How to Change Startup Programs on Your Computer

Is your computer running more slowly than it used to? You may have too many startup programs bogging it down, but follow the steps below and you'll be as speedy as you once were.

EditSteps

1. 1
   Decide if you want to initiate this process manually or with the help of a program. Either way, you'll need to find out what you can and can't disable. Keep in mind there are many programs written to make this task easier; using a program might save you some time.
   
   

GNU/Linux

1. 1
   Edit the scripts in /etc/init.d. This directory contains a number of start/stop scripts for various services on your computer system.
2. 2
   Use rcconf if you want software help. This tool configures system services in connection with system runlevels. In other words, it will help you turn services on/off using the scripts in /etc/init.d.
   • If you're running the Ubuntu operating system, you can use the settings from here: System -> Preferences > Startup Applications.

Mac OS X

1. 1
   

    System Preferences is inside the black circle.
   Go to your computer's dock and access "System Preferences."
2. 2
   Click Accounts in the Menu.
3. 3
   Click the second tab.
4. 4
   Select the icon you do not want and press the minus button. If you want to add something, press the plus button and select the application.

Microsoft Windows (Manually)

1. 1
   

    The PC Review startup programs list page.
   Avoid disabling something critical to your system. Before you delete anything, open up a window or tab on your browser to http://www.pcreview.co.uk/startup. This site contains a database of startup programs, and it shows what can be disabled and what shouldn't be.
2. 2
   Open up the Run dialog box by:
   • Opening the start menu and clicking "Run" or
   • Pressing the Windows Key and "R" at the same time.
     
     
     
3. 3
   Type in msconfig in the text box, and click "OK" or press "Enter."
   
   
   
   
   • A dialog box will pop up with various tabs. By default, it's on the General tab.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
4. 4
   Click on the startup tab. This shows the different programs that start up when you turn on your computer.
   
   
   
5. 5
   Get to work disabling the programs that you don't want starting up automatically. For example, if you don't want iTunes starting up automatically, just uncheck iTunes.exe. Remember to check the database mentioned in the first step before disabling.
   
   
   
6. 6
   Click "OK" once you've finished disabling the automatic programs.
   
   
   
7. 7
   Be aware that startup programs are also stored in a folder called "Startup." Click on the start menu, go to "All Programs," and select "Startup." Chances are that there is nothing in there, but there could be some programs, so it's worth checking.
   • If you don't want any of those programs to start up, simply right-click the file(s) you don't want and select "Delete."
     
     
     

WinPatrol

1. 1
   

    www.WinPatrol.com
   Go to http://www.winpatrol.com and download WinPatrol. This is a small, free program that automatically checks the startup programs and lets you disable them.
   • This program has a plus version as well. If you do not get the plus version, you will not be able to see the advanced information on each of the startup programs. That's okay though, you can just go to http://www.pcreview.co.uk/startup and look it up.
2. 2
   Install the program.
3. 3
   If it's not already open, follow this path: Start menu -> All Programs -> WinPatrol -> WinPatrol Explorer
   
   
   
4. 4
   Stay on the startup tab. This is where you need to be.
   
   
   
   • All you have to do is select the programs you don't want and click "Remove" to keep them from automatically starting up. For programs like QuickTime and/or GoogleUpdater that continue to add themselves to the Startup list, use "Disable." When you "Disable" a Startup WinPatrol will remember you don't want it always starting and will automatically remove it when it returns.
     
     
     
5. 5
   Recover anything you accidentally lose. *If you accidentally remove a startup program using WinPatrol, it can be restored via the History button on the WinPatrol Options tab.
   
   

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EditTips

• A free alternative to WinPatrol is Autoruns from the Sysinternals suite. It has the same and more features as Winpatrol and it is free. (Sysinternals is part of Microsoft.)
• Another totally free software toolbox is CCleaner, available from Majorgeeks.com or from the author at Piriform.com Software. On the Tools tab, you can stop startup programs from running (both ones in the Startup folder and ones starting from elsewhere), as well as uninstall unwanted programs.
• Be sure to use common sense when disabling the programs. For example, if it's iTunes.exe, you can tell that that is related to iTunes. Just don't overestimate your common sense.
• If for some reason www.pcreview.co.uk/startup doesn't have what you're looking for, you can always try using a search engine to look for the information you need.

Categories: pc, window tip