Big Dan
Saturday, August 16th, 2008, 05:20 PM
How long does it take you from logging on to your computer to a usable desktop? How long do you see that little hour glass when you first boot your computer? Many of these programs that auto-start you don't even need! All they do is sit there waste memory and bog down your system.
You may not realize it that a lot of programs you download and install set themselves to auto-run at startup. Many of them you just flat out do not need. Do you need Java to check for updates every time you start you computer? How about Acrobat Reader? Probably not. Do you really need all those instant messengers running? Nah. Many of these programs provide ways to disable auto-starting via their preferences or options menu some don't. In the interest of condensing our tutorial we're going to explore built in windows tools to disable startup items.
You should also be aware many programs automatically reset themselves to run at start-up the first time you run them after disabling them. It's a never ending battle, personally I remove any programs that automatically reset themselves to auto run or try to disguise themselves, such as AOL Instant Messenger.
Both Windows Vista and Windows XP include utilities to disable startup item. In Vista you select “Change startup programs” in the control panel right under add/remove programs. From there you select the programs you want to disable and hit disable. :)
On Windows XP things are a bit more convoluted but once you get the hang of it, it's super easy. Click on Start then Run in the box type msconfig and press enter when the program opens select the startup tab. DO NOT mess with any other tab.
Look through the list and see what you don't need, be careful not to disable your firewall or anti-virus software. You can Google pretty much any process name and find out what it is and what it does with in the first couple of search results.
Find the programs you don't need and uncheck them. When you're done press okay and you'll be prompted to Restart or Exit without Restart. You can safely exit with out restart.
Next time when you reboot your computer you'll get a message that some start up items have been disabled. Simply check the option not to start the system configuration utility on system startup and press okay.
Now you're on your way to a faster computing experience! :)
You may not realize it that a lot of programs you download and install set themselves to auto-run at startup. Many of them you just flat out do not need. Do you need Java to check for updates every time you start you computer? How about Acrobat Reader? Probably not. Do you really need all those instant messengers running? Nah. Many of these programs provide ways to disable auto-starting via their preferences or options menu some don't. In the interest of condensing our tutorial we're going to explore built in windows tools to disable startup items.
You should also be aware many programs automatically reset themselves to run at start-up the first time you run them after disabling them. It's a never ending battle, personally I remove any programs that automatically reset themselves to auto run or try to disguise themselves, such as AOL Instant Messenger.
Both Windows Vista and Windows XP include utilities to disable startup item. In Vista you select “Change startup programs” in the control panel right under add/remove programs. From there you select the programs you want to disable and hit disable. :)
On Windows XP things are a bit more convoluted but once you get the hang of it, it's super easy. Click on Start then Run in the box type msconfig and press enter when the program opens select the startup tab. DO NOT mess with any other tab.
Look through the list and see what you don't need, be careful not to disable your firewall or anti-virus software. You can Google pretty much any process name and find out what it is and what it does with in the first couple of search results.
Find the programs you don't need and uncheck them. When you're done press okay and you'll be prompted to Restart or Exit without Restart. You can safely exit with out restart.
Next time when you reboot your computer you'll get a message that some start up items have been disabled. Simply check the option not to start the system configuration utility on system startup and press okay.
Now you're on your way to a faster computing experience! :)