How to configure your startup programs


Lots of people have the tendency to install their applications using the default installation options. When they have to choose between a "Typical" installation and a "Custom" one, they always choose the first option. Typical installations are easy and require less input from the user but they also install lots of additional modules and settings that are not needed.

The most common problem caused by the use of typical installation options is the fact that you have a big chance of having a bloated system that loads lots of useless programs at every startup. Even if you have powerful hardware, your system will become slower and less responsive with each new program added to the startup list.

However, this problem can be solved easily. If you look carefully in the configuration options of your installed applications, you might find an option that enables you to remove them from the programs startup list. If you don't, all you need to do is to edit the startup list manually using the System Configuration utility.

There are several ways to find the System Configuration utility. You can go to Control Panel, turn on the Classic View and then go to Administrative Tools.

Alternatively, you can type system configuration or msconfig in the Start Menu search field.

Start Menu

Open System Configuration by clicking on the search result or by pressing the Enter key. You will see several tabs: General, Boot, Services, Startup and Tools.

Click on the Startup tab and you will see the programs that are loaded at each Windows startup.

System Configuration

You can choose to disable some of these programs but before you do that please make sure you do not disable any important system components or drivers. You might damage the functionality of the operating system. If you are not sure on what you are doing it is better not to disable any startup programs.

If you know what you are doing and which programs you want to disable, just uncheck the small box from the left side of the appropriate programs. When you have finished, click Apply and/or OK.

System Configuration

A new window will appear asking if you want to restart the computer. Choose the option you prefer.

System Configuration

After you reboot you will be warned that Windows blocked some start-up programs.

System Configuration

In order to remove this warning, click on the icon and then, from the pop-up menu, select Run blocked program and then click on System Configuration Utility. You will see a pop-up window, where you are warned once again that you have changed the way Windows starts. Select the option that says Don't show this message or start System Configuration when Windows starts and then click on OK.

System Configuration

From now on, if you make other changes in the System Configuration utility, you won't be bothered by warnings anymore.


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Comments

Windows Defender is optional

If you have a complete security suite such ESET Smart Security or Kaspersky Internet Security, you don't need to leave Windows Defender turned on. It can help, but it will also eat additional resources.
If you leave UAC enabled and you have a professional security suite, Windows Defender is completely optional.

thanks i've been looking all

thanks i've been looking all over for this!!

Again - thanks for the info

Again - thanks for the info - the message was driving me nuts!

RE: Using this option to Rid myself of dual boot?

I have in some way managed to install both Vista Home Prem & Ultimate. They both come up on the screen from start up. With selections for either. Vista Prem excuese me sucks on this m8120n. With all of its Hp programs that refuse to run or hang there.
If I use this option to remove the Prem. version from drives shown:
Microsoft Windows E:\Windows: Current O/S: Default OS which is the Ultimate version

Microsoft Windows C:\Windows:

Will I kill this machine? Have no clue what happened to D: Recovery. It only shows a last back-up. Which appears to be the Vista Transfer Files.

Any help is appreciated. A Newbie lost in Windows.

"windows has blocked some programs"

"windows has blocked some programs" - I get this message constantly now and I can't turn it off because I wasn't ready to check the box for "don't show this message or start system configuration when windows starts" until I had tested my changes. How can I now turn off the annoying message?

Thank you.

kevin

Startup Options not working anymore

Hi,

I un-checked some of the options in the Startup Options tab, but I can not get them checked again. All the services can be checked and un-checked and if I click Apply those settings are stored, but as soon as I check or un-check a Startup Option and click Apply the setting is going back to as it was before.

Someone familiar with this problem ?

BR//Willem.

Thanks

Great.. Really what I was looking for.. The Norton startup was disturbing me for the last 4 months even though I have installed McAfee..

How do i delete startup programs from the system configuration?

How do i delete startup programs from the system configuration? I got a virus a few months ago and it installed something called Smart AntiVirus 2009 and gave me hell. I've deleted all other things it has but no matter what i delete it's still in the system configuration and wont move no matter what i do, ive tried Mcafee and went into my registry editor and deleted its file, it attached itself to adobe, and then rebooted and it was still there. Is there any way to get rid of this program ive been trying forever! I have windows vista home premium and am running it in what comes preinstalled, the high resolution one. Please help!

Removing Vaio care from Startup

Hi, could you tell me how to remove Sony Vaio care from popping up when i start my laptop. I have Vista and I have tried msconfig, but Sony care does not show as an option to uncheck in startup. I have also checked "Run" and "Run Once" in Regedit, but Sony Vaio care does not show there either.
Thanks in Advance.

Disable service

It might be installed as a Windows Vista service. In this case, the only way for it not to start is to disable the service or remove the software entirely.

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