Do experts recommend few Start-Up programs?

[Pappion]

I'm beginning to think they're a problem, especially when there are large
programs that must load at start ups--like Dragon, ZoomText, Kurzweil,
etc...I really don't have but the ZT start but the others are ready "and
waiting." don't mind going to Programs and selecting what I need, ad lib.

Thanks.

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[Shaun]

I don't like anything loading on startup sept antivirus. I can turn them on
when needed.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I'm beginning to think they're a problem, especially when there are
large programs that must load at start ups--like Dragon, ZoomText,
Kurzweil, etc...I really don't have but the ZT start but the others
are ready "and waiting." don't mind going to Programs and selecting
what I need, ad lib.

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 get more information
about these at http://castlecops.com/StartupList.html. If you can't find it
there, 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.

 

[Pappion]

thanks, Ken.

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 get more
information about these at http://castlecops.com/StartupList.html. If you
can't find it there, 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.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

thanks, Ken.

You're welcome. Glad to help.

 

[Sharon F]

I'm beginning to think they're a problem, especially when there are large
programs that must load at start ups--like Dragon, ZoomText, Kurzweil,
etc...I really don't have but the ZT start but the others are ready "and
waiting." don't mind going to Programs and selecting what I need, ad lib.

Thanks.

With Win9x versions you had to be very miserly with system resources.
Limiting startup programs and monitoring constantly for unwanted additions
was muy importante. XP handles resources differently so go ahead and treat
yourself to a few. Choose wisely as Ken advises.

 

[DanS]

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 get
more information about these at
http://castlecops.com/StartupList.html. If you can't find it there,
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.

So Ken, what do you have at startup, what you have determined is a good
value ?

I myself haven't really found any, other than AV/other security apps.

I just don't see the point in having RealPlayer open when Windows starts,
or QuickTime, etc. These programs and many others are a nuisance and when
installed, are set to start with Windows, especially apparent on big OEM
machines.

DanS

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

So Ken, what do you have at startup, what you have determined is a
good value ?

That sounds like a challenge that's likely to lead to an argument about what
people should or shouldn't atart automatically. I don't want to start any
arguments, and as I said, "determine ...what its value is to *you*." We all
have different needs and different likes and dislikes. But I'll mention a
few things that *I* want to start automatically:

Background programs--AllChars, PrintKey2000, ShortKeys.

Foreground programs--Outlook, Outlook Express, Maxthon, Quicken. (These are
programs that I use constantly every day, so I start them aumatically)

I myself haven't really found any, other than AV/other security apps.

That's fine. I certainly don't want to try to persuade you otherwise.

I just don't see the point in having RealPlayer open when Windows
starts, or QuickTime, etc.

Nor do I.

These programs and many others are a
nuisance and when installed, are set to start with Windows,

I not only don't want those two programs to start automatically, I don't
even want to have them installed on my machine.

 

[Pappion]

According to Castle Cops, I also removed my AVG from Start--and can easily
open it ad lib when I want to update the AVs...which I do daily, but it
doesn't need to be on the Start Up program. I also stopped SpyBot S&D
period--to see if that's been a problem on my system, but keep using Zone
Alarm, and Ad Aware, the latter also when I have time each day, not starting
them when I turn on my computer each day.

Strangely, my Start button is now virtually empty, but its still taking up a
whole screen when I open it up, only the programs aren't there. I have left
generalize links on it which are grouped, and can easily be accessed. But,
I've put the old regulars back on my desktop. Sheesh. How did I ever get off
the beaten path?

 

[DanS]

That sounds like a challenge that's likely to lead to an argument
about what people should or shouldn't atart automatically. I don't
want to start any arguments, and as I said, "determine ...what its
value is to *you*." We all have different needs and different likes
and dislikes. But I'll mention a few things that *I* want to start
automatically:

Background programs--AllChars, PrintKey2000, ShortKeys.

Foreground programs--Outlook, Outlook Express, Maxthon, Quicken.
(These are programs that I use constantly every day, so I start them
aumatically)
That's fine. I certainly don't want to try to persuade you otherwise.
I not only don't want those two programs to start automatically, I
don't even want to have them installed on my machine.

No, not a challenge. I was just wondering. And your advise is sound
advise, and I completely agree.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

No, not a challenge. I was just wondering. And your advise is sound
advise, and I completely agree.

OK. Glad to hear you agree, and sorry to have misinterpreted your question.

 

[Pappion]

re > Background programs--AllChars, PrintKey2000, ShortKeys.

I don't understand how to get them running in the background or foreground.

Intelligent people don't argue they debate, knowing both sides of the topic.
;-))

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

re > Background programs--AllChars, PrintKey2000, ShortKeys.

I don't understand how to get them running in the background or
foreground.

No, you don't get to choose whether they run in the background or forground.
It's the nature of these programs that they *are* background programs. For
example, when you start PrintKey2000, it actually does nothing; it just sits
there in the background waiting for you to press the PrtScrn key. When you
do, it pops up and performs its function.

Other background programs work similarly.