you will get another box saying the following message.

"You have used the system configuration utility to make changes to the way windows starts." You will then get a little tick box below saying "to avoid seeing this message again at startup tick this box." if the little box below with that precise text doesn't say it exactly it will appear with somthing similar. you then click on OK.

I hope this guide is helpful to the many people that may struggle.
 
I never disable all but each time I look I make sure no new programs are being run on startup and if they have I disable them separately. Never takes long.
 
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I prefer Autoruns (free from sysinternals) this can disable or permanently remove start-up entries as required, it also covers more start-up keys than msconfig, and allows you to save the current config.


Introduction
This utility, which has the most comprehensive knowledge of auto-starting locations of any startup monitor (A starting list of auto-run locations was obtained from David Solomon's "Windows Internals" seminar), shows you what programs are configured to run during system bootup or login, and shows you the entries in the order Windows processes them. These programs include ones in your startup folder, Run, RunOnce, and other Registry keys. You can configure Autoruns to show other locations, including Explorer shell extensions, toolbars, browser helper objects, Winlogon notifications, auto-start services, and much more. Autoruns goes way beyond the MSConfig utility bundled with Windows Me and XP.

Autoruns' "Hide Signed Microsoft Entries " option helps you to zoom in on third-party auto-starting images that have been added to your system. Also included in the download package is a command-line equivalent that can output in CSV format, Autorunsc.

You'll probably be surprised at how many executables are launched automatically!

Autoruns works on all versions of Windows.


http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/autoruns.shtml
 
Some programs, like Quicktime and Real Player, will put new entries in everytime you load the base program, you end up with a dozen of the same entries. Also don't go silly in there as vital programs like the multiple gobbledegook names belong to the Norton anti virus and firewall, and perhap something else important, are in there. Also, not every program that starts up and hogs the system resources are in it.
 
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The MSConfig startup tab lists little of what is actually starting up.
Use something like HijackThis!, StartupList or StartupCPL to see what's really happening.
Don't forget to stop all those unnecessary services as well as programs where 2K/XP is concerned. Comprehensive instructions for this are available at Black Viper.
 
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