How do I clean up my startup in XP?

Early B.

I've got a bunch of programs that have installed themselves at startup and they need to be removed. I want a squeaky clean startup that doesn't take several minutes to load.

How do I accomplish that in XP?

Thanks.

ledhed

Start
Run
Type in "msconfig"
go to the startup tab and go hog wild

VR3

I forgot how I did it...

All I know is most programs have an option in the tools to start up when windows does (check to, or uncheck not)

Regcleaner also has a section to delete programs off the start up.

okiepolkie

Go to start
Run
Type "msconfig"

When the System Cofiguration Utility comes up, click on Startup.

Then you can go through and un-check the ones you don't want/need. After you restart your computer, it will tell you that changes have been made. Click the box that says you do not want to be notified of this again.

That should take care of a lot of the problems.

I've done this to the point where I only have 4 or 5 things at startup.

Hope this helps.

Zach

shack

What programs do you guys consider a "must" at startup. I know my virus protection and firewall. What else?

okiepolkie

Just now rechecked this post and realized a couple of us said the same thing at the same time.

For me, I've got my virus scan, firewall, antispyware, my laptop touchpad utility, and wireless network tool.

Early B.

Thanks !!!

masanz1

you can delete programs out of the startup folder also, start>all programs>startup. This will get some, msconfig is good

markmarc

How long has it been since you last blew out the hard drive and reinstalled everything? Windows is notorious for leaving behind tenticles that never get removed even when a program is erased, causing all sorts of performance problems.
Every six months I do the "nuclear" option. Amazing how much faster the computer runs afterwards. just make sure to back up all important documents. After reinstalling XP, make sure that the second edition update gets installed first (especially if you have a live, high-speed connection. Otherwise you're just asking for invasive attacks.

McLoki

Another thing that may be worth while is to download ad-aware and run a scan on your machine. It is a freeware program.

If it finds anything that it cannot clean, reboot your machine into safe mode (f8 at startup) and run the scan from there. Make sure you update definitions prior to your scan.

This may clean up some issues that you could have. (I know it can slow down internet browsing.)

Michael

Sami

Then you also have the services you might want to clean up, start->run->"services.msc"

petrym

markmarc wrote:

How long has it been since you last blew out the hard drive and reinstalled everything? Windows is notorious for leaving behind tenticles that never get removed even when a program is erased, causing all sorts of performance problems.
Every six months I do the "nuclear" option.

I do this too prob every year. I have a second hard drive I back up all my data into and then do a fresh install. I do this for customers too. Sure I can get their computer back from viruses, adware, and spyware, but those bad threads run deep and the OS "nuclear" option is the best bet for time vs. money.
Also, I use the System Restore (Start, Help and Support, then under Pick a Task you'll find it) I set a Restore Point before any software installation to undo the damage if it goes bad. This thing has saved my posterior more than a few times.

AsSiMiLaTeD

Here's my $.02

First - Yes, clean up your services also. Services are basically small programms or applets that run in the background. Most of them have a legitimate purpose, but some can be disabled. There are several websites out there that list your services and what they do, here are a couple - but you can Google and find plenty. The Techspot guide is good for a new user doing this...

http://www.beemerworld.com/tips/servicesxp.htm
http://www.techspot.com/tweaks/winxp_services/

Second - Drive imaging - just do it. You need a fresh install of Windows XP every few months at least to keep your machine running at it's best. The easiest and quickest way to do this is with drive imaging.

Get all your programs running and all the updates installed. Get everything running and set like you like it, then image the drive. Once a month or so, I restore that image and get a fresh start.

It takes about 30 minutes to do the image and about 30 minutes to do a restore. It'll save you alot of time and make your life alot easier.

And with the newer imaging tools, you don't NEED a second drive, you can alway back up the image to a DVD or CD(s).

I've used every image program out there, and Acronis True Image is the best I've found for home use...

bobman1235

Got any links for those imaging programs, PM? Any of em "free"?

Also, does Win 2000 have a thing like msconfig where you can see your startup programs? I could have sworn I stumbled across it once before.

TheReaper

bobman1235 wrote:

Also, does Win 2000 have a thing like msconfig where you can see your startup programs? I could have sworn I stumbled across it once before.

I seem to recall Win2K having MSCONFIG. If not, there is always regedit (start/run/regedit):

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Although rededit is more hazardous to use. You can copy what you are deleting into notepad (and save). In case you want to put it back.

Microsoft AntiSpyware (free download), also lets you remove things from startup.

aaharvel

i love Ad-Aware SE and Tweaknow XP. Those are the only 2 freewares I trust.

MacLeod

Great thread!

I had that same problem but never knew how to solve it. 400 programs run at start up. No Ive got it down to just the ones I need!

Tour2ma

There have always been a few I right click and shutdown at start-up. That are now removed due to the msconfig tip.

I recognize a number of essentials like SysTray, Spyware and Symantec programs, but there's a lot of programs still running (25 or so) and of these, there's a dozen or so that I don't recognize and/or know.

So I'll echo shack's earlier post, how can I know what else I do not need to be running? How much of what's left "checked" on the list is essential?
For example:
WildTangent?
PCHealth?
TaskMonitor?

bobman1235

WildTangent is spyware. Not sure about the other two.