Windows XP forum: How Do I Limit the Number of Start-up Programs

Hi Jimmy,
I also tried MSCONFIG and learnt something.
I have a problem you may be able to also help me with.

I have WIndows XP and used AVG antivirus until December 2009.
It was removed with 'Add/Remove programs',
and the directory and desktop icon were deleted.
However, the registry entry remained, so I deleted that as well.
A registry search for more AVG entries revealed no more.

When you click Start, Settings, Taskbar, then Customize,
a list of icons is displayed on the left with these options:
Always show, Always hide and Hide when inactive.
An AVG icon appears among these.

A search via Help/Support for text or files with the word 'AVG' was negative.
Please advise how can I get rid of this icon.
Colin

There is a very small simple utility call startup control panel by Mike Lin. When you run this utility, you are given the option of which programs and processes run at startup by checking or unchecking a box on a list provided. That way you can simply run the application and uncheck the box for applications experimentally. If adverse results happen, simply run the app and check the box again. get it here:

http://www.mlin.net/

Msconfig has a nasty feature. If you stop running a startup program using msconfig, it stops in the booting process to get your okay. No way to get around this, and bootup is a pain.

...Suggest you use this link which is self explanatory.
http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php

Make sure you scroll down to get all the information you need.

kind regards,

As you can see, you have choices on how to prevent start-up programs from running. There are programs that will not only stop these start-ups, but alternatively give you the choice to delay a start-up. I've used WinPatrol with complete satisfaction for several years. It does much more than simply set an On/Off. For instance, you obviously want your A/V to be on, but to not impede boot times, so set a delay for a minute or two, or whatever. You will also be notified when a start-up program reactivates itself (which some do!), and halt that type of activity. It monitors and notifies the user whenever a new program wants to put itself in the start-up list, and asks for the OK. And as usual with many utilities, it provides other useful controls.
Here is where I go to look up what various start-up programs are:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/

Why? What is your rationale for changing the startup program list. You may improve startup times, but other than that you gain nothing. Most use little resources. Most are blocked waiting for a specific action by the system to run. Currently I have 93 processes in the process list. The PC has been running 2 days. About 1/3 of the processes accumulated less than one second of CPU time each. Another third less than a minute each. The idle process accounts for more than ninety percent of CPU time. Unless your system is markedly different, I wouldn't bother..

I like all the previous suggestions
but they are NOT easy!
MSCONFIG and other suggestions do NOT answer the root questions;
How does the user control all RUN, RUNONCE, START ONCE options in the registry and in all the DOS-BOOT levels in one place?
CCleaner is also an excellent utility but it will not reach into the Windows Registry, in the context of this question.

Answer
Sys-Internals site fabulous utility called AUTORUNS
under the EVERYTHING tab:
be very very careful with this utility
and investigate
EVERY running process with SysInternals site.

You can wipe out or delete processes
but the better method is to UNCHECK items;
but be aware that this also effects/disables
the Registry setting.

Look specifically under the LOGON tab

Pay attention to PUBLISHER collumn;
some sophisticated attacks can alias this as well
but for the most part SYMANTEC, MICROSOFT etc
are reputable indications.

Look under the SCHEDULED TASKs tab
Does GOOGLE really need to "check for updates"?
The USER can do this by himself.

Look under BOOT EXECUTE.

Really look closely at the under InternetExplorer
for BrowserHelperObjects and toolbars and hooks and so on;
this is where the worst offenders live

and the EVERYTHING tab is a mixture of EVERY process,
so often it is less confusing to go to individual tabs...

see the
www.sysinternals.com, the site has been around
for 15 years and is uber-trustworthy

> LOOK at the all entries FIRST- become a tourist
and do not change anything
> Make a BOOT DISK
> Change ONLY ONE THING AT A TIME,
then reboot, relogin, etc
check drivers or hardware concerned with that entry
> DOCUMENT what you do,
scribble down your findings; its easier
to undo what you thought was bad, when in fact
its a driver for that Chinese 8GB USB Key drive, etc
and not malicious

You will find

Many resource hogs
Speedup Helpers that really dont need to load (Adobe, etc)

...or you can just be a browsing tourist and start asking questions and learn; this is how I used Autoruns for the first *year*...
Now I know what is a waste of bytes
Now I know what really does not need to start up

Many of these programs are such things as Abobe Reader, your media player, Nvidia graphics contol center, or your printer software with all it's bells & whistles. You need it from time to time but there is absolutely no need to have it start up and run all the time.

Simply goto start->Run-> type msconfig and hit Enter

In system configuration windows click on startup tab and here you will will see the start up items u can uncheck the unwanted ones and Click on Apply

if you are confused take a screen shot of the startup items list and post it