How do I prevent software from loading at startup?

[E.T.F.]

Colleagues,

Can you please inform me how to prevent software from loading into memory at
startup? For instance, Microsoft Messenger, which I don't use.

Many thanks,
E.T.F.

 

[R. McCarty]

You can use a Microsoft branded tool, AutoRuns to disable the
Startups & Watchdog applets from running. Just be careful to
untic/uncheck the ones you don't want, instead of deleting them.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx
*By default AutoRuns opens to the "Everything" (TAB). The
entries you're interested in will likely be found in the category
named \Current Version\Run

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Can you please inform me how to prevent software from loading into
memory at startup? For instance, Microsoft Messenger, which I
don't use.

First - check the program options/settings for the programs in question.
Windows Messenger (your example application) has a setting that tells it
whether or not to startup with Windows or not...

Second - for those without settings such as this - find out how they startup
(registry, startup folder, etc) using something like the Startup tab in the
MSCONFIG utility (Start --> RUN --> msconfig --> OK) and manually go to that
location and remove the offending startup entry. (I suggest *not* using
MSCONFIG other than to find out the location - manually go to the location
and remove it without MSCONFIG.)

 

[philo]

Colleagues,

Can you please inform me how to prevent software from loading into memory at
startup? For instance, Microsoft Messenger, which I don't use.

Many thanks,
E.T.F.

Just run msconfig
and take unneeded apps out of startup

 

[JS]

MSN Messenger ...
Startup Control Panel:
http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml

Disable MSN Messenger:
http://www.auditmypc.com/freescan/readingroom/disable-messenger-msn.asp


For other applications ...
Try Autoruns from the MS Windows SysInternals site:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx

AutoRuns will show/list all apps/etc. that load/run when you first boot ...
(the 'Boot Execute' tab),
when you logon (the 'Logon' tab) and other programs that load
(grouped by labeled tabs) for easy viewing.

It also provides the ability to selectively allows you to stop
(use with care) any program that you don't want to load.
You can undo any changes you have made.

Note: To get additional details on an item in the list you can't
readily identify you may need to highlight the item (right click) and use
the 'Search Online' option to get the details,
especially useful for the more obscure items in the list.

There is also a change in the latest version's (v9.36) menu 'Options':
"Autoruns changes the Hide Microsoft Entries to only hide Windows entries"

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Colleagues,

Can you please inform me how to prevent software from loading into memory at
startup? For instance, Microsoft Messenger, which I don't use.

Many thanks,
E.T.F.

In most cases, with "well-mannered" applications, it's usually as
simple as opening the undesired program and deselecting the option to
"display icon in the system tray" or to "start when Windows starts."

Additionally, Look in the C:\Documents and Settings\All
Users\Start Menu\Programs\Start Up and C:\Documents and
Settings\username\Start Menu\Programs\Start Up folders, and in the
system registry, primarily in the
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run and
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run keys.

How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310560


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Start here: http://aumha.org/a/loads.htm

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Colleagues,

Can you please inform me how to prevent software from loading into memory at
startup? For instance, Microsoft Messenger, which I don't use.

First, note that you should be concerned with *all* programs that
start automatically, not just with those that go into the system tray.
Not all autostarting programs manifest themselves by an icon in the
tray.

On each program you don't want to start automatically, check its
Options to see if it has the choice not to start (make sure you
actually choose the option not to run it, not just a "don't show icon"
option). Many can easily and best be stopped that way. If that doesn't
work, run MSCONFIG from the Start | Run line, and on the Startup tab,
uncheck the programs you don't want to start automatically.

However, if I were you, I wouldn't do this just for the purpose of
running the minimum number of programs. Despite what many people tell
you, you should be concerned, not with how *many* of these programs
you run, but *which*. Some of them can hurt performance severely, but
others have no effect on performance.

Don't just stop programs from running willy-nilly. What you should do
is determine what each program is, what its value is to you, and what
the cost in performance is of its running all the time. You can try
google searches and ask about specifics here.

Once you have that information, you can make an intelligent informed
decision about what you want to keep and what you want to get rid of.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

PS: Also see http://kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_messenger.htm. For
Messenger/Outlook Express tweaks, see
http://kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_oe.htm.

 

[E.T.F.]

Thank you for the great lead! I've downloaded the free software and am now
poised to prevent the unwanted stuff from loading.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Colleagues,

Can you please inform me how to prevent software from loading into memory
at
startup? For instance, Microsoft Messenger, which I don't use.

Many thanks,
E.T.F.

Open Messenger, and go to Options. On the General tab, remove the
"automatically start" and "allow automatic logon" and "allow Messenger to
run in the background" checkmarks. Choose Apply, OK, close, and exit
Messenger.

HTH
-pk