Startup Programs

[Dean]

Looking at the lower right of my screen, I notice that a bunch of programs
are running and I assume they are loaded at startup. I assume that this can
slow my computer down. Is there a way, in a Windows XP environment, I can
stop them from loading, i.e., without having to edit registries and stuff
like that, things that I'm afraid to mess with?

I see things like Creative Diagnostics Agent, QuickTime, Mouse (do I need
that?), Dell Support, MusicMatch jukebox, and speaker volume.

Kindly comment as to whether any of these are necessary and what to do to
disable them from launching automatically at startup.

Thanks you very much!
Dean

 

[Peter Foldes]

MSconfig\StartUp and remove checkmarks. Depending what you have in there it is generally safe to disable them.

 

[Ken Blake]

Looking at the lower right of my screen, I notice that a bunch of
programs are running and I assume they are loaded at startup. I
assume that this can slow my computer down.

They can often slow your computer down, but not always. It depends on what
they are.

Is there a way, in a
Windows XP environment, I can stop them from loading, i.e., without
having to edit registries and stuff like that, things that I'm afraid
to mess with?

On each program you don't want to start automatically, check its Options to
see if it has the choice not to start. 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 get more information
about these with 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.

 

[Guest]

Hello , Click : Start/run/type in msconfig/ click OK / now , you will be in
General {tab}/tic -or- select "Selective Startup"/ now all of the boxes below
will be checked and the circle{Use original BOOT.INI} will be tict / Then
click the {tab} "Startup"/ Select the programs you want for opening when PC
is starting up . Example : Web Browser , Spyware blockers . Definately a good
idea to click ccApp,cpqset,SNDMon,jusched, and most inmportantly the Anti
Virus program {may be several items with Anti Virus } There will be between
7-9 items you may end up selecting when all said and done . You will notice a
difference . When you see an item you are unsure of its function , look up
all of them . The Anti Virus Progam may have other items not ppearing to be
related to your Anti Virus Program that are also recommended to startup with
the PC . Type the item into the browsers Address bar or enter into a search
engine , to seek info . You may find that item at www.processlibrary.com .
click on the first letter of item at this website , you will open a page that
displays items beginning with same . Check for exact spelling / double click
that item / a window will open definitions and /or warnings .
www.theeldergeek.com will have similar navigation . Results after selecting
or removing these items while in msconfig /startup menu ,will require a
restart to complete changes . Good idea to view this starup menu once in
awhile . Look in Add and Remove to ...look for suspicious items and programs
.. Seek knowledge from websites such as the ones givin above . There are other
websites that can help with same questions reguarding what the items are
about . Look up "all" your items and learn them write them down ,and you will
get to know your PC even more . When only viewing the startup items , click
cancle when finished and you will not be bothered with the pop up window that
requires you to restart . Just viewing the listed and checked items in
startup menu does not require a startup . After selecting or unchecking a
startup item(s) , click OK / click "Restart" . When PC restarts , a window
pops up , check the box . / OK . This will let the PC know you are aware of
the Startup menu changes . If you do not check this box , you will be
reminded at each startup . The fewer startup items the better . But select
the recommended items such as Anti Virus and the real {run in the background}
spyware blockers . If your PC is up and running after 45-60 seconds after on
is depressed ,,,thats quick enough for me .
KD

 

[Dean]

Yes, I can disable some of these programs through their options, I think.
My thanks to you and Peter. It may take some trial and error. As to
Peter's comment, let me ask:

Exactly which programs are there that I would NOT want to disable at
startup. For example, though I do use it occasionally, I see that there are
some AOL things checked under msconfig and I understand AOL to be a bit of a
memory hog. Can I disable all those?

Thanks again!

Dean

 

[witan]

My reply is only regarding Quicktime (QT) and Mouse (M), but it may
apply to others too. I presume, by "lower right of my screen", you are
referring to icons in the systray.

Open Control Panel and then:

(1) QT >Browser Plug-in. Uncheck the Quick Time Task icon in system
tray.
(2) M: (This applies to Logitech mice. Actually, I had the Logitech
mice installed but then found it was not needed and uninstalled it. The
built-in Microsoft mouse works just fine for me.) As suggested for QT,
"Uncheck" the option for showing icon in system tray.

In Windows-XP (Taskbar and Start Menu Properties) you can also "Hide
inactive icons", but I find it is actually a nuisance.

 

[Ken Blake]

Yes, I can disable some of these programs through their options, I think.
My thanks to you and Peter. It may take some trial and error.

You're welcome, and yes it often takes trial and error.

As to Peter's comment, let me ask:

Exactly which programs are there that I would NOT want to disable at
startup.

I can't answer that because I don't know what you have have autostarting,
and even if I did, I wouldn't necessarily be familiar with those specific
programs.

For example, though I do use it occasionally, I see that there are some
AOL things checked under msconfig and I understand AOL to be a bit of a
memory hog. Can I disable all those?

My personal opinion is that I'd get rid of *everything* AOL and get yourself
a different ISP. You may not be willing to take so extreme a step, but if
so, sorry, I don't know the specifics well enough to tell you what to keep
and what tio get rid of.

 

[Dean]

Don't feel too sad for me. AOL is not my ISP. My kids use it, though and
I still use it, myself, for my junkier mass mail, so as not to clog my work
mailbox.

Dean