How To Disable Sync Center From Running At Startup
Fri, 06/26/2009 - 17:41 — Ciprian
In previous articles we've shown how to use the Sync Center to synchronize your files with mobile devices or across network locations. When this tool is used, you will see either a Sync Center icon in your taskbar or a mobsync.exe process running at each Windows Vista startup. However, if you stop using it Sync Center will continue to run at each startup. In order to free up memory for other processes, it is best to disable it when no longer used. In this article I will show you how to do this and optimize your Windows Vista startup.
NOTE: this procedure should be followed only if you do not use the Offline Files feature. If you follow it, you will completely disable the capability of synchronizing files with other locations on your network. Also, this solution works on Windows Vista versions which have the Offline Files feature. It won't work on Windows Vista Home Premium or Basic.
First, go to Control Panel -> Network and Internet -> Offline Files.
In the Offline Files window, click on the 'Disable Offline Files' button and then on OK.
You will be asked to restart your PC. Close your open documents and running applications and click on Yes.
Once you log back in, you should no longer see the Sync Center icon in the taskbar, nor mobsync.exe in the list of running processes.
Related articles:
Synchronize Mobile Devices With Your PC Using Sync Center
Offline Files - How To Work With Network Files When Offline
How to configure your startup programs
Streamline your Startup Applications & Improve Windows Performance
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Comments
Sync Center Disabling
The Sync Center process sometimes runs even when startup is disabled, so I found just moving the executable is easier. However, Vista doesn't let you just move the file, even as an administrator, so you have to use my favorite DOS trick.
Right click on the command prompt and run as administrator.
Type "takeown /f C:\Windows\System32\mobsync.exe", and then "cacls C:\Windows\System32\mobsync.exe /p administrator:f", and finally "move C:\windows\system32\mobsync.exe C:\windows".
What that does is take ownership of the sync center file, which allows you to give the adminstrator full permissions with the cacls command. Note: if using "administrator" doesn't work, use the administrator account's name in place of it. Then you move it to the windows directory. If you want to use sync center again, just move it back.
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